“Life Coaching,” Not Real Counseling

Dear Suze Q. You suggested I see a counselor and I’ve had 6 sessions with a “life coach.” She’s slightly cheaper than a MFT and great at agreeing with me, but nothing’s changed with solving my martial problems. What’s next?

Dearie, “Life Coaching” is a certificate program one can buy for about $5K and 100 hours of NO live lessons to teach holistic living through health, $, love/relationships, careers, etc. They are not licensed, nor regulated. There’s virtually NO legal recourse if you’re harmed. A MFT (marriage and family therapist) is a regulated state license with 2 additional years of focused study AFTER a bachelor’s college degree. A doctor of psychology (Ph.D.) is a state license after 4 full-time years of college AFTER earning a bachelor’s degree. A psychiatrist is a medical degree plus a specialty in psychiatry which is about 12 years of F.T. college AFTER the bachelor’s. Yes, a “life coach” is cheaper than a well-trained professional with a degree because they are an end-run around real counseling. Like any “knock-off,” life coaching can’t replicate counseling and at worst can be harmful. Caveat Emptor. -SQ