Life Coach Certification Or NOT
I'm involved in a life coaching forum and was perusing the entries one day and found an online conversation fraught with frustrations and stress. The stress and frustration had to do with a coach's inability to share their wisdom, knowledge and experience with the client. They had their own life coach certification. One of the posts was something like this,
" … unfortunately, as (a certain brand) coach we are not supposed to impart our wisdom. We are supposed to draw it out of client. I bite my tongue because I want to share some of what has been talked about here, but I am in life coach certification right now and my supervisor reminds me that I am supposed to be wisdomless and bring it out of the client because they are naturally creative, resourceful and whole."
This is exactly why I haven't gone through a formal life coach certification program.
I believe my clients are naturally creative, resourceful and whole also. They're wise enough to seek support when they are going through challenges, change and transition. It seems to me it is almost unkind and callous to withhold these thoughts from a client.
So as a result, my style of coaching includes mentoring in addition to coaching (asking powerful questions) which means besides helping the client plumb the depths of their own intuition, knowledge, inner guidance and wisdom, I often advise, counsel, guide and/or teach.
I continuously remind the client that they will know and that I am not them nor in them so I could be completely wrong but I have found that they come to rely and respect what I offer them since I too have often walked in their shoes and continue to walk my own path of transformation daily.
Having lived 70 years and consciously pursued a personal and spiritual growth path and being an acute observer of the human condition – mine and others – I feel it is my responsibility and joy to share that with those who ask. The counsel that I give can not be found through life coach certification but through life itself.
Now that you're done, I have one thing left I'd like you to do.
I'd love to hear your thoughts so comment below and (uh oh this is 2) please follow this blog over there on the right. I'd love to get to know you.
You know, I agree wholeheartedly with you! The post you reference sounds to closely like "counseling" and not coaching! I both provide therapy and coaching depending on the needs and desires of the client. Coaching is ... well ... coaching! Can you imagine a professional basketball or football coach having to hold back on their instruction or wisdom from experience because the potential for powerful performance lies within the player? Ludicrous! I am with you! I've lived 55 years and fought hard for the wisdom I own. I owe sharing that with my client.
ReplyDeleteAs a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist with many years in practice this question comes up often in counselling and therapy conversations with colleagues. The bottom line is that it is often impossible to get professional liability insurance without the certification. In a time of people filing law suits for all sorts of losses working without insurance can be risky. There are many different kinds of certification and finding one that suits your style can help with your credibility and your ability to charge a professional fee. There are many things to consider when giving advice and working with people. Hope this opens a few new thoughts. www.mbcinc.ca
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. Like Talyne, I have been a pseudo coach for quite some time, however I am now seeking to pursue it as a career. One of my questions or concerns is sharing my experience with my clients. My coach encourage me to do so, she said it's great for the client to know that you have been through the same thing, but she said to be careful not to force (for lack of better words) them to use your experience. This is a very fine line for me. I do share my experience when they are stuck and can't move forward, then I as so what can you do to help you move forward. In most cases the client don't even use what I said. It's just a way to get them thinking about what can be done in their life.
ReplyDeleteWow! So glad to find your site and especially that post. I've been a pseudo coach for years and just this year realized that I've not pursued it as a "career" not because of my lack of confidence, but because I wasn't "certified". My question has always been...who can 'certify' me in having this gift and where did they get their credentials?
ReplyDeleteLiving in rural Alaska poses many different coaching situations than one might experience in an urban or "Lower 48" setting. In fact, "certifications" can actually scare off some people in this neck of the woods...so it is a slow process bringing the idea to the borough (county) in which I live.
You are bookmarked...and I will be looking for the forums to join with other coaches as well.
Ditto Mark! well said
ReplyDeleteMaia,
ReplyDeleteYou do a nice job of blending coaching, mentoring, and imparting your own wisdom. Yes, coaching is all about the client and no client wants to sit and listen on and on to a coach who talks only about their own experiences. However, a good coach knows intuitively when it helps to impart some personal words of wisdom to move a client forward. I understand why new coaches, in classroom settings, are encouraged to keep focus on the client agenda. Certification experts might realize that classroom is an academic environment. Once out of the classroom, real time practice means stepping out, developing your own style, gaining coach/client alliances - and, often an intuitive sharing of personal experience is valuable for the client for a clearer vision of how to move forward.
I am, and have been, a coach for years. I have experience, and have bought numerous coaching trainings etc over the years to help me fine tune my craft. There are some good things that go with the certifications, but I choose in this as in most other areas to remain independent. This is a good example of why. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful that we get to choose.
ReplyDeleteA completely non directive approach is not coaching -- it is therapy. Good coaches have something to offer. They should share it willingly. The answer does not always lie within the coaching client.
ReplyDelete[…] This Is Exactly Why I Chose Not To Get A Life Coach Certification […]
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