Frequently Asked Questions

Before you start your coaching, you’re sure to have several questions about the journey you will soon undertake. Here is a selection of common questions asked before coaching begins. If your question isn’t answered here, please get in touch: info@keytolifecoach.com.

What is professional coaching?

ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful, and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach's responsibility is to:

Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
Encourage client self-discovery
Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
Hold the client responsible and accountable

This process helps clients dramatically improve their outlook on work and life, while improving their leadership skills and unlocking their potential.

What is Life Coaching and What is a Life Coach?

Life coaching is a unique service equipped and designed to help ambitious go-getters achieve successful outcomes in all areas of life.

A life coach is someone who helps you get clarity about the direction of your life. In addition, a coach will help you uncover beliefs and values that don’t serve you. Unlike counseling or therapy, a life coach is interested in where you are and want to be. A life coach is for you if you want to maximize your potential and raise your standards above mediocrity.

A certified life coach is qualified to challenge, motivate, encourage, and support you in achieving your goals. They will help you discover your inner values and beliefs to motivate action in moving you towards your purpose. Furthermore, with a life coach, you will discover your strengths and hidden abilities to fast-track your goals and ultimately live a happier life.

What are some typical reasons someone might work with a coach?

An individual or team might choose to work with a coach for many reasons, including but not limited to the following:

Something urgent, compelling, or exciting is at stake (a challenge, stretch goal or opportunity)
A gap exists in knowledge, skills, confidence, or resources
A desire to accelerate results
A lack of clarity with choices to be made
Success has started to become problematic
Work and life are out of balance, creating unwanted consequences
Core strengths need to be identified, along with how best to leverage them

How does life coaching work and how does it differ from therapy?

Life coaching focuses on what you want to achieve and helps you get there faster. Using the tools and techniques life coaching teaches will help you become more outcome and focus-driven in your goal achievement. A life coach can keep you focused and on track by identifying available options that you may not have considered.

Although both coaches and counselors offer a support system to help, you gain strength and clarity to move forward. Coaching deals with where you are now and where you want to be. Counselors are often interested in helping you deal with past trauma. Life coaching is action-orientated, while counselors and therapists are more coping and healing orientated. Life coaches help you set goals and milestones; counseling helps you recognize and solve your problems in life. A coach is focused on your potential, while a counsellor helps you be at peace with yourself and your life. Certified life coaches are trained to help clients get ‘unstuck’ and move forward in life. Counselors are trained in human development and mental health conditions. Coaching is not covered by medical insurance, while therapy and counseling may be covered by health insurance etc.

Where does coaching take place How long are the sessions?

Much of my coaching takes place online over Webex or Zoom as I coach people worldwide. Locally, online coaching has been one of the most effective and convenient ways for individuals to take time out of their busy schedules. For people living in the Hampton Roads area, I offer face-to-face coaching that can take place either in a coffee shop or outside in nature.

You have the option to choose from two coaching plans: either 30 or 60 minutes. Coaching sessions can be weekly, biweekly, or monthly, whatever you feel comfortable with. Commitment and Consistency is key!

How much does it cost?

Most people I see believe that coaching is self-investment. Coaching costs can vary depending on what is required by the client and the type of coaching offered. The cost of having a life coach is a minimal price to pay for the life-changing experience you’ll have. Working with a coach requires both a personal commitment of time and energy as well as a financial commitment. Fees charged vary by specialty and by the level of experience of the coach. Individuals should consider both the desired benefits as well as the anticipated length of time to be spent in coaching. Since the coaching relationship is predicated on clear communication, any financial concerns or questions should be voiced in initial conversations before the agreement is made.

What are the benefits of life coaching?

First and foremost, all coaching is self-investment. Having a coach is having someone who has your best interests at heart. In addition, you will receive support from your coach when things get a little overwhelming. A life coach will guide you in a non-judgmental, supportive, and encouraging way so you can focus on your personal development. Coaches help keep you focused on where you want to be and motivate you to move forward. In addition, life coaching will help uncover hidden beliefs that sabotage your growth and success.

Who can have a life coach?

The simple answer is all types of people can use a life coach at some time in their life. However, some common characteristics of people who have a life coach; are a deep desire for change, a need for direction and a focus on achieving their dreams. Research has shown that people who have a life coach remain more focused and gain quicker results with the support and guidance of a coach.

What happens in a coaching session?

Each session is built upon the previous coaching session, ensuring a clear and definite path to the outcomes. During each session, we’ll review the actions and achievements from the last session and look at general progress made. We’ll look at your present position concerning your goal and uncover any obstacles you may need to overcome. Exploring what actions and behaviors worked and didn’t will be important for formulating new action steps. Lastly, we will look at what actions you want to set for yourself for the next session’s goal.