Frequently Asked Questions
What is life coaching?
There are many definitions for life coaching, but my personal definition is: “a process that unlocks the inner potential of a person, and in which empowers that person to overcome the obstacles in their life, to achieve their life’s purpose, and to become who they truly want to be.” Life coaching helps individuals reduce their stress, navigate relationship issues, further their career, improve their self-confidence and self-worth, find a healthy work-life balance, as well as many other benefits.
How do I get started with a free coaching session?
All you have to do is contact me. If you email or call and don’t reach me on the first try, I’ll be sure to contact you within 24 hours to schedule a free complimentary coaching session at your earliest convenience.
Who is life coaching for? How do I know if I personally need coaching?
Are you human? If the answer is yes, then you could benefit from coaching! But in all seriousness, there is not one person who can’t benefit from life coaching. People usually seek out a coach when they have an obstacle in their life that they can’t seem to get past, or perhaps a relationship that is in jeopardy. Usually these people would like some assistance in moving past that obstacle or in helping work through that relationship issue. In addition, people seek out coaching when they feel they are lacking something in their lives, whether that is purpose, time, money, happiness, companionship, or any number of life essentials.
Why does life coaching work?
Life coaching works for a number of reasons, the main reason being that it simply produces results. According to a recent ICF study, 99% of individuals who have had a life coach report that it was helpful for them, with 95% of those reporting that it’s been very helpful for them. In all, 96% reported that they would engage in coaching services again.
How do I choose a life coach?
First and foremost, you’ll want to choose a certified credentialed coach that belongs to the International Coach Federation (ICF), which is the most recognized certifying body for life coaches. If a life coach isn’t credentialed through the ICF, it’s kind of like going to a doctor who doesn’t have an MD. Sure, you could do it, but it’s not really a good idea. Second, you’ll want to ask them how much experience they have. Also, ask if they have any other degrees or experience in related fields. All of this plays into the differences between a bad, a good, and a great coach.
How is life coaching different from counseling?
In general, life coaching is focused on the future, whereas counseling is focused more on one’s past. Life coaching is also more action-oriented and focuses around goals, change, and results for the client, while counseling is focused more on inner healing and helping people move past psychological barriers and disorders. Lastly, life coaches give you the freedom on how you want to structure any given session, as well as the communication that follows; counselors often have a process or psychological model that they lead clients through on the road to overcoming trauma, mental illness, and addictions. While the two professions certainly have a lot of overlap, especially in the psychological arena, they are two distinctly different professions, and each individual has to decide which is right for themselves.
I’ve heard that life coaches aren’t as good as counselors. Is life coaching a legitimate profession?
There is no doubt that many “life coaches” aren’t exactly professionals. An increase in amateur coaches who have little to no proper training in life coaching has led to a stigma that life coaching isn’t a professional or worthwhile profession, even though that couldn’t be further from the truth. As a profession, coaching has been shown to reduce stress an average of 18% to 47% after a short three-month period (CoachConnect), and yields a return on investment of almost six times its cost (Business Wire). And as far as coaches are concerned, always remember to ask if a life coach is credentialed with the International Coach Federation (ICF), which lends credibility to the coach and to the profession. Take a look at all the ways to verify if a particular life coach is worth their weight in coaching!
Is life coaching a short-term process?
No. Life coaching helps to produce lasting change in someone’s life, which takes time. That’s why professional coaches don’t sign clients up per session, but through packages. All Life by John clients sign up for at least one month, simply because it takes at least that long to produce measurable results. When people sign up for less than that, they can often become discouraged since they might not immediately see the outcomes that they’re looking for (much like people who just started working out at a gym).
What happens if I find out that life coaching isn’t for me after we start?
This is of course a very valid concern for many individuals before they embark on such a journey. And indeed, one of my core values is honesty, making sure prospective clients have all the information they need to make an informed decision. That’s why I want to make sure you are completely aware of what the coaching process entails and if it’s right for you by scheduling a free complimentary session with you. You get to decide if we move forward, simple as that.
How do you handle confidentiality?
I personally consider every aspect of coaching to be highly confidential, and will never be discussed with anyone for any reason. What this means is that any form of communication or information expressed during any given coaching session will never be communicated to any third-party without prior written consent by the client. There are, however, two extremely rare exceptions: one, if the client, by the coach’s estimation, becomes a danger to themselves or to another individual, and two, if a court of law directly orders the coach to divulge such information to the court. In addition, the client agrees to the disclosure of their name and email address to the International Coach Federation for the purpose of the coach needing to officially document their coaching hours. The client will never be contacted by the ICF except for the possibility of confirming the documented hours.
