Coaching has become a bit of a buzzword lately, hasn’t it?
Maybe you’ve had friends who’ve worked with a coach and raved about their experience. Maybe you’ve assumed coaching is only for executives in the C-suite with massive salaries and corner offices. Or maybe you’ve been quietly Googling “life and career coach” at midnight, wondering if one could help you figure out what’s next in your career, and your life.
Wherever you are on your journey, let’s demystify it together.
Because coaching isn’t just for high-powered CEOs. It’s for real people, like you, navigating messy middle seasons, career pivots, and big life transitions. It’s for seasoned, capable professionals who still find themselves stuck, second-guessing, or overwhelmed by all the noise out there.
In this article, we’re going to break it all down. What coaching is (and isn’t), how it’s different from therapy or consulting, and how to find the right kind of support for your specific goals. So if you’ve ever wondered, “Would a coach really help me?” or “What type of person needs a coach?”, let’s get to the bottom of that, once and for all.
What exactly is life and career coaching?
Let’s bust a myth right out of the gate: coaching is not therapy. It’s not your manager. It’s not your mentor. And it’s definitely not someone telling you what to do with your life.
Coaching is a thought-provoking, collaborative process that helps you tap into your inner wisdom, set aligned goals, and move forward with clarity and confidence. It’s powerful. And when done right? It can be completely transformative.
Unlike therapy, which often looks to the past to help you process and heal, coaching is future-focused. We look at where you are now, where you want to be, and what’s getting in the way.
The best part? You don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. In fact, that’s kind of the point.
What does a life and career coach do?
You might think you have a career problem, but more often than not, what’s really going on is a clarity problem. Or a confidence problem. Or a deep, nagging sense that you’re capable of more… but you’re not sure how to access it.
That’s where a life and career coach comes in.
A coach helps you see what you can’t see on your own: your blind spots, your patterns, and the beliefs that quietly shape your choices. Coaching isn’t about handing you a checklist or telling you what to do. It’s about helping you reconnect to yourself: your values, your desires, your voice, your vision. Through intentional questions and honest reflection, a life coach helps you uncover what’s actually keeping you stuck and move through it with clarity and confidence.
Let’s look at a common issue my clients tend to struggle with: feeling like they aren’t deserving or good enough for the promotion they received (aka imposter syndrome).
Here’s how different types of support might approach that situation:
A friend would do/say: What are you talking about? Of course you’re qualified for that role! Stop being so insecure and own your talents.
(It’s well-meaning, but can sometimes feel dismissive, even if it’s meant to cheer you up.)
A therapist would do/say: That sounds really hard. Have there been other times in your life when you didn’t feel good enough or like you didn’t deserve something?
(Explore the roots of that feeling, where it started, and how it might be connected to past and current experiences.)
A mentor would do/say: I felt that way when I got into my first supervisor position. Over time I just felt better and became more confident. I think you just need to give it some more time.
(Helpful perspective, but not always personalized or immediately actionable.)
A consultant would do/say: You just need to present at the next leadership meeting. Here’s your 3 talking points. Follow up with your manager with a debrief.
(Very tactical – what has worked in the past or best practices are laid out into actionable strategies. It assumes confidence will follow action, rather than addressing what’s happening internally.)
A coach would do/say: It’s so common to question your deservingness or feel as if you aren’t good enough for a role, especially for women who’ve been conditioned to downplay their accomplishments. I’d love to explore what’s coming up for you around this. Let’s start here:
- What makes you a good fit for this role?
- What are you telling yourself about what you “should” be or do in order to deserve this role?
- How would you show up if you believed you deserved this role?
If you were my client, we’d also look at the patterns or paradigms that shape your self-perception. For example, do you constantly over-prepare or fear that you’ll be “found out”? Do you minimize your accomplishments? Do you keep waiting until you feel confident before taking action?
Rather than intellectualize the fear, we’ll focus on how it lives in the body. That might mean noticing where the doubt lives in your nervous system (your chest, your stomach, your throat), learning how to regulate it, and building the somatic safety to show up powerfully, even when imposter syndrome whispers otherwise.
Then, we translate insight into action.
At the end of a coaching session, I’ll ask something like: What’s one small thing you can do this week to practice believing you belong in this room?
That action, backed by awareness and nervous system support, is where real transformation begins.
Coaching meets you where you are. It helps you move through what’s actually holding you back, not just what’s showing up on the surface.
(Side note, it’s estimated that 70% of people will experience at least one episode of imposter syndrome in their lives. If this is you, you’re certainly not alone!)
If you ever doubt yourself or your abilities (ahem imposter syndrome), then tune into this 5 minute coaching session to see how you can apply these same questions and tricks to your job search immediately!
Here are a few common areas a coach might support you with:
- Reconnecting with your values and what matters most
- Shifting from overwhelm into harmony
- Navigating major transitions like becoming a parent, job layoffs, or returning to work after a break
- Setting boundaries and prioritizing your needs (without guilt)
- Learning to trust yourself again after a season of uncertainty
- Recovering from job burnout and learning to prioritize your overall well-being
- Clarifying you vision and building the courage to go after it
- Accountability towards action that leads into transformation and sustainable growth
At its core, life coaching is designed to build awareness. Where are you now? Where do you want to go? And what’s actually standing in the way? Not just on the surface, but underneath. Because the truth is, most people already know what they “should” be doing. There’s no shortage of free resources out there: LinkedIn tips, resume templates, interview hacks. But that’s not what’s keeping you stuck.
