Life Coaching: What is It, How Much Does it Cost and What Should I Look For?

Life coaching has become more popular in recent years, but many still wonder what a life coach does, what the benefits are of seeing a life coach, and how much a life coach costs. For those that are interested in hiring a life coach, the question of what should be looked for in a life coach remains to be answered. In this article, I answer these life-coaching-related questions

What Does a Life Coach Do?
A life coach is an individual that helps his or her clients to set and achieve personal goals. Life coaching is not a form of therapy, but is focused on encouraging individuals to reach their maximum potential through methods such as mentoring, behavior modification, and goal-setting.

What Can Be Gained By Seeing a Life Coach?
What is gained from seeing a life coach varies depending on many factors. Assuming that an individual is motivated and has a competent life coach, the benefits of seeing a life coach could be numerous. Primarily, seeing a life coach can help individuals to set goals, develop habits that will help them to achieve those goals, and to reduce habits that will interfere with the accomplishment of those goals.

Seeing a life coach may also allow an individual to gain some insight into his or her own thought processes and goals. Insight is perhaps the greatest benefit of seeing a life coach.

How Much Does a Life Coach Cost?
The cost of a life coach can vary. Many life coaches charge somewhere between $300 and $700 per set of three sessions. Some factors that may affect a life coach's pricing are the length of sessions, how many other clients he or she has, demand for him or her, his or her experience coaching, and the services that he or she renders. For example, a life coach that does not have many clients may charge more so that he or she can continue his or her business. But a life coach who is in high demand may be able to charge more as well. And a life coach that helps an individual to make more money in a business may charge a higher rate.

What Should a Person Look for in a Life Coach?
There are many qualities to be desired in a life coach. Ideally, a life coach will be very receptive to the needs and desires of the client, will be a successful, healthy individual, and will have experience life coaching. A life coach should not wish to be the primary focus of sessions with his or her client, and should not demean the client or minimize the client's problems.

If you are considering hiring a life coach, ask for references in the form of other clients. Also inquire as to the life coach's methodology and make sure that you and your prospective life coach "click." A good life coach will be selective with his or her clients and make sure that a good working relationship can be developed before the client invests time and money into his or her life coaching services.

Life coaching can be a valuable service for many reasons as long as the life coach is client-focused and the client is motivated. If you are trying to find a life coach of your own, I wish you the best of luck. Thanks for reading!