**“So what exactly is a Professional Career or life coach?” **

That’s the question I hear most often when I share my new profession with friends, family members, and former colleagues. When I ask them to tell me what they think a career/life coach does, I get many answers, none of them the same.

Most people can describe what therapists, psychologists, mentors, and even executive coaches provide to clients. And many people have used one or more of these services. Career or Life coaching, however, is relatively new in comparison to these similar professions, and thanks to examples in pop culture, it’s often misunderstood.

**What Is a Professional Coach for Work and Life?**

Let’s start with the basics: I prefer the name “Professional Coach for Work and Life”—to keep things simple, I’ll use Professional Coach—because a legitimate coach has been formally trained to help anyone with challenging personal or work situations. A Professional Coach is not a mentor, an advisor, a consultant, or a therapist. Although there can be some overlap, all of these professions offer unique services with specific benefits. For instance, a therapist will help you learn to better cope with psychological challenges, while a mentor may be both a friend and a sounding board for professional growth in your chosen field.

A Professional Coach, on the other hand, is an individual who can help a client to address the most challenging decisions in his or her life. When a person feels stuck or indecisive at work or home, seeking the help of a Professional Coach can allow them to finally move forward. Of course, the individual must be ready to make a change, and as is often the case, willing to give up something in order to reach a new goal.

**How Does a Professional Coach Help?**

A Professional Coach shines a light on a client’s hidden strengths and helps him or her consider possibilities that might otherwise seem out of reach. A Professional Coach asks thoughtful questions about the client’s self-limiting beliefs because we work under the assumption that clients always have the right answer—it’s just hidden deep underneath layers of negative self-talk and fear. How many times have you heard someone say (or thought to yourself), “I can’t do this,” “It’s too hard to make a change,” “I’m not good enough,” or “What will people think of me if I fail?” These thoughts are all related to self-limiting beliefs. They hinder people from moving forward, and force us to dwell on possibility rather than affecting real change.

Sound familiar? You need a Professional Coach, as does anyone who’s ever …

… wanted to change from a lucrative career to something more fulfilling but less financially stable, or

… wondered whether spending thousands on a dream wedding makes sense, or

… thought about buying a home but was too afraid of the monthly mortgage or being rejected by the banks, or

… believed they deserved a promotion but were scared to ask their boss because she/he might say no or get upset and retaliate, or

… struggled with any big decision like one of these above.

When questions like this come into our lives, they can sometimes stay with us for many years and cause us pain and sadness. I know this because I’ve been there many times. Friends and family can talk to you from a caring, loving, and supporting perspective, but a Professional Coach asks non-judgmental, challenging questions that make you reconsider your capabilities. The long and short: Almost anything is possible as long as you have the discipline to work hard, take risks, adapt to change, and give up something you are comfortable with today so you can move forward with a new goal/vision tomorrow.

Once you take one step out of your comfort zone, you’ll start to gain confidence, get more creative in solving problems, have more energy, and experience a boost in your overall happiness. But it all comes down to a pivotal first step: You need to believe in yourself. A Professional Coach will help you think through your unlimited possibilities. Once you start tapping into your hidden strengths, you start making progress toward your goals.

**How Did I Become a Professional Coach?**

I wish I’d had a Professional Coach long ago who could help me to see what I really wanted to do with my career. I struggled with my personal and professional life for over 25 years. I worked not because of particular passion or drive for success, but because I wanted financial security. A regular paycheck provided that, but I ended up in the emergency room almost every year because of severe chest, stomach, or back pains. After many costly tests, the answer was always the same: I was overstressed and overworked. That’s because I was in the wrong profession and devoted my life to it for nearly three decades. Yes, the income was great and gave me many incredible opportunities that I’ll always be thankful for, but I was miserable internally. What would it have been like to have a smaller income but do the things I always longed to do? This is a common question presented to Professional Coaches and it's one I’m excited and grateful to help clients answer.

My coaching story began two years ago when I realized what I truly wanted to do: Support others to achieve their most important goals at work and in their personal lives. Before I got started, I decided to educate myself in the latest knowledge around coaching as well as the field’s best practices. I searched for months and found a ton of online schools, some cheaper and easier than others. Instead, I signed up for the UC Davis Professional Coach for Work and Life program—a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum that requires two full days of in-person classes every other week. UC Davis teaches the International Coaching Federation (ICF) 11 core competencies. Each core competency is critical in any coaching practice. I am a true believer in the ICF methods of coaching.

**Why It Matters That Your Coach is ICF Certified?**

It’s important to note, that none of the ICF core competencies talks about providing advice, mentoring, or making decisions for the clients. The ICF philosophy teaches that clients know the best answer for themselves, and with the support of a Professional Coach, they will find their own way to where they need to go when it’s time to make changes.

Becoming a life coach doesn’t require training; there are no regulations and no state license available. Anyone can print some business cards and call themselves a Professional Coach. And there are many schools, different practices, and all styles of coaching, but I believe ICF recommends the best coaching method, along with strict business and professional ethics, a coaching agreement, confidentiality, and more. (If you’re curious, you can get details here).

To find an ICF-credential Professional Coach, visit the ICF Coach Finder page. On the left side of the page, use the filters to narrow down your search.

The ICF site also has a great visual representation of the best approach to finding a coach, if you’re wondering what you should do to get started and most importantly, how to choose the best Professional Coach for you.

If you’re ready to dive in, you can schedule a free 30-minute coaching consultation today. Visit my calendar to see my availability and book an appointment.

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