The Best Life Coaches

Frequently Asked Questions

• Introduction

  Working with a life coach can empower you to make positive changes in your life. These changes can be in your personal life, fitness level, or professional career. Life coaches don’t typically tell you what to do to make changes. These coaches usually listen to clients and help them see situations from the perspective of an outsider.
  

  
  

  After identifying life areas that clients want change, life coaches hold clients accountable for making those changes. Accountability is achieved by the life coach checking back at scheduled intervals to see what the client has done to make the desired changes. If the client is struggling to make progress when the life coach checks back, the coach typically helps the client work through the issue.

• What is a life coach?

  A life coach is a trained professional who uses coaching techniques to help people succeed. These professionals use their expertise to help clients discover the things that hold them back in their careers and personal lives. These coaches then hold clients accountable for taking steps to move ahead in life.

• What does a life coach do?

  A life coach looks at a client’s current situation and suggests things the client can do to make changes. However, the coaching techniques used typically also involve listening to clients while clients figure out what to do. The coach would then typically check back with clients regularly to determine how a client is progressing.
  

• How can I find a life coach?

  Look for a coach who specializes in the area of life where you feel challenged. For example, if you need a life coach to offer motivation to get healthy, look for one who specializes in fitness coaching. If you need help leveling up your career, look for one who specializes in career coaching.

• How much does a life coach cost?

  The average cost of a life coach is between $90 and $100 per session. However, the cost varies based on location as well as the training and certification of each life coach. Life coaches can charge by the single session, or they can offer package deals that reduce the per session cost.

• Do I need a life coach or a therapist?

  The amount of help you feel you need can determine if you need a therapist or a life coach. If you’re struggling and feel like you can’t function, consider a therapist. If you’re doing okay overall but think you could do better, a life coach could be a good choice.
  

• Is life coaching worth it?

  For someone who is willing to put in the effort to change, hiring a life coach can be worthwhile. It can help people who struggle with confidence and those who struggle to find their purpose in life. Hiring a life coach can also be worthwhile for those who are struggling to set life goals.

• What is the role of a life coach?

  Life coaches fill a couple of different roles. First, these coaches help clients identify hidden traits and skills and maximize those traits and skills. Additionally, life coaches listen to clients about areas where help is needed and offer emotional support while clients make changes.
  

• What questions do you ask a life coach?

  The questions you ask a life coach before signing a contract can set your coaching experience up for success. Ask about the coach's specialty and how many clients the coach has successfully served. Ask for an example of a tough client the coach has served and the process for working with clients.

• How long is a coaching session?

  Coaching sessions typically last half an hour to an hour. For life coaching at the executive level, expect sessions to take as long as 90 minutes per session, with meetings scheduled once per month.
  

• How often should I see my life coach?

  It’s common to meet with a life coach once or twice per month when starting out. Your coach may suggest meeting a different amount of times each month to accommodate your needs. At the end of a coaching experience, it’s common to continue meeting a life coach on a quarterly basis.
  

• How long should you work with a life coach?

  Life coaching typically lasts from between eight and 16 sessions or four and eight months with bi-monthly sessions. If you want ongoing support after the initial round of coaching, you can keep working with a life coach on a quarterly basis as long as you feel it’s needed.

• Why do life coaches charge so much?

  Life coaches charge based on the training and certifications they’ve earned as well as the results they’ve provided to past clients. Life coaches deliver positive results that increase the incomes and quality of life for clients, making coaching of this type a valuable commodity.

• What can I get out of a life coach?

  Hiring a life coach can help you get over the things you’re stuck on in life. It can also help you find ways to perform better at work and be more present in your relationships. Additionally, coaching can help you manage your everyday struggles.

• How do I become a life coach?

  To become a life coach, look for an agency or institute that trains life coaches in your preferred niche. Ideally, the certification program you choose should be backed by third-party accreditation from the International Coaching Federation, or ICF.
  
  

• What does it take to be a life coach?

  To be a life coach, you need to have a desire to help others and a positive, outgoing personality. Credentials that show why you’re qualified to coach others are also useful. Additionally, a life coach needs to have marketing skills or a staff that’s strong in marketing to attract clients.

• How do I become a certified life coach?

  Choose an accredited life coach training program that offers either in-person or online courses. Pass all the courses to earn certification from the training institution. Apply the information from all your courses to clients to develop hands-on experience in the coaching field.

• How much do life coaches make?

  Life coaches earn an average annual salary of $60,000. However, a wide range of earnings exists in this field, with annual earnings ranging from $20,000 up to $100,000. Additionally, some celebrity-status life coaches earn salaries in the millions.

• What is the best life coach certification?

  While there are many excellent life coach training programs, the Coaching Training Alliance is considered one of the best. However, any training program that has earned ICF accreditation is held to the same exacting standards.

• How do I start a life coaching business?

  To start a life coaching business, get trained and certified as a life coach. Choose your niche and whether you plan to offer services in person, over the internet, or both. Set prices for your services or packages you want to offer. Then, begin marketing your services and scheduling appointments with clients.

• How much does it cost to become a life coach?

  Training and certification programs to become a life coach range in price from $1,000 to $12,000. Most online programs for becoming a life coach cost $5,000 to $6,000 and take around six months to complete.

• What kind of insurance does a life coach need?

  Liability insurance is the kind of insurance a life coach needs in case something goes wrong when serving a client. With no regulatory board in place for life coaches, it’s important to have this type of coverage in case there are accusations of incompetence, negligence, or wrongdoing.