What is Life Coaching? Why Do You Need a Life Coach?
It is often said that there’s no limit to what an individual can achieve, and the only limitation is that of their mind. While it’s true that we live in a world of limitless possibilities, it’s also true that we don’t always know what direction we want to move forward in or how to move forward at all.
Maybe you’re wondering if how you spend your time prevents you from living your fullest and achieving your goals. Or maybe you’re thinking through a major career change, but you don’t know where to start.
That’s where one of our trained life coaches at Handel Behavioral Health in Massachusetts comes in. Our life coaches, in our offices in Western MA and Greater Boston will work with you to uncover your visions and talents, and guide you through achieving your goals.
To learn more about what life coaching is and what life coaching sessions involve, please read on. We can be reached by phone at 413-343-4357.
What is Life Coaching?
I see life-coaching as a way to come alongside others, and empower them to get from where they are to where they want to be.
-Nate Daman, Life Coach at HBH Therapy
The International Coaching Federation, a membership organization for trained professional coaches, defines life coaching as a partnership between client and coach that involves thought-provoking conversations that inspire the client to reach their highest personal and professional goals.
Whether you’re trying to gain more confidence, find your personal passion, improve your communication skills in your relationship, or quit a bad habit, a life coach will help you identify strengths and weaknesses and the obstacles that hold you back. You and your life coach will develop a plan that motivates you to reach your goals.
What is a Life Coach?
Unlike a therapist who focuses on the client’s past to bring clarity and healing, a life coach helps you move forward. A life coach is future-oriented, while a therapist is insight-oriented.
A life coach will not address clinical issues. If your life coach suspects that clinical work is necessary, they will refer you to a trained therapist at HBH Therapy.
A life coach focuses on you– your goals, your learning, and your growth.
A life coach helps you clarify your goals. Life coaches will use techniques such as active listening, open questions, encouragement, challenge, and support to assist you in discovering insights and taking action.
A life coach is action-oriented. Each life coaching session will determine 1-3 actions steps you will take before the next session.
What Do Life Coaching Sessions Involve?
During coaching sessions, you and your life coach will engage in conversations that empower you to tap into your unique calling, in your personal and professional life. Your life coach will help you reach new insights through asking thought provoking questions.
Coaching questions bring clarity, and with clarity comes hope. With hope comes the opportunity to overcome obstacles and make significant forward progress.
-Nate Daman, Life Coach at HBH Therapy
Example questions asked during sessions can include:
- What do you want to focus on during our time together?
- What makes this session important to you right now?
Clients typically work with their life coach for 6-8 weeks, depending on the success of their work. They will meet one day/week for 50 minutes.
At the end of the sessions the client and coach will evaluate the client’s growth, and decide together if there’s another goal to work towards.
Why Use a Life Coach?
Many people seek out life coaches for help in navigating a significant life change, like changing careers, however, life coaches can be great assets for building a more meaningful personal path.
Life coaches can help you:
- Make significant progress
- Deal with uncertainty
- Make more informed decisions
- Set better goals
- Reach goals faster
- Grow spiritually
- Become financially stable
- Have a collaborative relationship
- Make a bigger impact on the world
- Become a better leader
- Simplify your life
- Reduce your stress
- Keep up with the speed of life
- Address transitions in location and employment
In addition to offering new insights into a challenge, your life coach will help you recognize negative patterns that are preventing you from reaching success. Your life coach will help you create proactive steps, and hold you accountable to moving forward.
As you work with a life coach, you will discover that you are, and always have been, the pilot of your own life.
How Can I Schedule an Appointment with a Life Coach?
You’ll never know what opportunities you might miss out on by not getting the help that’s available to you- so give it a try!
-Nate Daman, Life Coach at HBH Therapy
We know that change can be scary, but we can’t let fear stop us from reaching our best personal path.
If you’re feeling unfilled with your job, if you’re searching for your career path 10 years out of school, or if you’re ready to quit old habits and you don’t know where to start, it’s time to work with one of our trained life coaches at HBH Therapy in Massachusetts.
Our trained life coaches at HBH Therapy in our offices around Amherst, Springfield, Wilbraham, West Springfield, Franklin, and across Massachusetts will answer all of your questions, and help guide you toward transforming your personal life.
About The Author
Nettie Hoagland