What holds most people back is internal: Fear. Doubt. Old narratives about being “too much” or “not enough.” Limiting beliefs that whisper things like Who am I to want this? or What if I fail?
These patterns often run deep and they’re usually subconscious. You might not even be aware they’re there, but they show up in your decisions, your hesitations, your second-guessing. A life coach helps you bring those blocks to the surface, so you can move forward in a way that actually feels like you.
Because here’s the truth: you are your own best answer. You’re just too close to see it clearly. Life coaching helps clear the fog so you can finally move forward, not as a version of who you think you should be, but as the most grounded, aligned version of who you already are.
Is a life and career coach really worth it?
Let’s talk about value. Not just in terms of money, but energy, time, and impact.
Working with a certified life and career coach means you get a blend of deep inner work and practical strategy. You’ll stop spinning your wheels and start making aligned, intentional moves toward what you actually want.
Here’s what some of my clients have said after coaching:
- Today I’m in a job I actually enjoy because I’m not overextending myself or looking for other’s approval all the time. I feel like I trust myself and love this life I’m building. – Janet, Customer Success Manager
- Through coaching with Emily, I’ve been able to step into more confidence and build trust that I’m a terrific mom, wife, employee and friend. – Jessica, HR Manager
- Coaching has really helped me make progress in understanding who I am and what I really care about. I feel much more abundant and joyful on my day to day and can honestly say I actually love my job again. – Melissa, VP Operations
- Every time we end a coaching call I feel I walk away with much more clarity and 10 pounds lighter. – Tamika, People Ops Analyst
A coach holds space for the version of you that’s still unfolding and upleveling. That’s priceless.
How to choose the right coach (and why it matters)
Let’s get real for a moment: coaching is a highly unregulated industry.
Anyone can call themselves a coach. There’s no barrier to entry, no required certification, and no universal standard for training. That’s both the beauty and the challenge of this field. On one hand, it means there’s a coach out there for every kind of person and every kind of transformation. On the other hand, it means you need to be intentional when choosing who you trust with your growth.
Not all coaches will be the right fit for you. A friend or colleague may have had an incredible experience working with a coach they recommend, but if you don’t feel aligned with the coach and how they engage with you, that’s okay. There are so many others to choose from.
Here are three key factors I recommend you consider when hiring a coach:
1. Do they have a track record of results?
Look for social proof from real clients. Testimonials, reviews, case studies, or even informal shout-outs in comments or stories can tell you a lot. What kinds of results have their clients seen? Have people found jobs, made bold career changes, improved their confidence, or found clarity in tough moments?
You’re looking for evidence that the coach doesn’t just talk the talk—but has helped others walk the walk.
2. Do they have credibility to back up their focus?
Coaches often specialize in different areas: career, life, business, relationships, health. The best coaches have both lived experience and formal training in their niche. For example, I’m certified in both life coaching and career coaching because my clients often need support with both. They’re navigating professional transitions and the personal fears that come with them.
Credentials don’t guarantee a great coach, but they do show a commitment to doing the work with integrity.
3. Do you vibe with their style and personality?
This one’s huge. Coaching is a partnership. It’s vulnerable work. You need to feel safe, supported, and seen. That doesn’t mean you’ll never feel challenged but it does mean the relationship should feel like a space where you can be your full, unfiltered self.
So ask yourself: do you resonate with how this coach communicates? Do you feel energized, understood, or inspired after consuming their content or having a discovery call? Trust your gut.
At the end of the day, the right coach isn’t just someone with fancy strategies or polished branding. It’s someone who can hold space for your messy middle and help you take powerful steps forward.
What type of person needs a coach?
The only prerequisite is desiring change and wanting to take action (you may not always take action because you’re looking for accountability and support!). If you know deep down that something needs to change, that you’re ready to stop living a life that feels misaligned, unfulfilled, and stressful, and you want to get unstuck, reach your full potential, tap into your inner confidence, and go after your big dreams, then coaching is for you.
The best athletes in the world have coaches who guide them through blindspots. Top executives have mindset coaches to break through upper limits. The most recognized authors in the world have a team of editors to give feedback and iterate.
Personally, I’ve invested 10 years and $50k on coaches because I couldn’t figure it out on my own. There’s no shame in asking for and receiving help. In fact, you can fast-track your goals when you have support to break through all the glass ceilings and upper limits you inevitably will come up against when you’re leaving your familiar comfort zone and stepping into a life and career that actually feels authentic and fulfilling.
Ready to uncover what’s really getting in your way?
If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re doing all the right things but want to play bigger, there’s likely a deeper pattern at play.
My free 9 P’s Assessment helps you identify the internal roles you may be unconsciously playing (like the Perfectionist, People-Pleaser, or Peacekeeper) and how they might be impacting how you show up at work, your level of confidence, and ability to enjoy life.
Download the 9 P’s Assessment now and take the first step toward clarity and momentum.
