The question of how to become a life coach is followed with the question about what kind of life coach training do I need.

To answer the question of how to become a life coach I think it’s important to answer an even more important question and that is “What is a Life Coach?”

According the dictionary

Life coaching is a practice with the aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods that will help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals. Coaching is not targeted at psychological illness and coaches are not therapists or consultants.

That’s a pretty big definition so it stands to reason that training is an important factor.

Becoming a Life Coach –How Much am I Going to Pay for Coaches Training and What Kind of Training do I Need?

How to become a life coach is best served through working with a qualified organization. There are the large schools such as Adler in Canada or CTI but there are also many worthy companies such as JTS advisors who offer excellent training in strategy, accountability and assessment coaching.

The kind of Life Coach training you will need may very depending on the facility but the core training for each will cover the art and science of coaching. The skills you will learn in exchange for your coaches training fees include: effective listening, effective questioning, intervention techniques, leadership effectiveness, accountability and strategy techniques, change technologies and more. You will also receive tools for change, inner psychology, code of ethics, and contracting with your client. Your curriculum should include classroom (virtual or at location), peer to peer coaching, coach the coach, home assignments, lectures, resources and reading and evaluation.

In Terms of Life Coach Training, How Much Does it Cost?

Life coach training fees range from hundreds to thousands and even 10’s of thousands of dollars.  If you are buying a coaching franchise, you will probably be paying over $10,000.00 (and usually more like $100,000.00).  The most important thing to know is wether or not you are getting great value for your money, because many coaches training organizations are expensive for what you get.  Some of these organizations could simply be carpet baggers, squatting on an opportunity to take advantage of well meaning, yet naive people.  How do you avoid those more ‘scammy’ types of trainings?  Talk to people who did the training and see what they thought and what kind of results they are getting.

Life Coach Training Results

How to become a life coach begins with the decision to enter into one of the most rewarding careers you can choose. Life coach training is the surest way to learn the most advanced coaching techniques that will benefit your clients. Life Coach training is designed by leaders in this field and who are there to provide you with the means to take your coaching techniques and business to the next level. In the program you choose, hopefully, you will learn by coaching… actively using the techniques that are being taught. In a certification program such as that offered by The International Coaching Federation, you will also be required to have a set amount of coaching hours (100), taped sessions for review and you will be required to take written and oral exams.

Benefits of Becoming a Trained Life Coach

Ultimately, answering the ‘How to become a Life Coach‘ question is up to you. It’s not whether or not you need coaches training; it’s really only the question of where.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely!

There is nothing more satisfying than inspiring your clients to create massive and sustainable change. Of course getting paid well for it is right up there but if you don’t at least start then you are denying yourself and others a life changing experience

Ellen Smith

JTS Advisors Accountability & Strategy Coach