What life coaching is (and what it isn’t)

Feeling stuck or uncertain about your life's direction? A life coach can be your strategic partner in personal development. Professional coaches specialize in helping individuals gain clarity, set meaningful goals, and navigate career transitions through targeted wellness coaching. By addressing mental health, personal growth, and professional challenges, life coaches empower clients to unlock their full potential and create more fulfilling lives.

What is a life coach?

Life coaches are strategic partners in personal development who help clients clarify goals, overcome obstacles, and design actionable plans for transformative change. By providing accountability, empowerment, and targeted support, they enable individuals to bridge the gap between their current reality and their most ambitious aspirations.

Personal coaching refers to the practice where a life coach works one-on-one with clients to focus on individual goals, such as improving personal relationships, career success, or overall well-being. This form of coaching is tailored to the unique needs of the individual, providing a judgment-free space for exploration, increased clarity, and accountability.

These coaches usually go through specific life coach training.  The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a recognized body that many certified coaches align with for coach training and life coach certification.

A life coach might partner with a professional struggling with work-life balance to create a time management strategy. They could support a recent graduate in identifying career goals and developing confidence for job interviews. Coaches also facilitate space for individuals to overcome personal challenges, like building healthier relationships or managing stress more effectively.

In the past decade, the coaching industry has grown exponentially. According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), there are about 71,000 professional coaches worldwide.

Life coaches can help clients with:

• Career transitions and professional development
• Goal setting and personal achievement
• Relationship coaching and interpersonal skills
• Work-life balance strategies
• Mental health and stress management
• Confidence and self-esteem building
• Leadership and executive coaching
• Time management and productivity
• Personal growth and self-awareness
• Overcoming limiting beliefs

Life coaching vs. therapy

How is a life coach different from a therapist? While both aim to improve well-being, they serve distinct roles. Therapists are licensed to provide mental health care, while coaches focus on personal growth and professional development. Certified coaches complete training programs to help clients reach their goals but don’t provide clinical care.

Let’s explore this further.

Life coaching 

When comparing life coaching to therapy, here are some key differences: 

• Life coaches partner with clients to achieve growth through partnership and support, without giving advice or being prescriptive.
• Coaching is focused on personal development and professional life growth. 
• Coaching can resemble talk therapy, though coaches work differently and can’t practice as therapists.
• Coaching focuses on goal setting, achieving goals, behavior changes, shifting perspectives, and overall self-improvement and personal growth.
• Professional coaches can help you improve your physical health, emotional well-being, and financial wellness.
• Life coaching is not mental health treatment or clinical care .
• At BetterUp, our coaches focus on sustainable behavior changes rooted in positive psychology.

Therapy 

Let’s take a closer look at the key characteristics of therapy: 

• Therapists are trained mental health professionals. 
• Therapists have education and license requirements to practice with clients. 
• Therapists help you to understand your psychological patterns to change your behavior.
• Therapists can diagnose and treat your mental health needs. 
• Therapists can improve your mental health and emotional well-being through various techniques and therapy styles, like CBT, EMDR, and more. 
• Therapists often work with your medical care team to help improve your overall well-being. 
• Some (not all) therapists can prescribe medication for psychological and mental health conditions. 

7 benefits of life coaching

Life coaching benefits are often rooted in social science research. At BetterUp, we draw from social and positive psychology to guide how our certified coaches support members. Considering life coaching? Here are seven key benefits to know: 

If you’re thinking about life coaching, here are seven benefits to keep in mind: 

• Better self-confidence. A study by the IFC reported that 80% of people who hired a life coach reported improved self-confidence. 

• A growth mindset. A benefit to coaching is a shift in perspective. At BetterUp, we think of this as a growth mindset. With coaching, clients can expand and nurture a growth mindset. 

• Improved self-awareness. Research found that only 10-15% of people studied were self-aware, despite people believing that they are self-aware. But with coaching, you have a partner to offer feedback and reflect on your progress and your levels of self-awareness. Coaching can help you build your self-awareness muscle and ultimately, gain more confidence in knowing who you are. 

• Improved relationships and communication skills. According to the Institute of Coaching, your relationships will benefit from coaching. One study found that of those who participated in coaching, over 70% benefitted from improved work performance, relationships, and effective communication skills. 

