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Life coaching is a form of therapy designed to help people attain greater fulfillment in their lives.

Life coaches endeavor to assist their clients in improving their relationships and careers, achieving goals, and overcoming challenges. Life coaches act as mentors, trusted partners, and lay therapists. Although life coaches do not treat mental health issues, they do assist clients in navigating such issues, establishing a recovery plan, maintaining stability, managing symptoms, rebuilding relationships, and finding a purpose in life.

Life coaches are usually not mental health professionals, yet they do provide emotional support services so, in that sense, many of their services often overlap with those of mental health professionals. In that respect, life coaching may appropriately be considered an alternative mental health treatment.

The line between life coaching and mental health care can be murky. Mental health therapists and other mental health professionals focus on treating mental health conditions and helping patients deal with emotional trauma. Life coaches do this as well. However, unlike life coaches, mental health therapists must have a degree and licensure, receive accreditation, follow a specified ethical code, and adhere to ongoing education and confidentiality regulations.

Life coaches, on the other hand, are not governed by an established board and aren't responsible for complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Life coaching can be whatever the life coach wants it to be. Anyone who is helping someone with their life in some way can call themself a life coach. While there are schools and other educational programs teaching life coaching skills, some of which may offer accreditation, there is no governing board or licensing body regulating the field.

Of course, this doesn't imply that life coaching might not be a reasonable option for someone who needs help with these things.

Despite the fact that education is optional for life coaches, most active life coaches hold certification from a professional coaching institution, and some others are licensed professionals in related fields. On the other hand, some certificate programs don't require much for completion.

Interest in life coaching is growing. Not long ago, Tony Robbins was perhaps the only life coach that anyone had ever heard of. His career began while he was promoting seminars for motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, when he was only seventeen years old. In 2010, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins debuted on NBC. On this show, Robbins guided participants of the show in facing personal challenges. Although the show was canceled after only two episodes had aired, it was picked up by Opray Winfrey's OWN Network, and he later appeared on Oprah's Lifeclass, a self-help program that aired on the same network.

Life coaching was an outgrowth of these shows, with a touch of motivational speaking built in. Life coaches also provide peer support.

Of course, what is known as life coaching today is far more personal than a motivational speech or reality television show. Life coaching is often a one-on-one experience, although some coaches do often group coaching.

Some life coaches offer support for all aspects of a client's life, but others focus on specific areas of life, such as assisting clients in their recovery from addiction, choosing and adhering to a diet or fitness program, relationships, business and career success, spirituality, or life skills.

Both group and individual life coaching has helped people deal with procrastination, lose weight or learn to eat healthier, or do better in their businesses or careers.

Life coaching is working for a lot of people, including both clients and coaching.

Common benefits to life coaching are the ability to get a fresh perspective on problems, new insight into challenges, and accountability. By working with a life coach, clients are often able to achieve their goals more efficiently.

The tools and techniques employed by well-trained life coaches can be beneficial, but clients should research a life coach's certifications, training, and reputation. Although there is some overlapping, life coaches are not mental health professionals, although a skilled life coach may be able to help clients determine the need for, and find qualified mental healthcare.

Individuals wanting to become a life coach simply need a passion to help others and a qualified course that can teach the necessary skills and techniques. Currently, there is no official coaching board or governmental requirements.

 

 

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