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The Many Definitions of a Life Coach
To really get the definition of a life coach it may be easier to first say what a life coach is not. In the definition of a life coach a life coach is not a certified therapist and a life coach is not a certified psychologist or psychiatrist. A life coach is not someone that will fix all of your problems for you and a life coach is not someone that will just pat you on the head and tell you everything will be okay. In the definition of a life coach it is safe to say that a life coach is not quite like anything else you have ever dealt with before.
A life coach can specialize in certain fields or they can be a general life coach but the definition of a life coach allows either of these to exist. So what is the definition of a life coach? Simply put the definition of a life coach is someone who helps you through a difficult period in your life, or helps you deal with a life situation, while helping you focus on a pre-determined set of goals. It may sound a lot like therapy but it is extremely important to understand the difference between the definition of a life coach and a therapist. If you rely on a life coach to fulfill the duties of a therapist then you could be asking for trouble.
Read the Label
Yes, it is the duty of any good life coach to remind you that they are not therapists but it is also important for the patient, or client, to understand the difference as well so that there is no confusion on either side. Let us start this discussion by saying that a life coach is not necessarily a therapist. While some therapists have been known to become life coaches a life coach cannot call themselves a therapist unless they have the necessary education and state licensing to prove it. Life coaching does not require any licensing while most states require therapists to be licensed and with good reason.
A therapist is someone that is trained to help people deal with psychological or social disorders that affect the mind and, in some cases, can also affect the body. Without the proper training this kind of treatment can become very dangerous. A life coach assists someone reach their personal goals through a series of motivational and organizational techniques. Confusing a therapist with a life coach is not only a bad idea but it could also result in even more problems down the line. So talk with a professional to determine which of the two you need and make sure you make the right choice.
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