• Better clarity and purpose. Our mission at BetterUp is to help people everywhere live with more purpose, clarity, and passion. Our data has shown that folks who take part in coaching report a higher sense of purpose and meaning. 
• Improved overall well-being. Coaching can also help improve your overall well-being. Our data also shows that a majority of people who start coaching in a “stuck” period get better. In fact, 77% will significantly improve their well-being state in three to four months with personalized support.
• Lower stress levels (and better resiliency). The same data cited above shows that with BetterUp, a benefit of coaching is lowered stress levels and better resiliency. 

Limitations of life coaching 

Life coaching and therapy serve different purposes, and sometimes, coaching may not be the right fit.

At BetterUp, we distinguish between mental health and mental fitness. While coaching supports emotional and mental well-being, it’s not a substitute for clinical mental health care.

For those experiencing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD, seeking help from a licensed mental health professional is crucial. Coaches are not trained to provide this level of care.

Mental health exists on a spectrum. While some live with chronic conditions, others may face temporary symptoms. Notably, 55% of people are in a state of languishing. To prevent this “massive middle” from declining further, building mental fitness is key.

This is where coaching helps. It fosters strong mental fitness practices, equipping you to handle life’s challenges. Think of coaching as a complement to mental health care, not a replacement.

What problems do life coaches solve?

Life coaches are particularly effective at helping people who feel stuck or need guidance in making significant life changes. They solve problems such as improving self-confidence, enhancing communication skills, managing stress, achieving career goals, and building better relationships.

Relationship coaching and career coaching are just two ways in which life coaches can profoundly impact an individual's life.

Types of life coaching

There are lots of different types of coaching. Here are some common types of coaching we’ve seen in the industry. 

1. Personal coaching: This type of coaching focuses on helping individuals achieve personal goals and improve their overall well-being.
2. Career coaching: A career coach assists clients in career transitions, finding new job opportunities, and enhancing their professional skills.
3. Relationship coaching: This involves helping clients improve their interpersonal relationships, whether in personal or professional settings.
4. Wellness coaching: Focused on improving overall health, including physical, emotional, and mental wellness.

These are just a few examples, but other types like health, executive, transformational, and sales coaching also play crucial roles.

How much should a personal coach charge?

The cost of hiring a personal coach can vary widely based on their experience, credentials, and the length and frequency of sessions. On average, life coaches charge anywhere from $75 to $500 per hour.

However, high-end professional coaches who specialize in areas like executive coaching or career coaching may charge even more. It's essential to consider the value that coaching will bring to your life when evaluating the cost.

Are life coaches worth it?

Many who’ve worked with a life coach would say yes. Life coaches provide accountability, guidance, and a structured approach to achieving personal growth and professional goals.

While life coaching isn’t a substitute for therapy, it can help individuals overcome challenges, build self-confidence, strengthen relationships, and achieve greater fulfillment. By focusing on goal setting, progress, and self-awareness, coaching empowers clients to make meaningful changes in their lives.

What to look for in a life coach

There’s no one answer to what makes a good coach — only what’s a good coach for you. That being said, here are the four most important ways to determine if your coach is a good fit for you.

Rapport

Choose a coach you connect with. Personal alignment matters in any coaching relationship, ensuring that you feel comfortable in your coaching sessions and that a foundation of trust is established.

Expertise

Find a life coach specialized in your needs—whether career transitions, executive coaching, or specific personal development areas. Look for a certified coach with relevant experience.

Availability 

Ensure your coach's schedule matches yours. Regular sessions are crucial for achieving goals and maintaining accountability.

Impact

A great coach helps you gain clarity, set meaningful goals, and track progress. If you're not seeing positive changes, it's okay to find a different professional coach.

How to find a life coach

Self-reflection

Begin by understanding your goals. What do you want to achieve through life coaching? Consider your personal development aspirations, career transitions, and areas where you seek guidance.

Coach selection

Look for a certified coach with:

• Relevant training programs
• Specialized expertise in your focus area
• Strong mental health understanding
• Proven track record in accountability

Credentials matter

Verify your potential life coach's:

• Life coach certification
• International Coaching Federation credential
• Professional coaching skills
• Experience in relationship coaching or executive coaching

Getting started with a life coach

The right professional coach can help you gain clarity, overcome beliefs that limit you, and accelerate your personal growth. Choose a coach who understands your unique journey and can provide targeted support for your specific goals. At BetterUp, we'll help you find a qualified life Coach that meets your needs and your schedule.