Is life coaching a scam?

rob316

I have a friend who is a life coach and he's constantly peddling on Facebook his life changing packages for people who want to change and realize their potential for success.
Fair enough but he's deep into his 30s living at home, crap car and doesn't display any wealth. If he was living it up in a 5 bed and driving a range rover I'd say ya he knows what he's talking about.

It's not just him and I know more and more people getting this "qualifications".

FHFM50

There are probably a lot people who benefit from having a life coach, like the way people benefit from having a personal trainer or alcoholics have an AA sponsor.

Like you said it doesn't pay well, but I don't know if I'd call it a scam exactly.

ampleforth

rob316 wrote: »

I have a friend who is a life coach and he's constantly peddling on Facebook his life changing packages for people who want to change and realize their potential for success.
Fair enough but he's deep into his 30s living at home, crap car and doesn't display any wealth. If he was living it up in a 5 bed and driving a range rover I'd say ya he knows what he's talking about.

It's not just him and I know more and more people getting this "qualifications".

I came to the conclusion that it is more important what people have done / are doing than what they have said / are saying.

The J Stands for Jay

rob316 wrote: »

crap car and doesn't display any wealth. If he was living it up in a 5 bed and driving a range rover I'd say ya he knows what he's talking about.
.

TBH, people who care about this type of stuff definitely need some life coaching.

Snails pace

It comes down to the person who is selling the product. Some people genuinely believe in what they are doing and help people. Then you have others who just want the money and will do or sell anything to get it.

Plenty of bluffers and charlatans in the industry. The same with fitness.

However, I think some are good and practice what they preach. One I have in mind is Sarah Rowe who seems to have a phenomenal attitude and is very successful in her sporting achievements and other aspects of life.

Sometimes people just need a little nudge and some self belief instilled.

As for the point above. A new car is not a measure of wealth by any stretch. Most people with nice cars have them on some sort of finance. Some of the wealthiest people I know drive older cars. One fella comes to mind with a property portfolio worth millions driving around an older VW transporter. His weekend car is a Seat hatchback.

jmlad2020

Definitely not a scam. life coaching can be a great push for some people who were never instilled with life skills from a young age.. Poor social skills, bad eating habits and bad life choices all impact on your success in adulthood. Not everyone grows up with good parenting styles. Some parents should have never been allowed to have children.

If someone wants to better themselves then why not, don't judge.

You can appoint yourself a life coach without accreditation. Snap, I'm one. If you sign up now, you get 25% off and a free pencil. But wait there's more, do what your horoscope says and it magically happens. This advice will set you back €500, quicker you transfer it sooner I can pay off the bailiff.

Strumms

I’ve never heard of life coaching. It sounds a little as if it’s veering in the road of amateur psychology... which might be a dangerous tact especially when you dont have professional, or state accredited qualifications...more somebody with an ‘interest’ in helping and a privately issued / purchased cert.

Thelonious Monk

I could kind of do with some advice RE career and what to do with savings etc but I'm not sure some gobsh*te who got a cert somewhere is the one to help me with these things.

drogon.

Fair play to him, at least he ain't sitting at home and on the dole !

Life is all about hustling

Ubbquittious

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I could kind of do with some advice RE career and what to do with savings etc but I'm not sure some gobsh*te who got a cert somewhere is the one to help me with these things.

Just use AH, the great bastion of wisdom that is

Strumms

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Just use AH, the great bastion of wisdom that is

We are in fact bastards of wisdom..

Church on Tuesday

Some of these people are massively inspiring TBH, the best ones give their material away for free, then if you so wish you can spend whatever amount you feel to receive whatever additional help you may need.

A lot of spoofers for sure but a lot of great solid advice out there too.

Montage of Feck

rob316 wrote: »

I have a friend who is a life coach and he's constantly peddling on Facebook his life changing packages for people who want to change and realize their potential for success.
Fair enough but he's deep into his 30s living at home, crap car and doesn't display any wealth. If he was living it up in a 5 bed and driving a range rover I'd say ya he knows what he's talking about.

It's not just him and I know more and more people getting this "qualifications".

