Life coaches support and encourage people to help them fulfil their potential and make the most of their lives. They aim to help their clients in areas such as relationships, careers, fitness, work-life balance and self-confidence.

Life coaches will work with their clients to:

• explore their situation
• discuss their values, attitudes and beliefs
• find ways in which they might achieve their aims
• help them to set appropriate goals
• encourage them to maintain motivation and commitment
• explore ways of overcoming barriers and setbacks.

The main aim of a life coach is to empower their client to take control of their situation. They can work with a range of clients, from individuals to an entire business. Some coaches offer a general service, while others specialise in a particular area, such as executive and business coaching, life changes or spiritual coaching.

A life coach may sometimes suggest referral to an appropriate therapist if a client agrees that this would be beneficial.

Hours and Environment

As a life coach, you will normally set your own working hours. You will work to a schedule of sessions lasting between 30 minutes and one hour, as agreed with your client.

Although you will normally be office-based, you can conduct sessions face-to-face, over the phone or online. Some of your time will be spent preparing and reviewing sessions.

Skills and Interests

To be a life coach you need:

• excellent listening, questioning and communication skills
• the ability to inspire confidence
• the ability to motivate clients and encourage them to achieve their goals
• the ability to remain objective and non-judgemental.

Entry

Life coaching is not currently regulated in the UK and anyone can work in this field if they feel they have the necessary skills and qualities. Many people move into life coaching from other 'helping' professions such as counselling, teaching or mentoring. 

Increasingly, clients are demanding accreditation and membership of professional organisations. There is no nationally recognised route to accreditation, but a good starting point is to choose a course that is endorsed by the professional bodies. See Further Information below for contact details.

Choosing a course
Life coaching training is currently unregulated, so it is important that you gather as much information as possible before choosing a course.

As well as looking at the costs involved, check that the course offers:

• real-life testimonials from coaches that have attended the course
• good resources for developing skills
• contacts with other coaching and mentoring bodies, or universities
• some supervised work with a practising life coach
• advice on setting up a business
• opportunities for Continuing Professional Development
• some practical training like workshops and seminars.

The Coaching and Mentoring Network is an independent body that helps to promote the services of life coaches and has details of life coaching training. See Further Information below for contact details

Masters' degrees in coaching are available to graduates at some universities, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers an Advanced Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring. These courses contain life coaching modules which are generally business-oriented.

Training

Once you are working as a life coach, you can become accredited by the UK International Coach Federation (ICF). They have three grades of membership:

• Associate – 100 hours’ coaching experience and 60 hours’ training
• Professional  – 750 hours’ experience and 125 hours' training
• Master  – 2,500 hours’ experience and 200 hours’ training.

Contact ICF for further details of accredited training providers (details in Further Information below).

The Association of Coaching is a membership organisation that represents the interests of number of coaches most of which offer life coaching services. They offer details of training providers, networking services and Continuing Professional Development.

Some courses may be affiliated to the European Mentoring and Coaching Council which promotes good practice and standards within coaching generally. See Further Information for contact details.

Opportunities

As a life coach, you are usually self-employed and will need to develop your business through networking, marketing and reputation. Some coaching organisations will offer you assistance in this if you are a member.

Membership of a professional society will often help you to obtain professional indemnity insurance.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Life coaches earn on average £50 to £75 a session, although some can earn up to £250 an hour, particularly for corporate work. They may take the client’s financial circumstances into account when charging.

Further information

248 Walsall Road
Bridgtown
Cannock
Staffordshire
WS11 0JE
Tel: 0870 751 8823
3 Albion Place
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS1 6JL
Tel: 0845 123 3720 PO Box 5551
Newbury
Berks
RG20 7WB
Tel: 0870 733 3313 66 Church Road
London
W7 1LB
151 The Broadway
London
SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200