We are never too young or too old for mentoring
“A good coach will make his players see what they can become rather than what they are.” Ara Parseghian
Coaches are great any time you feel like you’re stuck and can’t move forward or are looking for new ideas to open up fresh avenues in your thinking. I have worked with both youth and adults and have seen them achieve great success in moving forward with their lives, even after years of struggling unsuccessfully with core life issues!
A life coach is contraindicated if you are seeking treatment of a serious mental health condition. In those instances, a professional therapist should be consulted. You can always work with both a therapist and a life-coach; in fact, it just may help speed your healing process.
What Is a Life Coach?
A life coach is not a therapist. They are an advocate willing to suggest novel ideas for growth to their clients for specific areas of challenge. Depending upon their education and background, their tools and methods for working with clients will differ. Some coaches are singular in their field, meaning they only coach in one area, for example, career only. Others, like me, coach in a range of different areas and a range of ages and issues. One thing that all life coaching has in common, however, is looking at the whole of a person’s life and then crafting customized goal setting.
Finding the Right Coach
Working with mature adults is quite a bit different than working with youth or young adults. The issues are different and so are the attitudes which tend to mirror each generation’s ideas and morals. Finding a coach that can help the individual craft solid solutions to their specific issues is very important - be sure to check with the coach to see what their background experience has been and how long they have been coaching.
Because licensing for coaches varies considerably, I recommend that you find a coach in your local area to work with, and one that has been in business for at least three years. Set up an appointment with them and meet them prior to making any kind of financial commitment or signing a contract. Make sure you like their look, their energy, and the way they respond to your concerns. Compatibility is critical to successful coaching outcomes.
Overcoming Life Challenges
For youth, coaches help with self-esteem issues, self-confidence issues, basic hygiene and cleanliness, anger management, overcoming anxiety and fear, and getting launched in life in general. Money management, career selections, college goals, how to set up schedules, and looking for a job all fall under youth coaching.
For mature adults, coaches are great for weight loss, career change, image change, fitness/wellness goals, happiness goals, money goals, getting back on track after a divorce or death, new parenthood, parenthood challenges, and many other things. They are also good when changes come and you need help with navigating new territory – like setting up a business or looking for a new job.
A good coach helps you discover your own answers to the questions you seek and then helps you put processes in place to achieve your goals. They provide support and direction when are we are lost, confused, or confounded. My experience with clients is that coaching provides these five following benefits, among others:
- Positive behavior changes last longer
- Increased creativity and flexibility
- Improved performance
- Making life changes becomes fun and exciting
- Improved mental and physical health and personal relationships
How long it takes each client to reach their goals varies by person, level of difficulty in making the desired changes, and by how many different life challenges are being worked as a part of achieving the goal. For fairly minor changes, expect 4-8 sessions. For entrenched or multiple-but-related issues, expect at least three months. I also have clients that continue to come back over the course of many years as time goes on and new life shifts arise.
I love working with clients of all ages as a life coach and find it very rewarding on a soul level. Helping people achieve their dreams and goals is a beautiful experience and one I treasure. Watching others blossom is both exciting and touching. If I can be of assistance to you or a loved one, please reach out me! I would love to hear from you.
Dr. Lola Scarborough
The Health Hut &
Art, Movement & Life Skills Academy
League City, Texas