OP... DO YOU SEE THIS? This is an Anger Prisoner. A textbook example. DO YOU SEE THE FEAR, PEOPLE? This boy is scared to death of the truth. OP, it breaks my heart to say this, but I believe you are a very troubled and confused young man. I believe you are searching for the answers in all the wrong places...

simongurnick

Total snake oil salesmen.
As the OP says, this lad is in his 30's and living at home. How can you coach someone about "life" if you never even lived half the things yourself? Same as 99% of these self help books. Utter bollix. But I do actually respect the peddlars of this crap for figuring out a way to make a living from it.
Not for me.

zanador

A good life coach helps you break down your goals to weekly tasks and keeps you on track. At the same time they do work to help you see how to do that for yourself and to think positively. It's very forward thinking and motivational rather than unearthing deep rooted stuff and dealing with it.

NSAman

zanador wrote: »

A good life coach helps you break down your goals to weekly tasks and keeps you on track. At the same time they do work to help you see how to do that for yourself and to think positively. It's very forward thinking and motivational rather than unearthing deep rooted stuff and dealing with it.

Isn't that also called "Mammy"?

Patsy167

It's like all areas of self-improvement coaching - The results will only be as good as the work the client puts in. Same principles apply to Fitness, Mind, Career.

zanador

NSAman wrote: »

Isn't that also called "Mammy"?

For the lucky, yes. Unfortunately though life coaches don't wash your jocks

NSAman

NSAman wrote: »

Isn't that also called "Mammy"?

It may be news to you but there are lots of people who were not blessed with good parenting to turn them into well adjusted adults. These people struggle with aspects of their life that would be simple for people with a normal upbringing.

Badly learned behaviours as a child can be very damaging in adulthood. I've never seen a life coach but I am a child of 2 alcoholics which has been very damaging to me and my siblings. Seeing a life coach would be something I certainly would not close the door on.

Mrcaramelchoc

Is life coaching in the same category as the wellness brigade.it's definitely a scam if it is.

Snails pace

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

Is life coaching in the same category as the wellness brigade.it's definitely a scam if it is.

Those wellness events are total scams. They were getting very popular before all the lock downs.

NSAman

Riya Gray Keyhole wrote: »

It may be news to you but there are lots of people who were not blessed with good parenting to turn them into well adjusted adults. These people struggle with aspects of their life that would be simple for people with a normal upbringing.

Badly learned behaviours as a child can be very damaging in adulthood. I've never seen a life coach but I am a child of 2 alcoholics which has been very damaging to me and my siblings. Seeing a life coach would be something I certainly would not close the door on.

It is also normal that most adults question their lives and do a strengths and weaknesses review from time to time in all areas.

Working on the weaknesses and maintaining/improving their strengths is normal behaviour. Its called change.

Parents have a role in upbringing any child and shaping that child obviously.

That DOES NOT mean the child is incapable of change themselves.

Think for yourself, if you need assistance there are friends/family/professionals that can give advice and help you in life/business/relationships.

Personally, I find life coaches to be utterly irrelevant.

PTH2009

Are they like a wing man/women ?

Strumms

FHFM50 wrote: »

There are probably a lot people who benefit from having a life coach, like the way people benefit from having a personal trainer or alcoholics have an AA sponsor.

Like you said it doesn't pay well, but I don't know if I'd call it a scam exactly.

What or who qualifies you as a ‘life coach’ ?

DCU, UCD, Trinity, UCC, NUI ? No ‘ life coaching ‘ course seems to be available that I can see at any of the fore-mostly respected and rated seats of learning in the state.

It seems to be mostly 99% private operators... what body qualifies you as a life coach ?

A personal trainer you need to google and....

https://www.ucd.ie/sportandfitness/courses/personaltrainingcourse/

To look after somebody in your capacity as a ‘life coach’ can you just knock up a website, rent an office, charge 60 quid an hour and off you go ? Or is there more to it ?

My dentist, GP, physio all have their certs on the wall, life coaches ? What is their deal, genuine question, the Internet is slightly vague..

beerguts

My last job set up a remote mental wellbeing session on MS teams with a Scottish life coach. The session was 3 hours long on a Friday afternoon. I took nothing from it and was busy doing other tasks while I had the volume lowered on the earphones, I would say the majority of the people listening in did the same. I looked him up online and found that he had 3 different books for sale on addiction, centering yourself and the settings goals in life, he came across as a complete charlatan.
The thought of a life coach for me is like a snake oil salesman targeting the emotionally week to profit off.

jmlad2020

NSAman wrote: »

Think for yourself, if you need assistance there are friends/family/professionals that can give advice and help you in life/business/relationships.

