Life coaching is a process where a coach helps individuals set and achieve personal, professional, or health-related goals. It provides guidance, motivation, and support to help clients navigate challenges and create a clear path toward their desired future.

• Short-term
• Solution Focused
• Present to Future Oriented

• Coaching that goes deeper to foster profound self-awareness: Coaches use powerful questioning to identify blind spots and deeply rooted patterns you may not see alone.
• Breaking Limiting Beliefs: You can dismantle self-imposed barriers like "I’m not good enough" and replace them with empowering mindsets through techniques like cognitive reframing.
• Sustainable, Long-Term Change: Unlike "quick fixes," this approach targets root causes, ensuring that the changes you make are natural and lasting even after the coaching ends.
• Greater Sense of Possibility: By shifting your perspective, you begin to see options that previously felt out of reach, allowing you to "rewrite your reality".
• Alignment and Purpose: You gain clarity on your core values, ensuring your life and goals are authentically aligned with who you truly are.

While both life coaching and therapy focus on personal growth, they differ in their approach. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), psychotherapy (talk therapy) aims to help clients "identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors". "In general, the goals of psychotherapy are to gain relief from symptoms [related to past trauma], maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life". Counselors are trained to diagnose and help the client with emotional problems, their past, or their dysfunction. 

ICF defines coaching as: "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential." The coach’s role is to assist clients with achieving what they want in the present and future with an action oriented and goal driven plan. Coaching focuses on personal development, strengths, and future goals.

Coach Shy's Bottom Line-In the analogy of homes...therapy is the contractor doing foundation repair. Think heavy equipment, framing, and all the things that make your home safe to live in. Coaching is the interior design work. We talk about your vision, paint walls, move furniture to make that home feel more like you and suit your needs. Contractors and designers work best together to create a lovely, functional home. 

Coaching typically involves one-on-one sessions where the coach and client work together to identify goals, challenges, and actionable steps. Coaches use various methods, including listening, questioning, and providing feedback, to help clients gain clarity and make positive changes in their lives.

Life coaching can be helpful if you’re feeling stuck, seeking guidance on a major life change, or striving to improve in specific areas of your life. If you're motivated to take action and are open to personal growth, coaching could be a great fit for you.

Coach Shy's Bottom Line: Sign up for a mini-session to see how coaching can transform your life!

During a coaching session, you’ll discuss your goals, challenges, and progress. The coach will ask questions to help you gain clarity and suggest strategies to move forward. Sessions are typically collaborative and focused on solutions, not just discussing problems.

Transformative coaches typically guide you through three primary stages to ensure these benefits are realized:

1. Awareness: Envisioning a better life that truly represents your values.
2. Alignment: Linking your newfound self-awareness to specific desired outcomes.
3. Action: Setting realistic, actionable steps based on your internal shifts.

Coach Shy's Bottom Line: Expect sessions laser focused on action steps to reach your goals.

The length of coaching varies depending on the client’s goals and needs. Some clients may see progress in a few sessions, while others may choose longer-term coaching to address more complex issues. Your coach will work with you to develop a plan that fits your unique situation.

Coach Shy's Bottom Line: Most clients start with a 3 or 4 session package. Evaluate progress and reup as needed. Some clients prefer to stack sessions quarterly for yearlong support. 

Life coaching can lead to increased self-awareness, clarity, and confidence. It helps clients set realistic goals, improve personal relationships, enhance career prospects, and overcome obstacles that may be holding them back from reaching their potential.

No, coaching is for anyone looking to make positive changes in their life. Whether you want to improve your career, relationships, personal growth, or overall well-being, coaching can provide the support and tools you need to achieve your goals.

1. Clinical Mental Health Needs

Coaching is designed for "mental fitness" rather than "mental health" treatment. It is not a substitute for therapy or psychiatry when:

• Diagnosable Conditions Exist: If you are experiencing symptoms of clinical depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder, you need a licensed mental health professional. Concurrent coaching may be a helpful adjunctive (add-on) when appropriate. Discuss with your medical/psychiatric provider.
• Severe Trauma: Life coaches are generally not trained to process deep-seated trauma or past psychological wounds.
• Addiction or Crises: Serious issues like substance abuse or suicidal ideation require specialized clinical intervention.

2. Lack of Readiness for Personal Accountability

Coaching is a partnership, not a service that "fixes" you. It is not a good fit if:

• Seeking a "Fixer": If you expect the coach to solve your problems while you remain passive, you will not see results.
• Uncoachable/Unwillingness to Change: If you are resistant to trying new behaviors or examining limiting beliefs, coaching will likely be ineffective.
• Lack of Commitment: Success requires significant work between sessions; without this commitment, progress will stall.

3. Misunderstanding the Role of a Coach

Coaching differs from consulting or mentoring in its approach to advice. It is not a good fit if:

• You Want Direct Instructions: If you need someone to tell you exactly what to do (e.g., how to file taxes or run a specific software), a consultant or mentor is more appropriate.
• You Want a "Wise Friend": A coach must remain impartial and challenge you.