Life coaching - is it worth it?

[Verity37]

I feel lost in life to be honest I’ve felt like that for many years. I’ve had therapy in past but the therapist just listened and any attempt I made at getting any advice or clarity was met with that they can’t give any and can only just listen. I’ve been considering life coaching but I’m worried it might be a waste of money. Has anyone tried it? Good or bad please let me know your experience.

@WorkingForYou thank you so much for posting. I found a life coach whose also part of the association you mentioned.

She seemed nice but I’m worried as I do about everything. She recommended a 3 / 4 month program for my issues but I don’t feel I can afford that. At most I think one month - do you think 1 month do 4 sessions will be enough or should I wait till I can afford it?

@Verity37
Have you looked at your local college brochure? Mine run courses for women getting back to work after children - free or cheap, I think - could be a good place to start.

I haven’t had any coaching but always worth googling the coaches name to make sure they aren’t frequently mentioned on the forum that shall not be named aka known scam artists.

[quote Verity37]@WorkingForYou thank you so much for posting. I found a life coach whose also part of the association you mentioned.

She seemed nice but I’m worried as I do about everything. She recommended a 3 / 4 month program for my issues but I don’t feel I can afford that. At most I think one month - do you think 1 month do 4 sessions will be enough or should I wait till I can afford it?[/quote]
Glad I was able to help @Verity37 .

If you are suggesting 4 sessions over a month, that may work but it may not.

It depends on how much 'work' you can do on yourself in between the sessions.

The way I work is a session every fortnight. That gives clients the chance to put new behaviours into practise.

Looking at your posts, I'd not work with you weekly. The reason is that you are trying to change long-term behaviour patterns.

If you are a people pleaser, it could easily take 2 weeks before you had the opportunity to say 'No' to someone or something.
You will also need time and space to create new friendships and engage with people you meet in a new way.

I usually suggest that my clients have 4 sessions over 8 weeks, or 6 sessions over 12 weeks.

Sometimes it goes on much longer than that (I've had clients stay with me for 2 years but they drop back to monthly sessions.)

I would never encourage a client to keep going with me if I felt it wasn't in their interests. That goes against coaching ethics and it's also very obvious to the coach and client when they have reached their goal.

At the same time, it's always frustrating for a coach if a client's progress is limited by fees because it really does feel like unfinished business.

If a client is 100% committed, I sometimes offer a slightly lower fee, or a reduced session time, to make it affordable.

The person you have found should not tie you into a long package you can't afford, but on the other hand I always give an honest answer to 'how long will I need' if clients ask. Some clients only need one long session and they have found the way forward. Others need months and months.

I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, do PM me.

From what you have said, I would not offer you 4 sessions a week apart. Maybe look for another coach who is more flexible?

depends on the quality of the coach, and how you as an individual gel with them.
Clearly the coach is doing the work to earn a living, but personally I've never found that a coaching relationship works when I feel I am being pressured to spend more money than I can afford.

I have used coaches on several occasions:
One - a single session when a role ended badly; I'd initially met her through a work sponsored group "talk about your issues" thing - after I'd left I had a 1:1 session with her, expensive, but useful - and helpful/speedy that she knew some of the background.
The second - several ad hoc sessions over several years, the person was reccomended by a friend. Initial series of meetings was quite directed, and then I'd contact her occasionally if there was something I couldn't handle. I think there may have been an initial free "get to know you/understand the issues chat, possibly phone based rather than face to face.
Third - met via a charity we both volunteered for; I had a few FOC sessions with her (paid for within her work through a local organisation). Useful-ish, but I don't think I'd pay for her services - I meet up with her occasionally for a non-coaching chat.

If you don't feel comfortable with someone, maybe try an initial chat with another coach, find someone that you gel with? You aren't paying for someone to be your friend - but you do need to respect them and their way of working, and feel comfortable speaking openly with them.