What are some of the reasons people give for not wanting to hire a life coach?
The reasons usually fall into one of three categories: time, money, or energy. In other words, people say they don’t have enough time in their busy lives, or they don’t have the money at the moment, or they don’t have enough energy to devote to coaching. Many individuals, though, find that such concerns melt away when they understand the coaching process. While it may be a commitment financially and emotionally in the beginning, you are quite literally “investing” in yourself, and I have yet to encounter one person who after three months felt as if it wasn’t worth it. You might also want to take a look at some common coaching concerns that others share as well.
Are there any symptoms associated with life coaching?
Yes! Please be advised that life coaching may result in greater happiness, contentment, life enjoyment, job satisfaction, overall pleasure in life, and significantly less stress.
What type of life coaching do you specialize in?
Relationship and Career coaching. While there are many different niches to explore in the coaching profession, these two define my motivation for coaching and helping people. I personally have had a number of individuals close to me who struggle in these areas, and helping them through such difficult circumstances is very rewarding indeed. If you are struggling in your marriage or with family and friends, or if you’re having trouble with your current career or need to find a new one, please don’t hesitate to contact me so that we can start helping you too.
Isn’t Relationship and Career coaching very different fields of study?
They can be, but from my experience, there is more overlap than you might expect. Take corporate coaching, for example. Oftentimes coaches are brought in to help coach an executive to greater productivity and ultimately a promotion within the company, so you would imagine that most of the conversations with the executive would revolve around their career. Not so. Often it is the client’s marital issues that is holding them back, or perhaps their struggles with a positive work-life balance that is interfering with their potential. There is a saying among professional coaches that all coaching is life coaching after three sessions, and I would agree with that as well.
What other types of life coaching do you provide?
Outside of my specialty, I offer a wide variety of coaching including spiritual and/or Christian coaching, general life coaching, corporate coaching, health coaching, and many others. If you don’t see your situation listed here, contact me and we will discuss your unique situation and answer any questions you may have.
How long do you coach someone for on average?
The International Coach Federation (ICF) reports that the average coaching relationship lasts 12.8 months. Personally, I have had clients go as little as one month and some for multiple years (with the average being right around one year), but of course it’s completely up to the client and their specific goals.
What can I expect in my first complimentary session?
You’ll get to know more about coaching in general, have plenty of time to ask every question that you may have, and also receive plenty of actual coaching too. Feel free to schedule your complimentary session at any time.
What can I expect in my second and future sessions?
That is completely up to you. There’s a saying among professional coaches that “clients bring the content, and coaches bring the process.” If there’s a problem in your life, we can talk about it. If you need some assistance in achieving a desired goal, we can structure a set of actions that will get us there. And if you just need a sounding board, that’s what coaching is for, too! Sessions are tailored around your agenda and your desires, not the coach’s.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for a session?
Not really. You’ll have a couple of forms to fill out prior to the first official session, but for the most part just bring yourself. Coaching should be something that you plan for on your calendar, but not something that you stress about and excessively prepare for.
What happens if I can’t attend a session? What if the coach can’t attend a session?
For every one month period, each client is allowed one missed session they can use that will be rescheduled or credited back to the client’s account. I just ask that you let me know 24 hours in advance so that I can plan around it. And if I ever have to miss a session, I too will let you know 24 hours in advance, and those sessions will be rescheduled or credited back as well.
I have a disability or disorder. Can I still benefit from life coaching?
You absolutely can, and I have a great deal of experience in coaching individuals with disabilities. However, understand that life coaching is very different from counseling, and some individuals with disabilities or disorders do indeed need counseling more than coaching, since coaching cannot diagnose or treat any disorder. If you’re on the fence as to which one would be best for you, go ahead and contact me and we’ll schedule a complimentary session so that we can talk about it in greater detail at that time.
Do you offer group coaching or couple’s coaching?
Absolutely. Group coaching is particularly appropriate for conflict resolution and mediation type scenarios. In addition, the rates for group coaching do not change, so the cost of coaching can be divided among everyone who participates.
Do you offer spiritual and/or Christian coaching?
