Whats a life coach?

A Life Coach is a trained/certified professional who works in a coactive relationship with a client to help them determine and achieve personal goals. A Life Coach doesn't give advice. They typically act as a sounding board, provide focus and direction, hold the client accountable, and can also be a cheerleader. The exact role of the coach is somewhat customized per client and is agreed upon prior to engaging with the client.

Most coaches get paid on a hourly or monthly basis. The rates vary depending on the length and scope of the work

A Life Coach is like a consultant. They are typically "fee for service" professionals that have some kind of a Humanities Degree. These people listen to your problems and questions that you can't figure out for yourself and give you answers that you want hear. Then they charge you $120 per hour or so to help make you feel better. The main difference with these professionals, is that they focus on your "entire life" (past, present,future), instead of a singular crisis such as divorce, sexual hang-up or Jerry Springer life event.

Thank you......How do know which coach is right for you? I imagine that different coaches have different expertise.

I suggest you check out the website for Intl Coach Federation at www.coachfederation.org. There you'll find loads of info on coaching and specifically on how to select a coach

Thanks again

Hi Jack Z

A favorite quote of mine that really sums-up life coaching is from Tom Landry:

"A coach is someone who gets you to do what you don't want to do, so that you can be who you want to be."

Yes, coaches vary not only with expertise but also with style. It is a good idea to try a free sample session with one or even several coaches to see if there is a connection, and thus a good working relationship.