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Clinical Supervision Life coaching is all about becoming more effective in some area of our lives.
The life coach works with a client to help this to happen. This is a new, emerging profession and is a relative of counselling. Jenny Rogers, a leading coach, defines it in these terms:
| "The coach works with clients to achieve speedy, increased and sustainable effectiveness in their lives and careers through focused learning. The coach's sole aim is to work with the client to achieve all of the client's potential — as defined by the client."
"Coaching Skills - A Handbook" by Jenny Rogers, Open University Press 2004 |
What, then, is the difference between coaching and counselling?
Some counsellors and coaches claim that they are completely different. Yet many counsellors use coaching skills as a normal part of their work. This is particularly true of counsellors trained in brief methods of counselling, and counsellors with a background in personal development education or life skills such as stress management. The skills specific to these areas are essentially coaching skills.
In other words there is often a large area of overlap between the skills of a counsellor and those of a coach.
Pure coaches limit their activities to helping clients achieve their goals. If clients have therapy needs, the coach refers them on to a counsellor or psychotherapist.
I use coaching skills in many aspects of my work, particularly with couples. My work in stress management and weight management may also be described as "coaching".
The advantage of working with a coach-counsellor is that if therapy needs are identified, the coaching work can be put on hold while your counselling needs are addressed. Coaching can be resumed later.
A thorough assessment at the first session will ensure that you are offered the right help at the right time.