Yes, in two different forms. First, as a member of the the International Christian Coaching Association and the Christian Coaches Network, I offer Christian coaching to those who request it. Second, many individuals find that some form of religious or spiritual coaching in general is very helpful on their road to a more fulfilled life, and in this way I am also able to help too. Just bring up your desire or questions about this in your first complimentary coaching session, and we’ll talk about it in more detail.
Do you offer in-person, face-to-face coaching?
Yes, if you live near Scottsdale, Arizona in the United States. Since I’m a local-only coach, this is my primary method of coaching, so feel free to click here for more information.
Do you offer email coaching?
Yes, in the form of “emergency” coaching. Established clients are able to email me in the case that something happens that needs to be discussed immediately, but cannot wait until the next session. No matter what type of coaching you choose, you’ll have peace of mind that emergency coaching is available for you in-between sessions, just in case you need it.
Do you offer phone or Skype coaching?
Not at this time. According to a recent report, 81% of clients say that in-person coaching is the most effective coaching method, which is my primary method of coaching. Also, you will find many more coaches who are willing to do phone or Skype coaching than who offer in-person coaching, and if this method appeals to you, feel free to browse the ICF coach referral service to find the right coach for you.
What degrees and credentials do you hold as a life coach?
I hold a Master’s of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business, as well as being credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation (or ICF, the largest credentialing body for professional life coaches). Feel free to take a closer look at my credentials at any time.
How much experience do you have?
As a Professional Certified Coach, we are required to have at least 750 hours of direct coaching experience, and as such I would say I have well over 1000 hours of coaching experience over the last five years, with clients from a number of countries!
Why do you only coach people locally? What are the benefits?
First, in my experience, meeting with a coach in-person is not only more enjoyable, but it is also much more effective, since the client is often more committed to the process and more accountable to their goals. Second, it’s commonly understood in psychology that verbal communication only makes up 7% of communication in general, with tone of voice and body language making up the other 93%. Simply put, the more information that a coach has to work from, the better the coaching is going to turn out to be. Lastly, studies also conclude the same thing: 81% of clients say that in-person coaching is the most effective coaching method. I would highly encourage you to consider meeting with a local coach, which is sure to bring about change quicker for your life.
What is your particular philosophy or method of life coaching?
My personal philosophy is to be very genuine and down-to-earth in my approach to coaching. I won’t tell you to “just be positive” or try to sell you on a five-step plan for a happier life that only I know about. What I will do is help you find a solution to whatever problem you are facing, simple as that. In addition, I am also a strong believer in allowing the client to dictate any given session. While we’ll usually review what happened the week before, as well as develop a plan of action for the upcoming week during most sessions, I will always allow the client to bring up what is on their heart or mind and what is of the most urgency and importance to them, and then we’ll simply go from there.
Why did you choose to be a life coach?
My whole life I have always wanted to help people. With a wide variety of experience in psychology, business, and religion, I finally decided upon a profession that would allow me the privilege of being a part of people’s inner lives, helping them with their deepest needs and the hardest obstacles that they face. Life coaching can be a challenging profession, but seeing the results that come from it is also extremely rewarding. Expect to see a big smile on your coach’s face when you achieve something you didn’t think you could!
What type of guarantee do you provide?
In short, none. Professional life coaches do not guarantee results; one, since we’re not ethically allowed to, and two, since there are so many factors that can influence the coaching process. However, life coaching is certainly a proven career field, and many studies show that life coaching does result in improved happiness, contentment, and productivity for those who commit themselves to the process. Consider life coaching like the gym – you won’t see results after your first run on the treadmill, but continue going to the gym and there’s no way that results won’t come.
What are your coaching fees?
Feel free to visit the Services Offered page for a full breakdown of my coaching fees. I list those on that page (instead of trying to “hide” them) since one of my core values is honesty in how I present myself to clients, and making sure that my coaching fees are transparent and easy to understand is a big part of that value in my opinion.
Do you take insurance?
Actually, all life coaches are unable to bill insurance plans due to coaches not being licensed in any particular state. Beware of licensed professionals who do take insurance and refer to themselves as “life coaches,” since oftentimes their services are more related to counseling or mental health therapy than actual life coaching.
Why is life coaching so expensive?
