By Willie Nicol, Moderator and Life Coach
As a certified Life Coach, I am passionate about helping people become "better" versions of themselves, achieve their goals, reach their potential and overcome life's issues. Life coaching helps people create positive changes in their lives, but is still misunderstood and associated with myths and misconceptions. This November, I am starting Life Coach peer support sessions, and want to share the benefits and dispel the myths of life coaching.
A Little Bit About Me
I graduated with a Law Degree at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and then enjoyed a thirty year career as a Police Officer. After retiring from police work, I spent seven years in corporate security management before being unexpectedly made redundant due to company downsizing.
Deciding to the leave law enforcement/security environment far behind me, I gained certifications as a Life Coach, Hypnotherapist and Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). Over five years ago I set up my own business as a personal development and mindset change coach. I now use all my experience, skills and training to work with people who are committed to being a “better version” of themselves by helping them find their own answers to issues that are holding them back in life or stopping them achieving the results they really want.
What Is Life Coaching And Who Is It For?
Life coaching helps people achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and create positive changes in their lives. However, there are also many misconceptions and myths about life coaching that can prevent people from even considering it.
Myth 1: Life coaching is the same as therapy (or counselling)
Both are forms of helping professions that aim to support people's well-being. Therapy focuses on the past in order to heal traumas and resolve psychological issues. While life coaching can also assist with traumas and psychological issues, it primarily focuses on the future to help people with creating goals, developing action plans, and enhancing performance and potential.
Myth 2: Life coaching is only for people who have problems
While life coaching can certainly help people who are facing difficulties or challenges, it can also benefit people who are already successful, happy, or fulfilled, but who want to achieve more, grow more, or explore new possibilities. Life coaching, therefore, can help anyone who wants to enhance their personal or professional development, improve their skills or habits, or discover their passions or purpose.
Myth 3: Life coaching is a one-size-fits-all solution
Life coaching is a highly personalized and customized process that adapts to the needs, goals, and preferences of each individual. It’s not about the coach telling people what to do, how to do it, or why to do it. Instead, it’s about the coach asking the right questions, listening deeply, providing feedback, and facilitating self-discovery and self-empowerment. Life coaching is not a fixed formula, but a dynamic and creative partnership between the client and coach.
Myth 4: Life coaching is expensive and time-consuming
Life coaching is not restricted to a privileged few as it can be done online, over the phone or in person, depending on the preference of the client and the coach.
It can be as short as a single session or as extended as a year-long programme, subject to the progress of the client. Coaching can also take place individually or in groups.
Myth 5: Life coaching is easy - anyone can do it
Life coaching requires training, experience and skills as well as high levels of integrity and ethics. It’s not about the coach giving advice, opinions, or solutions, but instead it’s about the coach empowering people to find their own answers, insights, and actions.
A life coach is not a friend, a mentor, or a guru, but is rather a facilitator, a catalyst, and a partner in order to get the client to where they want to be.
At Pay What You Can Peer Support, I am now offering Life Coaching sessions every Friday at 10 a.m. ET to help interested participants with creating goals, developing action plans, and enhancing performance and potential. To sign up for one of my weekly life coaching sessions and see if this session is right for you, click "Weekly Schedule" and sign up by clicking "Book Now."