You might be wondering if coaching is really for you. Well, you’re about to find out!
In this post you’ll learn what coaching is and is not, why it is important, how is the coaching process and the benefits coaching has in your life. I’ll also give you some pointers so you can decide if coaching is really for you.
What Exactly is Coaching?
According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching is defined as:
“Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
This definition highlights that coaching is a collaborative relationship.
It’s not about giving advice or solving problems for someone, but rather creating a supportive space where clients are empowered to gain clarity, unlock insights, and take meaningful action toward their goals.
The coach facilitates the process, but the client is the expert in their own life and work.
Coaching is:
- It is an honest and open partnership between you and me
- It gives you the help you need to connect to yourself, your wisdom, creativity and passion, to take action to create the life you really want
- It is 100% confidential and non-judgemental
- Focuses in the present/future instead of your past
- Uses active listening and powerful questions to help you achieve your goals and offer you more choices
- Is based on the philosophy that you already know the answers to most of your challenges but lack confidence or insight to take action
Coaching is NOT:
- It is not mentoring, therapy, counselling, training or consulting meant to fix you. You are NOT broken!
- Training or teaching that focuses on sharing knowledge and best practices. There might be some sharing of information as per client’s request but never with the intention to educate you.
- It won’t provide solutions or give you advice (it helps you figure it out in your own terms)
- It does not analyse or make recommendations
- It does not dwell on your past and make you relieve difficult situations. This is a safe space to move forward and focus on improving/changing your present and future.
- Not for everyone, it requires a commitment of time and energy that some might not be able to comply with.
Why You’d Want Coaching
There are multiple reasons you might need coaching. You might be feeling lost and confused and want some help navigate life and gain some clarity on your next steps.
Reframing your perspective on certain situations that bring you frustration, anger or misalignment are consequences of effective coaching.
Personal Growth
You can gain great insights by coming in with an open-mind and heart to work on becoming the best version of yourself.
Resilience
Coaching can help you gain resilience and reframe how you feel, think and see difficulties and obstacles in life as well as guide you to find your own resolution mechanisms.
Purpose and Clarity
Reduce overwhelm and overthinking, get out of survival mode. Get clear on your purpose and take inspired action.
Accountability
Change your habits and mindset to improve your life and get closer to your goals with accountability coaching.
Coaching is Not Therapy
Sometimes it can be beneficial to have both a coach and a therapist.
These definitions were adapted from the ICF website.
ICF defines coaching as “partnering in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires a person to maximize their personal and professional potential. The coach is the expert in the coaching process, but you are the expert on your life journey.” It tends to focus on the present and future.
Consultants focus on solving specific and tangible goals. They also help their clients develop specific skills to achieve the goals on their own. It differs from mentoring as it focuses on a specific target instead of the process of general growth.
“A mentor provides subject matter expertise, wisdom and guidance based on their own experiences.”
In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and professional growth of a mentee.
“Therapy deals with healing pain, trauma, dysfunction or conflict of some kind, typically with the goal of resolving difficulties that impair an individual’s emotional health and psychological functioning.”
It can tend to focus on the past with the intention of healing in order to move forward.
What can Coaching be used for?
To work on topics and areas of life such as:
- Relationships
- Health
- Money
- Mindset
- Trauma
- Addiction
I personally focus on Mindset while maintaining a holistic approach.
Other areas of coaching I can help you with include: Burnout Syndrome, Anxiety, Life’s purpose, Mindfulness, Spirituality, Law of Attraction and Abundance
Coaching Checklist
You can have great success working with a coach such as myself if you are:
Open-minded and ready for change
About trying unconventional techniques to change your habits, such as EFT, meditation, Hypnosis, breathwork and rage dancing
Committed with time and energy
To your growth and will complete the tasks assigned that aid you in this journey
Ready to invest in yourself
It is an investment that your future self will thank you for making in this moment in your life.
Curious
About using the Law of Attraction and the other laws of the Universe to help you manifest your dream life
What happens in a coaching session?
All coaching sessions can be different according to the coach’s speciality and client’s needs. Here is what happens when you decide to work with me:
Goal Setting
We start off by setting desired outcomes for the session and work through a game plan to get you from point A (feeling overwhelmed) to point B (feeling empowered).
Erase Limiting Beliefs
Challenge current beliefs and reframe your mindset. I will ask questions, challenge assumptions, and help you gain clarity in a non-judgemental way.
Nervous System Regulation
Start somatic practices for a total body reset and mind, body and soul alignment. Create your best self and feel empowered.
Integration
At the end of the session we will recap by gathering the main takeaways and decide on actionable steps you can take to change and improve your life.
Get ready to have:
- More inner peace and sense of purpose in their life to take care of their mind, body and soul
- Action plans and tools to help them manifest their desires
- A better connection with their intuition and spirituality
- Less judgement and auto-destructive inner critic
- Inspiration (with a framework) to beat procrastination
- More self-esteem and confidence
- Coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety
- A healthy and balanced lifestyle
Coaching gives you the tools to create lasting shifts in your mindset, helping you experience more inner peace, greater confidence, and a deeper clarity about who you truly are—so you can show up fully in your everyday life.
See Jen’s Journey…
I cannot recommend Jo more highly. If you are ready to make a change, I couldn’t think of anyone more supportive or professional to help you
I had just turned forty, and having spent the last 10 years or so feeling totally stuck emotionally; feeling anxious, prone to low mood, and generally just living a pretty miserable existence, I decided to embark on life coaching.
Joana has, without doubt, changed my life. In the time we have been working together she has provided me with a powerful insight into who I am, reduced the feelings of shame and negativity, and pushed me to focus on my personal development.
