Frequently Asked Questions About the Role of a Professional Life Coach

A professional life coach in Richardson, Texas can guide you from where you are to where you want to be and inspire positive change in your life. He or she is a strategic thinking partner who comes alongside you to help you discover your potential and maximize your personal and professional potential.

What is the difference between a professional life coach and a therapist?

Professional life coaches can help you evaluate what is holding you back from achieving your goals and offer suggestions on ways you can improve your overall sense of well-being, but they are not qualified to make diagnoses or treat mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.

Another key difference lies in their area of focus. Therapists focus on the past, and on helping you identify and process what’s at the root of your current mental health issues so you can heal from them. Professional life coaches, on the other hand, focus on the present, and on what you can do now, to reach your desired future.

Is a life coach and a professional life coach the same thing?

There are no formal training requirements or accreditations needed to become a life coach, and the terms life coach and professional life coach are often used interchangeably. A professional life coach, however, typically refers to someone who has taken a formal training program and received a life coach certification from a professional association such as the International Coach Federation (ICF).

How can I tell if I need a professional life coach?

If you can relate to any of the following scenarios, you may find it helpful to work with a professional life coach.

• You are at a crossroads and not sure which way to go.
• You need help navigating a significant life change, such as a new career.
• You feel something is missing, and would like to improve your life, but don’t know how.
• You feel discontented and unfulfilled and would like to know how to build a more meaningful life.
• You are dissatisfied at work and would like to achieve greater success in your professional life.
• You lack purpose and are wondering what to do with your life.
• You are struggling to reach your goals and don’t feel as though you are living up to your potential.
• You want to make a change but are afraid to do it.
• You feel stuck and as though your sense of creativity is blocked.
• You can’t seem to be able to break bad habits.
• You need help identifying and addressing what is blocking your personal and/or professional progress.

What can I expect?

A professional life coach in Richardson, Texas can help you find direction, identify goals, and build a vision for your future. He or she does not give advice or tell you what to do, but rather, uses targeted questions and reframing techniques to help you see things from fresh perspectives, identify limiting thought patterns and beliefs that are standing in your way, and empower you to come up with your own insights and solutions.

What can it benefit me?

One of the prime benefits is accountability in carrying out your action plan. Having someone to provide structured guidance, support, and encouragement helps reduce procrastination and keep you focused and motivated.

Studies have found that people who work with a professional life coach tend to reach their goals faster and more efficiently. If you are interested in pursuing professional life coaching or in learning more about it, please give us a call today at Texas Christian Counseling, Richardson.