A life coach is a trained professional who works with individuals to support personal growth, clarify goals, and navigate transitions or challenges. Their role is to help you gain a better understanding of what you want in life—in your career, relationships, health or personal development—then guide you in taking practical, forward-focused steps to get there.
Unlike therapists, who often address past trauma or mental health conditions, life coaches concentrate on the present and future. They don’t diagnose or treat psychological disorders; instead, they focus on helping build self-awareness, setting achievable goals, and developing the mindset and habits needed to succeed.
What can a life coach do for you?
Clarify your vision: If you're feeling uncertain or stuck, a coach can help you define what matters most and what direction to take.
Create a plan: Coaches assist in breaking big goals into smaller, actionable steps.
Build accountability: Regular check-ins help you stay on track and follow through with your commitments.
Strengthen confidence: Through support and honest feedback, a coach can help you overcome self-doubt and trust your own decision making.
Improve balance: Coaches often work with clients to manage time more effectively and align their daily routines with their long-term goals.
Encourage growth: Whether you're trying to build better habits, take on a new role or navigate a major change, a coach provides the structure and motivation to keep moving forward.
Is a life coach right for you?
You might benefit from a life coach if you
- feel unsure about your next step or need help setting priorities;
- are motivated but struggle to stay focused or organized;
- want to make a change but feel overwhelmed by where to begin; and/or
- value external support and clear, action-oriented guidance.
This article was drafted with the assistance of an artificial intelligence language model and reviewed and edited by the author.