A life coach helps people gain clarity, understand patterns in their thoughts and behaviour, and make better decisions about their lives.
This guide explains what a life coach actually does, how life coaching works, and when it is, and is not, the right type of support.
How Life Coaching Works in Practice
Life coaching usually takes place through regular one-to-one sessions, often weekly or bi-weekly.
Sessions typically involve:
- Discussion of current situations or challenges
- Reflection on thoughts, emotions, and reactions
- Identifying options and choices
- Setting intentions or actions between sessions
The process is collaborative and client-led. A coach guides the conversation, but the client decides the direction.
What Life Coaching Is Not
Life coaching is often misunderstood.
It is not:
- Therapy or counselling
- Medical or mental health treatment
- Advice-giving
- Crisis intervention
A life coach does not diagnose, treat, or resolve mental health conditions. Coaching focuses on personal development, and not clinical care.
Life Coaching vs Therapy
Life coaching and therapy serve different purposes.
Therapy often focuses on healing past trauma, managing mental health conditions, or treating emotional distress.
Life coaching focuses on understanding patterns in the present and making conscious choices about the future.
Coaching may complement therapy, but it does not replace it.
Who Is Life Coaching For?
Life coaching is suitable for people who:
- Feel stuck, lost, or unsure of direction
- Want clarity around decisions or next steps
- Are experiencing repeated patterns they don’t fully understand
- Want support during change, transition, or uncertainty
- Are ready to reflect honestly and take responsibility
Life coaching works best for people who are emotionally stable enough to engage in reflection and action.
When Life Coaching May Not Be the Right Fit
Life coaching may not be appropriate if someone:
- Is experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or emotional distress
- Needs clinical or medical support
- Is in immediate crisis
- Is unwilling to engage in self-reflection
In these situations, professional medical or therapeutic support is more appropriate.
Types of Life Coaching
Life coaching can focus on different areas depending on the challenge or situation.
Common types include:
- Anger coaching
- Stress coaching
- Anxiety coaching
- Clarity coaching
- Confidence coaching
- Burnout coaching
Each type of coaching explores a different area of life, but all follow the same core coaching principles.
How to Decide If Life Coaching Is Right for You
Life coaching is not about fixing something that is broken.
It is about understanding yourself more clearly and making deliberate choices.
If you are looking for clarity, direction, or personal insight, and are open to reflection and responsibility, life coaching may be a good fit.