Life coaching training can range from a weekend workshop to a 2 year, part time commitment.

With such a variety between the length of courses, how can you make sure you find the right one?

Before we go any further...

We recommend very strongly that you avoid any course that only lasts a few days,
yet offers amazing results.
They sound too good to be true and they are!

Also...

Please don't teach yourself from a book.
Yes, read them, but you really need constructive feedback from a suitably-qualified trainer to help you raise your skills to the level where you can charge clients for coaching.

Ok, lecture over...

What is life coaching?

Life coaching is about helping someone achieve their goals and dreams.

It's important to remember that it doesn't touch the areas of therapy or counselling. If one of your clients comes up against a block that's caused by previous negative experiences, you may need to refer them to someone qualified to resolve those issues, before continuing with the coaching.

Your job as a life coach is to push your client to change their life for the better.

You're an outside supporter, encouraging them to take steps that may be outside their comfort zone. You're there to help them clarify specifically what they want and to help them work out and implement the steps to achieve this.

When things go well, you're their personal cheer-leader. When things are tough, you're there to remind them why they're doing what they are and to help them break through the barriers. You're using the power of their commitment to you to help them keep going.

How Do I Find Life Coaching Training

One of the easiest ways to find a good course is to find a good life coach. If possible, find one via colleagues who have had coaching. Book a session with them. If you like their approach, ask them about how and where they did their training.

A good course will help you learn how to quickly build rapport with clients and how to ask the right questions, to help them make the best progress they can.

But you might want more from your life coaching course:

Do you want to learn just life coaching, or would you like added NLP skills?

Do you want a full time couse, a distance learning course, one where you meet other students, a weekend course, an evening course...?
Do you want to cover in-depth about how to set up your coaching practice?
How much practical experience do you want to gain during the course?
How much time and money are you looking to invest?

If you're not sure whether life coaching is for you, you could either read some of the recommended life coaching books or you could take a free introductory course.

One course we've taken ourselves and would recommend as a taster for life coaching is:

Newcastle College Certificate & Diploma In Life Coaching

This course is usually available free. It's a distance learning course.
Whilst we wouldn't recommend it as your sole training for becoming a life coach, it's a useful introduction and, being free, can help you make your mind up before you commit thousands to a full course.

If you've already made your mind up and you're sure life coaching is for you, then check out the list of regulatory bodies in our coaching certification section.

Next: Interested in working with senior managers? Find out about Executive Coaching Training