It actually isn’t, comparatively at least. The standard cost per session for traditional counseling services in the U.S. usually average $150 or more. Compared to traditional therapy, life coaching provides an exceptional value. In addition, keep in mind that your coaching package will also include emergency coaching via email in-between sessions, just in case you need it.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept credit, debit, and PayPal. If you’re an existing client, you can set up payment here.
Do you offer discounts or sliding scale plans?
I don’t offer sliding scale plans at this time, but I do offer discounts for those who sign up for three or six months, as opposed to one month at a time. Take a look at the services offered page for more information.
Can I refer you to other people? Do you offer referral bonuses?
Please do! Most of my clients are from the recommendations of my current and past clients. I also offer referral bonuses in the form of gift cards, so there’s an added incentive to tell your friends how much the life coaching through Life by John has meant to you!
Do you provide a contract? What forms will I need to fill out?
Yes I do, in the form of a “Coaching Agreement,” just so that we’re both on the same page at all times. There are a couple of other miscellaneous forms, but don’t worry, you won’t be swamped with paperwork, and we’ll walk you through the entire process in your first complimentary session.
I’m looking for a new job or a career change, but I’m not sure where to start.
This happens to be one of the areas that I specialize in. In fact, individuals struggling in their current career, or with finding a new one, is often one of the main reasons why people pursue life coaching. Difficulties with a boss or co-worker is commonplace for many of us and something that coaching can help with, and brainstorming the possibility of an entirely new career is possible as well. Together we can determine whether your current job or career is the best one for you, and whether or not taking a step of faith and branching out would be a better fit.
I’m having difficulty with a relationship.
Relationships are something that all of us have to deal with, so you are not alone! People often seek out life coaching when a relationship is simply not working out, or is even on the brink of collapse, including general romantic problems, friendship difficulties, marital disputes, or even an impending divorce. A life coach will help guide you through such drama to a solution that will help make your relationship drama-free. I also offer group and couple’s coaching as well for those who would like to work on their relationship together.
I’m struggling with self-confidence or self-worth.
Reportedly the most common reason for why individuals seek out life coaching, a surprisingly high number of people struggle with low self-confidence and self-worth. Attribute it to trauma in one’s past or current relationships, or unrealistically proportioned models in magazines and movies, or even an inability to please everyone around us. But no matter what the reason is, life coaching can help put that confidence and worth back in your life that you deserve to have.
I’m struggling with finding purpose in my life.
Life coaching is a great solution for this. Finding purpose in one’s life can take a variety of forms, such as finding a greater spiritual connection, developing closer relationships, or involving one’s self in an engrossing career. If you don’t have a solid purpose at the moment for your life, do not worry, help is here!
I’m having difficulty handling money.
In this weak economy, money management can be an extremely difficult task, and one in which you can become better at. Making an investment in life coaching can invest right back into your life by making you not just smarter at managing your money, but also possibly provide new opportunities to increase your income.
I’m finding it difficult to stay healthy, lose weight, or exercise.
The most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight and start a diet – and yet why do most people fall of the wagon? The answer is that they simply do not have the right support system behind them. Life coaching can be a support mechanism for you, help you develop further support systems, and keep you on the right track to being healthier and fitter for a lifetime.
I’m stressed out! Can you help?
Stress is something that can significantly affect one’s health. The Center for Disease Control says that over 40% of people report being very or extremely stressed in their day-to-day lives. Life coaching can help by finding the sources of stress in your life, and then making a plan to reduce or eliminate it. Schedule a free coaching session now to drastically reduce the stress in your life.
I’m struggling with finding a healthy work-life balance.
Being too busy is extremely common in today’s hectic world. Life coaching helps point out the areas in which you can find more time, and perhaps which areas of your life could benefit from changing in order to free up some time you didn’t even know you had.
I’m struggling with my spirituality or faith.
Life coaching and spirituality are hardly at odds with one another – in fact, many individuals find their spirituality strengthened after going through the life coaching process with a coach, by being encouraged and held accountable to their belief system. Having a belief in a higher power often helps put our smaller lives into perspective, adding meaning and importance at the same time. If your faith is important to you, then it’s my goal to help you become stronger in it.
Are there any topics or situations that you don’t handle?
Though I specialize in relationship and career coaching, life coaching in general can be applied across a wide variety of situations and challenges. I usually refer out individuals with serious disorders, suicidal tendencies, etc. However, rest assured that your specific situation will be explored thoroughly in a complimentary trial session to make sure coaching is right for you.
