Life Coaching: The Definitive Guide [2026 Update]

Life Coaching
The Definitive Guide

Welcome to the definitive guide on Life Coaching! 

Thousands of ideas flash through our brains in a single day. 

We are constantly making judgments and choices that influence the type of life we live, who our friends are, where we work, and how happy we are.

What if you could modify any aspect of your life with just a few basic changes? Imagine being able to free yourself from the shackles holding you back for so long.

Life coaching is that process of self-discovery and transformation where you learn to transform your beliefs and attitudes to develop a better way of living for yourself.

So if you want to:

• Learn what Life Coaching is
• Learn how it can help you to become successful 
• Learn about its various types to advance in your coaching or mentoring career path 
• Get answers to some of the important issues around it 

Then, without further ado, let's begin by getting a clear definition of life coaching!

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Contents

Chapter 1
The Basics of Life Coaching 

Chapter 2
Types of Life Coaching 

Chapter 3
Perks & Pitfalls of Life Coaching

Chapter 4
Proven Tips to Get Most of Life Coachingg

Chapter 5
Frequently Asked Questions on Life Coaching

Chapter 1

The Basics of Life Coaching

Often, people think that Life Coaching is like therapy, and they try to address very personal issues with a stranger. This couldn't be farther from the truth!

The best thing about life coaching is that it's focused on an individual and their problems, and a coach provides one with external objective insights.

In this chapter, you'll learn the basics of life coaching.

I will cover its definition, history, who a life coach is and their types, and a few of the biggest myths surrounding this profession. 

Let’s jump right in!

What is Life Coaching?

In its simplest form, Life Coaching is about helping people find solutions to the challenges they face. 

People who hire a coach are looking for guidance and support to achieve specific personal or professional goals.

People who coach tend to be highly ethical and fiercely determined to help their clients achieve success. 

They possess personality traits that allow them to be sensitive yet firm, confident yet modest, persistent yet patient, and empathetic yet assertive.

History of Life Coaching

Thomas Leonard, in the 1980s, was the first to bring life coaching to prominence. 

Leonard discovered that his clients, who appeared to be emotionally stable and not in need of therapy, wanted more from him than just financial advice on investing and protecting their money. 

They desired assistance in organizing their lives and developing clear objectives.

In 1995, Leonard founded the International Coaching Federation (ICF), becoming the most well-known worldwide coaching organization.

The number of practicing coaches rose exponentially as the number of coaching clients increased daily.

Many people were critical of his plan to make life counseling a career. 

However, the advantages of coaching rapidly became apparent, and it was recognized as a highly essential discipline. 

As a result, thousands of individuals began their coaching journeys.

Who is a Life Coach?

Possibly the most important thing to understand about life coaching is that it's not therapy. 

Coaches do not focus on trauma or mental health issues. 

They instead look at common goals such as becoming happier, healthier, stronger, wiser, more organized – anything that a person wants to change – but expects the clients to complete the required tasks to reach their goals by themselves.

Coping with anxiety or stress in the workplace is becoming more critical than ever, especially with increasing mental health issues among employees.

According to the Building a Coaching Culture for Increased Employee Engagement study —  

63 percent of companies that provide coaching to their employees have enjoyed greater revenue and income growth among their competitors.

A professional coach provides support to employees who want to make necessary changes in their lives and improve themselves. 

Coaches assist in reinstating confidence by developing plans that are manageable and realistic rather than drastic and unachievable – for example, trying to become a marathon runner overnight.

The life coaching industry is independent and has no borders or limits, which makes it extremely exciting. 

You can work with all kinds of people from different backgrounds, helping them achieve their personal goals.

What does a Life Coach do?

As a life coach, also known as a personal coach, your job is to help your clients make the changes they need to live a happier and more fulfilling life. 

A life coach will meet with the client regularly, or whenever it is necessary, to provide support and guidance.

The client-coach relationship is usually very close, with coaches acting more like mentors and less like bosses or teachers.

The duties of a coach vary based on the type of coaching that is being done. 

However, in general, successful life coaches can be expected to:

• Assist their clients through difficult times
• Provide resources and tools to help overcome challenges
• Help their clients prioritize what's important in their lives
• Assist in setting and achieving goals
• Work through issues that are holding them back from being the best version of themselves possible.

Who can benefit from Life Coaching? 

Life coaching is for anyone looking to improve their life. 

Whether one needs help with setting and achieving goals, overcoming a challenge or addiction, or wants to have more happiness in their life, a coach can be there to support the client each and every step of the way.

Some common types of people who seek life coaching:

• People looking to overcome a phobia or fear.
• New parents who are looking for advice on how to be the best parent they can be.
• People who need motivation and self-improvement.
• Those looking to create a business plan for their business.
• Individuals struggling with relationships, such as divorcees attempting to move on from an ex-spouse.
• Older or retired individuals who want to stay active and maintain a fulfilling lifestyle.
• Individuals who are in careers that don't fulfill them and wish to make a career change.
• Individuals who wish to improve their relationships, whether that's with friends or family.

Next up — I’m taking you through the various types of life coaches.