Life transitions have a way of shaking things up, and this past year has been no exception: from figuring out how to remain “socially distant,” to teaching our children while working from home (and still getting dinner on the table every night), to thinking twice about what makes for an acceptable Zoom meeting wardrobe, 2020 has kept us on our toes. For many of us, sheltering in place has given us a chance to think about making some changes, and while navigating through life's transitions can be overwhelming, it doesn't need to be. Whether you're thinking about turning that passion project into a business, making changes to get healthier or finally ditching the negative thought patterns that keep you from using your time and talents to their fullest potential, a life coach can help you overcome stumbling blocks and achieve the goals you've set for yourself once and for all.
The Difference Between Coaching and Therapy
Recognizing the difference between coaching and therapy can help determine the best course of action for your needs. While psychotherapy focuses on treating mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and other illnesses, coaching focuses on accountability, formulating plans of action for setting and achieving goals and working with clients to overcome the limiting beliefs that may be holding them back. And while both coaches and therapists may offer “deep dives” into what those limiting beliefs might be, coaching takes a more forward-centered approach to deal with those beliefs rather than delving into things like childhood trauma. If you find yourself consistently starting new projects but being unable to complete them, have trouble setting boundaries or if you often feel “stuck” when trying to move forward with a new idea, coaching is the way to go.
According to Barbara Berger, PCC, (Professionally Certified Coach) of Live Your Genuine: Coaching for Career & Life, in Allentown, coaching can amplify and champion one's higher purpose by offering “an infusion of energy, compassion, empathy, honesty, motivation and accountability. A coach acts as a mirror-holder, reflecting back your words, actions [and] insights so that you can achieve a fully expressed, fully realized, fully integrated version of yourself.”
Types of Coaching
Coaching services run the gamut, from focusing on health to careers, from accountability to decluttering, and the vastly popular mindset and manifestation. (Think “seeing” yourself in your mind's eye having already met your goal or “receiving” gifts from the universe that you desire before they come to fruition. That's manifesting.) Since the pandemic began, Berger says that clients have been using their downtime to reevaluate what is important in terms of their work life. “While you can't think your way to creating the life you want,” she says, “mindset coaching is the magical puzzle piece that elevates both career and life to new heights.” Using a blend of proprietary and time-tested coaching exercises, Berger helps clients foster new awareness and creates opportunities for them to unearth those answers for themselves.
Erin Miller, a personal development mentor (also located in Allentown), works primarily with mothers who are overwhelmed and dealing with anxiety through “reframing limiting beliefs and learning how to support the mind, body and soul with holistic awareness,” which she says allows her clients to be empowered. (Miller also holds a master's degree in counseling psychology.) Miller notes that the pandemic has shined light on issues that may have already been there but are now seemingly unavoidable. “In our pre-pandemic world, we became quite crafty in avoiding our needs,” she says. “The avoidance is no longer sustainable.”
Both coaches offer virtual services, with Berger also providing individual coaching at her Allentown office. Miller coaches in private social-media groups as well as via virtual classroom instruction, Zoom calls and traditional phone calls.
Coaching Costs
Rather than asking yourself if coaching is in your budget, the bigger consideration may be how much you're willing to invest in yourself, in terms of both time and money.
Depending on your needs, group coaching, or a Mastermind, may be a good starting point. For example, if you're looking to launch a podcast or turn a hobby into a business, being in a group with like-minded individuals working toward similar goals can prove both inspirational and beneficial. When you're ready to bring your business to the next level (and are making some money doing it) you could consider investing in one-on-one coaching for a more laser-focused approach later on. Most coaches offer a 15- or 30-minute “discovery call” during which you get to briefly discuss your goals with the coach and the coach explains how he or she works. This way, you can see if you're a good fit for each other before making an investment. “Have a few conversations and choose a coach where the chemistry and the credibility are a match for your goals," says Berger.
Miller notes that most coaching programs range from about six weeks to several months, with a price point of a few hundred dollars per month. To this end, a program could end up costing several thousand dollars, which can seem daunting to the average person. “It is a 100 percent guarantee that if you show up and do the work [in a coaching program], you will walk away an even more authentic version of yourself,” Miller affirms. “You will change for the better.” Miller, who has been coached herself, likens the investment to paying for a college course, except, in this case, “the course is yourself,” she says. “And everyone is worth it.”
Finding a Reputable Coach
Word of mouth and recommendations from those who have had success with coaches are ideal. Don't know anyone who's used a coach? Try a quick online or podcast search using keywords that reflect the area(s) you want to focus on, such as “mindset,” “accountability” or “life transitions.” You'll likely yield more results than you need, so whittle those down to the top three that resonate with you. And don't be swayed by the number of social media followers a coach may or may not have. While many may not be considered “influencers,” it's likely they have had just as much success as those who are. Sign up for their newsletter, download any free resource they offer and subscribe to their podcast if they have one. This will help you get a feel for what the coaches' specialties are and the services they offer.
No matter the obstacles facing you or the changes you wish to make, oftentimes taking that very first step—as unsteady as it may feel—leads to the next (and then the next) and before you know it, you're on your way. “In times of career or life transition, when there seems to be no solid footing, you can work with a coach to find that place in yourself, that bedrock, on which you can build the career or life you imagine,” says Berger.
