A Professional Life Coach's Roles

Let's again use the example of an athlete to further understand the roles of therapists and professional life coaches.

Professional Life Coach

A basketball player wants to improve his scoring ability. He practices four to five hours a day and improves a little, but not much. He knows there is something he's doing that slows him down when he dribbles the ball across the court, but he can't determine what it could be. He finally tells his coach about his dilemma. The coach asks a few questions and then watches him in play. He eventually points out that the player is turning his right foot in when he runs. Once the player corrects his habit, he gains better time traveling across the court and is able to concentrate on other ways to improve his playing. It works for you to liken his coach to a professional life coach.

Therapist

This time let's say that the basketball player has been struggling to increase his time, but an old injury to his ankle keeps getting in his way. No matter how long he practices, or how many times he massages his ankle or takes anti-inflammatories, he's still unsuccessful at increasing his time. His coach, seeing his frustration, finally sends him to a doctor to have his old injury evaluated and get additional help for his ankle. The doctor, in this case, would be like a therapist.

Professional Life Coach

Here are some other areas where a professional life coach could be invaluable:

• Your professional life coach won’t look at you as a “patient.” Professional life coaches meet with their clients as “equals.” A good professional life coach looks at you as someone to help, not heal.
• One of a professional life coach’s most important functions is to hold a client accountable. Your professional life coach will help you develop specific strategies and daily plans to make achieving your goals and life changes possible.
• Professional life coaches are generally more accessible than a therapist. A relationship with a professional life coach can truthfully be seen as a “friend-friend” rather than a “doctor-patient.” A professional life coach won’t diagnose medical or mental problems. The experienced professional life coach will offer morale boosting advice and specific steps to manifest change. Your professional life coach is your mentor.
• A professional life coach can guide you into ways to work less and earn more.
• Many of us are frustrated because our work steals free time with our families. A professional life coach can make family time more available by assisting you to be higher functioning when you work.