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Enjoy Great Job Security in the Booming Field of Personal Coaching

By Kate McIntyre
Learning & Life Columnist

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that counseling careers are expected to grow faster than average in coming years. Part of this growth is spurred by the demand for personal coaches (also known as life coaches). Professional personal coaching has only been around for about ten years, but it is becoming more and more popular. As more people discover the benefits of personal coaching, there will be more job opportunities for well-qualified coaches, and career counselors and personal coaches enjoy good job security.

What Is a Personal Coach?

Life coaches work with clients to establish goals and plans of action for their personal lives and careers. Some coaches choose to specialize in one area, such as career coaching, executive and corporate coaching, small business coaching, or personal life coaching. Coaching is different from therapy because it focuses on achieving specific, measurable goals. While therapists help their patients to heal from past emotional trauma or deal with a mental condition, coaches help their clients to make plans for securing a promotion or making a mid-career change.

Training for Personal Coaching

Personal coaches and career counselors usually follow one of two training paths. The first one, recommended by the International Coach Federation (ICF), involves at least 125 hours of training, observation of your coaching sessions by a life coach, and a final examination. Once these steps are complete, you can apply for accreditation from the ICF, a non-profit professional coaching organization.

The other route involves earning your master's degree in counseling, which widens your employment options. This credential would allow you to work as a licensed vocational counselor in public schools. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that counselors make $45,570 per year on average. As contractors, independent personal coaches can earn anywhere from $35,000 to $100,000 a year.

Personal coaches celebrate their clients' successes and help them to overcome setbacks. If you are interested in psychology and love getting people motivated to reach their goals, consider becoming a personal coach.

Sources:

• "Counselors," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• International Coach Federation

About the Author
Kate McIntyre, a fiction writer in Portland, Oregon, holds an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.

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