What Is a Life Coach?

Holly Sheriff • August 27, 2021

Self-Improvement | BVP Services | Coaching

A life coach (“lifestyle guru”) is frequently an unlicensed wellness professional who helps people make changes in their lives to achieve the most significant level of happiness. Life coaches help their clients with all aspects of their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. Life coaches can help people clarify goals, gather data such as pros and cons of situations and goals, help identify barriers that may be holding clients back, and then the coach helps strategize for defeating each obstacle. A great life coach will target each client’s unique gifts and help align the right skills and talents to develop a winning strategy to conquer life barriers.

How is a Life Coach Different from a Therapist?

Everyone needs a little help sometimes, especially when it comes to making significant life changes. Whether you have a goal to be more confident or find fulfillment in your career or business, it can be tough to figure out what steps to take to help overcome barriers. A life coach helps make sense of the steps necessary to achieve goals. Life coaches help identify current challenging behaviors that are holding you back and guide you through self-discovery. But, on the other hand, a therapist is a medical professional licensed to make diagnostics and prescribe treatment and medication. Therapists analyze past behavior to understand why certain behaviors or patterns happen.



Life Coach Therapist
Clarifies Professional & Personal Goals Help recover from past traumas
Develops a plan of actionable steps Work through depression and other mental illnesses
Helps analyze industry’s best practices Prescribe medical solutions and other actions that may resolve or aid in recovery
Explores ways to achieve work-life balance Licensed by the State or other governmental board

During the journey of life, we all go through trials and situations that are too difficult for us to face alone. Life coaching is not right for you if you are suffering from mental illness or depression. If you are suffering from depression, you should consider seeking medical attention from your doctor or a licensed counselor. Also, if you want someone to tell you exactly what to do or exactly how they did something life, career, or business coaching may not be for you. It is a coach’s job help guide you so that you can make your own choices and decisions regarding how to move forward toward am agreed upon goal.




"If you or a loved one are struggling with depression or other mental health condition, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) | Crisis Text Line 741741


The Crisis Text Line serves anyone in the United States with this confidential and free 24/7 text line"


What to Expect During Your Session?


Many people are amazed by the clarity, insight and help they get from working with a coach. You can bring an infinite number of problems, questions, and topics during a coaching session. Sessions can take many forms, i.e., Telephone, Zoom, Skype, in person (one on one) and group sessions.

  •  Don’t expect immediate results. You have to be committed to change and remember change take time.
  • Not all coaches take the same approach to problems. What you get out of the process is what you put into the process.
  • Expect to answer questions about your life, business, career, and professional development. If you don’t actively participate in your session and if you do not communicate with your coach, you may not achieve the result you want.


Take Away

In conclusion, life coaches can offer advice that can improve your well-being, but that does not mean they can provide medical advice. Many people work with a coach to bridge gaps between their current situation and their goals.


Your journey starts now. How would you like to proceed? Contact us today!


Disclaimer: This post does not provide legal or medical advice. It is intended informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical or legal advice pertaining to one specific person or situation. This post is not a substitute for professional licensed medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore seeking medical treatment or legal advice for a medical or legal issue because of something you have read on the Best Virtual Paralegal site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911. If you think you have a legal issue, you should consider seeking the advice of a licensed attorney of your own choosing.

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About Author

About Author

Hi there! I'm Holly A. Sheriff, coffee loving Christian wife, bonus mom, of 5, veteran marketer, virtual paralegal, certified life, career, business empowering coach, & professional photographer 30+ years!), awarding-winning paralegal & motivational speaker, business consultant, & founder of Best Virtual Paralegal LLC. I love to help attorneys and paralegals build thriving careers and businesses. I would love to chat with you and learn your story! 
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