HomeBlogUnravelling the Mystery of Life Coaching: What Is It?
Life Coaching

Unravelling the Mystery of Life Coaching: What Is It?

29 January 2023
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AspectLife CoachingHealth Coaching
DefinitionA method which focuses on helping people to make life choices and improving their lives' quality.A patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion techniques to enhance a patient's lifestyle and health conditions.
OriginationOriginated in the 1980s and 1990s primarily in North America.The concept was emerged as a distinct process later than life coaching, however, its exact origination time is not clearly defined.
Globally Adopted Name'Wellbeing Coaching' is a more commonly used term especially in Europe and Asia Pacific, due to the poor reputation of 'life coaching'.No change in term is observed globally.
PractitionersOften practiced by psychologists or those trained in psychologically informed models.Practitioners usually have a background in health education and promotion.
Involvement of Physical HealthFocuses on overall life choices not particularly the physical health of the individuals.Focused on improving physical health through lifestyle changes.
Involvement of Mental HealthMental health is a principal area of concern in life coaching.No direct implication on mental health, the focus is majorly on physical health.
Responsibility of CoachesCoaches' responsibility is defined within life choices and mental well-being of the individuals.The extent of coaches' responsibility for their client’s health and well-being is still unclear.
Boundary DefinitionThe boundaries of life coaching are more defined.Health coaching lacks a defined boundary; it is not always easy to determine where it starts and finishes.
Client-CentredFocus primarily on the choices the client makes for their personal growth and development.A patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion.
Primary AimHelping people make informed life choices, improving the quality of their lives.Helping people improve their health and well-being by making lifestyle changes.

Life coaching and health coaching are two distinct strands of well-being coaching. Life coaching focuses on helping people make life choices and improving the quality of their lives. In contrast, health coaching is a patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion.

There are difficulties in defining health coaching, as it is not always easy to determine where health coaching starts and finishes. This article discussed the differences between life coaching and health coaching and the difficulties in defining health coaching.

  • Introduction

  • A brief history of life coaching

  • Differentiation between ‘life’ or personal coaching and ‘health’ coaching

  • Definitions of Health Coaching

  • Patient-centered process

Life Coaching and Health Coaching: An Overview

Life coaching has been around since the 1980s and 1990s and has become increasingly popular in North America. The term ‘life coaching’ has virtually disappeared in Europe and Asia Pacific due to its poor reputation and the lack of training that some practitioners have. As a result, the term ‘wellbeing coaching’ has been adopted by many parts of the world instead. The focus of well-being coaching remains similar to life coaching, but it is often practiced by psychologists or those trained in psychologically informed models.

This article will discuss the differences between life coaching and health coaching and the difficulties in defining health coaching.

Life coaching and health coaching are two distinct strands of well-being coaching. Life coaching focuses on helping people make life choices and improving the quality of their lives. Health coaching, on the other hand, is a patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion. It is designed to help people improve their health and well-being by making lifestyle changes.

The difficulty in defining health coaching arises from the lack of a defined boundary. It is not always easy to determine where health coaching starts and finishes. It is also unclear how much responsibility health coaches should take for their client’s health and well-being.

In conclusion, life and health coaching are two distinct strands of well-being coaching. Life coaching focuses on helping people make life choices and improving the quality of their lives. In contrast, health coaching is a patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion. There are difficulties in defining health coaching, as it is not always easy to determine where health coaching starts and finishes.

Life coaching is the key to unlocking a better version of yourself.

IIENSTITU
Definition, A method which focuses on helping people to make life choices and improving their lives' quality, A patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion techniques to enhance a patient's lifestyle and health conditions, Origination, Originated in the 1980s and 1990s primarily in North America, The concept was emerged as a distinct process later than life coaching, however, its exact origination time is not clearly defined, Globally Adopted Name, 'Wellbeing Coaching' is a more commonly used term especially in Europe and Asia Pacific, due to the poor reputation of 'life coaching', No change in term is observed globally, Practitioners, Often practiced by psychologists or those trained in psychologically informed models, Practitioners usually have a background in health education and promotion, Involvement of Physical Health, Focuses on overall life choices not particularly the physical health of the individuals, Focused on improving physical health through lifestyle changes, Involvement of Mental Health, Mental health is a principal area of concern in life coaching, No direct implication on mental health, the focus is majorly on physical health, Responsibility of Coaches, Coaches' responsibility is defined within life choices and mental well-being of the individuals, The extent of coaches' responsibility for their client’s health and well-being is still unclear, Boundary Definition, The boundaries of life coaching are more defined, Health coaching lacks a defined boundary; it is not always easy to determine where it starts and finishes, Client-Centred, Focus primarily on the choices the client makes for their personal growth and development, A patient-centered process that combines health education and health promotion, Primary Aim, Helping people make informed life choices, improving the quality of their lives, Helping people improve their health and well-being by making lifestyle changes
Life Coaching Health Coaching wellbeing coaching health education health promotion lifestyle changes difficulty in defining health coaching life choices quality of life
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Amara Weiss
Institute Secretary, Author

I am Amara Weiss and for many years I have worked in the field of education, specifically in the area of technology. I firmly believe that technology is a powerful tool that can help educators achieve their goals and improve student outcomes. That is why I currently work with IIENSTITU, an organization that supports more than 2 million students worldwide. In my role, I strive to contribute to its global growth and help educators make the most of available technologies.

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