An insight into Christian Life Coaching
I work both as a pastor and a Christian life coach. You might think the skills needed are very similar in both scenarios, but there are significant differences.
As a pastor, I’m often expected to provide emotional support in some very difficult circumstances, while life coaching needs me to help a person explore an area of a person’s life that they are often stuck in, but rarely has the same level of emotional attachment.
What should you look for in a Christian life coach?
The benefit of using a Christian life coach is that they can help you identify your spiritual needs and work on them. Of course, not all Christian life coaches are the same, so it is important to find one who understands your specific needs, and one you can connect best with.
A good Christian life coach should also have an open mind, be clear in helping guide people to come to their own conclusions, in biblical ways.
At this point, it’s also worth noting that all clients, as well as coaches, differ in their walk with God and in their expectations of themselves and other Christians. Some lean towards discipline (even to the point of legalism) while others may be very liberal, so again, taking some time to understand the background of your life coach is time well spent. Ask if they offer a free taster session or a discounted session. You can use this time to explore how they might understand and guide you better.
What an average session looks like
The process starts with an initial consultation, during which the coach will ask questions about your current situation and your desired outcome. You may have a number of goals, but the coach will encourage you to choose just one to work on at a time. Others can be looked at at a later date.
During the session, the coach will be guiding and encouraging you to focus on the goal ahead and not on the past. This is an important part of life coaching.
As Christian life coaches, we have a number of tools and strategies to help a client work towards their goals and the process is done within a Christian framework, not a secular one. This means that along the life coaching journey, the client will be encouraged to consider all things in relationship to their faith, and calling in Christ.
By the end of each session, the client should walk away with a clear path to further that goal. Reaching the goal may not come immediately, but there will be progress made in each session and a clear actionable plan.
If you’ve never considered Christian life coaching, it may be the breakthrough you need to propel yourself forward in life.
About the Author: Gordon Hall is a trained Christian life coach and a church pastor in the north of England. Find out more at https://christianlifecoach.co.uk