What is a Life Coach and Why Whould I Want One?
By Rosalie Garde

Life Coaching is a title many people haven't heard. I hadn't heard of it myself until about four years ago. At the time I was introduced to it, I thought it was a person trained in Social Work who put programs into place for needy or troubled individuals. I suppose it could be like that, but most life coaches offer far different services.

Life Coaching is for any human - troubled or thriving. A life coach is merely a woman or man well-trained in a variety of communication skills and armed with resources, to help a person get from where they are to where they want to go next. Sometimes an individual doesn't know where they want to go next. They may feel stuck in a rut. They may feel bored or all washed up. Other times, they have goals but want an accountability partner to help them achieve them. Other times, there may be so many things they are interested in that they can't seem to focus on what matters most. The coaches can help clients to narrow their focus, cast off ways of doing life that aren't working for them, and develop some new tools or skills for dealing with situations. The coach can be the sounding board for a vent. We all need to vent once in awhile and we don't want to vent to individuals who will react and feel they need to do something as a result of our vent. For instance, if a co-worker vents to another co-worker, it can be seen as complaining or gossip. The other co-worker might fear the other person is incapable of doing her work or may react by reporting the complaint resulting in changes being made that weren't the purpose of the vent session. A coach is a safe person to vent to because a coach is outside the organization, the family, the sports team, the mother's group, the network a client is wanting to vent about. A coach strives to not cast judgment. She may, however challenge your thinking. That may or may not feel comfortable. Her desire for you to see another way to frame your circumstance, for instance, let's say you step out and try something and it goes nowhere and you are deeply disappointed or frustrated. It seems your efforts have fallen on deaf ears. Your coach can help you reframe it in to asking how it has become a lesson for you personally or how the might serve you in the days ahead? Maybe what transpired is what is needed in order to push you in a different direction or to pursue the development of skills that were missing. Together you might delve into what went wrong and why it affects you so deeply. Your coach may help you uncover other passions or unmet needs that are at the root of your disappointment. For the person of faith, a coach may ask, "What do you feel God is teaching you in this circumstance?" Most of life circumstances help a person grow, sometimes uncomfortably. One can either choose to see the negatives or find the pearl in pain. Having a life coach on your side can make all the difference in helping you to not dwell in the pain, but learn and move forward. Life Coaches are for anyone, and should be on your phone list and calendar, the same way as your hairstylist, dentist and annual checkup is. Most offer short term or a longer term commitment. Most coaching is done by long-distance telephone for anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour. So, if you find yourself in need of a life makeover, or just a quick vent, look for a life coach.

Rosalie Garde is a Certified Life Purpose Coach. Life Coaching consists of weekly telephone conversations to assist you in moving from where you are toward more purposeful living. Rosalie coaches from a Christian perspective.

She can be reached at http://www.RosalieGarde.com.

More articles can be found on her blog http://www.MinistryToWomenLPC.blogspot.com.

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