How to Become a Personal Development Coach | Chron.com

Posted: August 20, 2018 at 8:44 am


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Life coaches motivate their clients to achieve specific, measurable goals.

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Accredited personal development coaches, also referred to as life coaches, are professionals who specialize in helping people achieve specific goals and overcome obstacles to personal growth. Goals may be related to any area of personal development, including relationships, business, finance or health and wellness. To become a reputable personal development coach, it's crucial to complete an accredited training program and obtain a coaching credential.

Since there's no accrediting or regulating government organization for personal development coaches, anyone can say that they are a personal development coach. In an interview with CBS News, coach Jennifer Corbin, the president of Coach U, one of the largest coach training organizations, says that many people who provide coaching actually have no idea what coaching is -- some coaches become "certified" just from taking a three-hour course. A reputable coach training organization should be approved by the International Coach Federation, or ICF, which accredits around 200 institutions around the world. Around half of these organizations are located in the US. You can find a reputable training organization on the ICF's website.

Life coaches need to possess certain characteristics and skills and have the right personality for the job. Completing a training program can help you gain a basic knowledge of these skills, but you should already have some of these characteristics if you're thinking about becoming a coach. Coaches need to enjoy working with people and helping them solve problems. They need to have excellent communication skills, be good listeners, have a positive and upbeat outlook, want to make a positive difference in their clients' lives and have an interest in their own personal growth and development, says the UK-based coaching organization Noble Manhattan.

Although you can hang out your personal development coach shingle without any formal training at all, it's advisable to undergo coach training from a reputable organization to gain the necessary knowledge and skills you'll need. Coach training programs accredited by the ICF are offered in-person and through distance learning opportunities. According to the ICF, coach training should include a specific set of core competencies, including ethics, creating rapport with the client, effective communication, facilitating learning and demonstrating results, such as through goal setting and achievement. Coach training can last several months or years, depending on your desired level of expertise and aims of the organization.

In addition to training, you will need to complete a specific number of hours of direct client contact under the supervision of a certified coach and complete an examination to become a credentialed coach. The ICF offers three levels of credentialing based on the type of training and education you've completed. Becoming a credentialed coach is crucial for letting the public and your clients know that you have met certain professional standards. The ICF offers three coach credentials -- the Associate Certified Coach, or ACC, the Professional Certified Coach, or PCC, and the Master Certified Coach, or MCC.

Ashley Miller is a licensed social worker, psychotherapist, certified Reiki practitioner, yoga enthusiast and aromatherapist. She has also worked as an employee assistance program counselor and a substance-abuse professional. Miller holds a Master of Social Work and has extensive training in mental health diagnosis, as well as child and adolescent psychotherapy. She also has a bachelor's degree in music.

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How to Become a Personal Development Coach | Chron.com

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August 20th, 2018 at 8:44 am




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