Yes, anyone can work with a life coach, but someone struggling with more severe problems like depression, PTSD or mental illness would be best to seek the care of medical professional as a first strategy. Once their struggle is controlled and well managed, then with the permission of their medical professional, they could work a life coach.

Life coaching is a collaborative process led by the client's request and feedback. The coach will present a possible plan to the client however the process is fluid and adapts with feedback from the client.

Coaching usually lasts through several sessions, until the client has achieved the result they were looking for. This is also flexible. Every client is unique and the approach, the tools used, the reflections are adapted to each client and reviewed at every session.

Life coaches are not medical professionals, therapists, social workers or counselors unless they have separate training and certification in one of those fields. Most life coaches do not.

Life coaches do not diagnose, treat illnesses of the body or mind, and do not do therapy. They offer guided support to help people with their life goals. The focus is on the client's personal development.

The life coaching industry is not regulated like the medical industry so anyone with the desire to help others can call themselves a life coach. They draw on their life experience and personal wisdom to help people.

Certified life coaches are people who have taken life coaching training certified by a reputable organisation like the International Coaching Federation (ICU). These coaches will use their training and life experience to help you.

I am a Certified Life Coach with training through the Coaching Academy, Gabriela Embon, and a member of the International Coaching Federation.

Some life coaches specialise in areas like career or life transition, and others are generalists. You can decide if you want to work with a coach that specialises in your topic area or with a generalist.

I am a generalist and I work with people who are seeking to make change in their life. The best results happen when people are committed to the clarity or change they seek.

You have several things to clarify first. Ask yourself:
* What do I to get out of life coaching sessions? What is the issue(s) and what is the goal?
* Do I want to work with a Certified coach or is it not a preference?
* Do I have a preference to work with a male or female, young or older?
* How far am I willing to travel to meet with a life coach?
* Do I prefer to work in person, online or it doesn't matter?

Once you have these answers start looking, online is a good place, as most life coaches have websites or an online presence. Look at the what they offer, their experience, their specialties, if any, and how do you feel as you read about them. Listen to your gut as you want to feel comfortable with this person.

It is also important to check their availability as regular meetings are key to keeping momentum towards success.

Look at the price and make sure it is within your budget. Some life coaches offer packages for several sessions that reduce the overall cost.

Most life coaches ensure confidentiality of client information, but it is also good to make sure of this.

Ask about the number of sessions the coach typically recommends as this can vary depending on the complexity of the client's request and the coaches work style.

Ask about cancellation and rescheduling. You do want to commit to regular meetings, but family and life commitments can sometimes derail the plan. It is good to know in advance what the coach's policy is.

Life coaches can bring other non-regulated modalities into their work and they can bring regulated modalities into their work if they are registered or certified in that modality.

For example, a life coach can bring in Reiki, energy work, drawing, breath work, dance, meditation, and other techniques to help people gain clarity and achieve their goal.
 
As well, a life coach can not do psychotherapy or counseling unless they are trained and registered in that field.

I have trained in Reiki, Shamanic Work, Sound work, Breath work and Art for Wellness and I bring all of those options into my work. Using these options is always discussed first and depends on the client's preference. 

Self-help books are wonderful, helpful, and have I read many. However, they are also generic and many not completely apply to your situation and may not give you all the tools that would be most helpful.

A coach is a live person bringing all of their training and experience to help you reach your goals. Every session is be tailored to you. All the discussions flow according to your responses. Working with a life coach, instead of a book, is very collaborative and flexible. The coach listens to you and adapts throughout the session.

You can do both, but if you find self-help books are not enough then consider contacting a life coach.

Check the FAQ section, 'How to choose a life coach' for some information. Beyond that you want to know:
* How long is the session?
* What is the frequency of sessions? Weekly is very common.
* Will there be homework?
* How is progress measured?
* Is the plan adjusted as we go along or not?
* What are the resources and tools you use?
* Are you a member of a recognised coaching organisation?

Before the first session, as much as possible, in your mind, set clear intentions around your problem and your goal. If this is a struggle, continue with the first meeting, as the coach can be of help to clarify the issue with you.

I get it. It's a big decision and it is a commitment in time and resources. If you feel that you have tried other options and you are not where you want to be in terms of clarity around your issue, consider a life coach.

Most life coaches will not require you to commit before they have met with you in a call or a meeting. You have the opportunity to explore, in a first meeting, if a life coach is the next step in your journey.

Reach out, test the waters, then make your decision.

I have coached myself my entire life working towards feeling functional and now towards empowerment. This lifetime of self-improvement guides me to deeply understand the challenges that face in their lives, and helps me hold a compassionate, supportive, yet structured space for people to move past their issue and towards their goal.

In industry, before I started this path of training in coaching, I worked as a project and change manager, so I was coaching my employees and colleagues all of the time to ensure success in achieving the project and change goals.
 
In 2023, I started training in using Neurographica (an Art for Wellness technique) as a coaching tool. In 2025, I trained in life coaching with a certified academy. I have been coaching people since 2023. I also bring many years of adjacent experience in my industry career and specific experience in life coaching.

I am a heart-centered person and my focus is on the client, their request, their progress, and assisting them to reach their goal.