Personally, I find life coaches to be utterly irrelevant.

Congratulations. You don't need a life coach.

But life coaching is entirely relevant for some people who have had it worse than you pal. An adult who was abused as a child might struggle to think for themselves and fit into the real world, but will excel above the rest at a particular aubject once they are given some direction in life. Do children with special needs require guidance in life? Same thing.

Some people have limited access to family members or positive role models that you speak of.

You want to learn Piano? You pay for lessons. Same thing. "Life coaching" is more than someone telling you to go to the gym more or how to chat up girls.

Strumms

Sounds to me what ‘life coaches’ are maybe doing, is trying to touch in on the field of work and ‘some’ responsibilities that a psychologist normally covers or can cover.. but are doing it under a different title, without any accreditation or qualifications. Sounds dodge...

Can I set up a practice tomorrow as a ‘physical wellness specialist’... without having qualified as a doctor, or physio ? Just open an office, see people who pay me..lady with a very sore and tight hamstring... I provide an amateur diagnosis and prescribe vitamins, certain exercises I’ve read and seen on the Internet and refer them to return in a month ? 60 euros thanks ?

bertiebomber

rob316 wrote: »

I have a friend who is a life coach and he's constantly peddling on Facebook his life changing packages for people who want to change and realize their potential for success.
Fair enough but he's deep into his 30s living at home, crap car and doesn't display any wealth. If he was living it up in a 5 bed and driving a range rover I'd say ya he knows what he's talking about.

It's not just him and I know more and more people getting this "qualifications".

the old saying is valid here -- " those who can, do and those who cant - teach !!! Life coaches are a load of bo llox !

Government buildings

Is psychology a scam?

rob316

Ya I would consider it amateur psychology. The guy I'm talking about has come through alot and I don't doubt his commitment to helping people but he's offering business and life coach with no entrepreneurial background.

I won 3 zoom sessions with a well known business coach on Facebook not long ago. It was absolute rubbish and wouldn't convince me to part with any of my cash for further help. It was things like this

Set a target of earning a profit of 500 a day
Have 2 separate phones, one personal and one business
How to manage your VAT and tax returns
Invest your profits in property

bertiebomber

Riya Gray Keyhole wrote: »

It may be news to you but there are lots of people who were not blessed with good parenting to turn them into well adjusted adults. These people struggle with aspects of their life that would be simple for people with a normal upbringing.

Badly learned behaviours as a child can be very damaging in adulthood. I've never seen a life coach but I am a child of 2 alcoholics which has been very damaging to me and my siblings. Seeing a life coach would be something I certainly would not close the door on.

ideally these people shouldn't have any off spring which are about 75% of the world population and they should not breed at all. You need a license for a dog and to go fishing but anyone can have a child!

Strumms

Government buildings wrote: »

Is psychology a scam?

No, it’s not, my girlfriend and friend work in that field. But they have one a masters and the other a degree from accredited universities... you can’t become a psychologist by turning up at a school in Lesson St for 2 years and... ‘yay a bit of paper’.

NSAman

jmlad2020 wrote: »

Congratulations. You don't need a life coach.

But life coaching is entirely relevant for some people who have had it worse than you pal. An adult who was abused as a child might struggle to think for themselves and fit into the real world, but will excel above the rest at a particular aubject once they are given some direction in life. Do children with special needs require guidance in life? Same thing.

Some people have limited access to family members or positive role models that you speak of.

You want to learn Piano? You pay for lessons. Same thing. "Life coaching" is more than someone telling you to go to the gym more or how to chat up girls.

Oh please. Take a kid who was not allowed to go to school by his alcoholic father and mother. Sent to the bogs ages 8 and forced to give over the money to father so he could drink it.

Said child left home at 13 and at 15 moved to Dublin, 16 London. Made a life and a family for himself and educated himself. Becoming a great dad and a loving dad.

Kids know when stuff is wrong and try to change it. Pal!

If you don't fit in, if you cannot find your niche in life, look inwardly.

Some guy who lives at home with his mammy and daddy ain't going to give you the life skills to change.

Forgive me for being blunt, even myself in my 30's did not know enough about life to give others "advice" on how to live their lives. Thankfully, other people DID have that experience and assisted me.

Even now in my 50's I am reticent to do so, apart from giving my own kids advice that I have personally gleaned through my life.

NSAman

zanador wrote: »

For the lucky, yes. Unfortunately though life coaches don't wash your jocks

They dont wash jocks? WTF good are they then?.;)

Hellotonever

rob316 wrote: »

I have a friend who is a life coach and he's constantly peddling on Facebook his life changing packages for people who want to change and realize their potential for success.
Fair enough but he's deep into his 30s living at home, crap car and doesn't display any wealth. If he was living it up in a 5 bed and driving a range rover I'd say ya he knows what he's talking about.

It's not just him and I know more and more people getting this "qualifications".

Can u link this? Genuinely want to see the grift

2lazytogetup

Knew a lad, bit of a loser. He went to life coach. Life coach told him he should go to gym, get fit which will help him get a girlfriend. And he should work harder in work to get a promotion.

The lad followed this advice, has a decent girlfriend a lot fitter and makes more money.

Result.

Suppose life coaches are a scam, but a bit like a personal trainer, it's not rational but works.

holystungun9

Deleted User wrote: »

You can appoint yourself a life coach without accreditation. Snap, I'm one. If you sign up now, you get 25% off and a free pencil. But wait there's more, do what your horoscope says and it magically happens. This advice will set you back €500, quicker you transfer it sooner I can pay off the bailiff.

Do you do zoom sessions?

pgj2015

Get out, go on, iv opened the door for ya, yeah, if you dont wanna make it, go now, yeah, save us all a bit of time, yeah, if you don't think you can cut it.

Mad_maxx

id consider seeing one but i aint doing any press ups

Upforthematch

How is a life coach different to a counsellor? Is there anything a life-coach tells you that a counsellor doesn't?

touts

Upforthematch wrote: »

How is a life coach different to a counsellor? Is there anything a life-coach tells you that a counsellor doesn't?

Counsellors have to be properly trained in a real third level college and certified. Life coaches can buy a self help book, print up their qualification on Powerpoint and off they go. Now there are some made up "private" colleges with fancy sounding names that will charge you €3k+ for a coaching qualification but basically they are just reading the book to you and charging for a fancier powerpoint certificate template.

Not all coaching is rubbish. Coaching has a very important place in business especially for new managers who can be overwhelmed and need some guidance. But generally the coaches here should have 20+ years good business experience to draw from before they go into coaching. They ask questions that help the person being coached to find the right solution BUT the management/business coach needs to know where that right solution is to begin with in order to guide the person. They may have some qualifications in it but generally it's their years of business experience that they rely on.

In contrast a Life coach is generally someone with **** all experience beyond the life they have led so all they can coach is on that "life".

If you are looking for a coach check their website or social media profile. If the bulk of information is about the online certifications they bought then avoid them. If the bulk of the information is about their business and management experience and the coaching qualifications are there but secondary then that is the coach you want.

ILoveYourVibes

McGaggs wrote: »

TBH, people who care about this type of stuff definitely need some life coaching.

There are certain things in life I have never accomplished.

And these things MIGHT be what some people consider basic tenets of moderate success.

Now they might not be for everyone. But i would say they are for many.

Therefore ..i don't really claim to be able to coach people in these areas.

Although ..having said that ..people can have a lot on credit ..you never know.

When i get my full drivers license you will never hear the end of me though.

Surreptitious

I went to a Life Coach years ago. He had an unusual personality and I left in tears. Sorry I ever met the cnut.

ILoveYourVibes

Surreptitious wrote: »

I went to a Life Coach years ago. He had an unusual personality and I left in tears. Sorry I ever met the cnut.

****!


Actually my mom went to a counselor once ...and came back every time in tears ...then the counselor dumped and told her not to come back any more. Never explained why.

The woman seemed really erratic.

Surreptitious

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

****!


Actually my mom went to a counselor once ...and came back every time in tears ...then the counselor dumped and told her not to come back any more. Never explained why.

The woman seemed really erratic.

That's pretty bad for a counsellor. Some people shouldn't be in their jobs.

Life coaches are for the same feeble minded eejits who go to faith healers and fortune tellers. If it makes you feel better, have at it, but don’t expect anyone else to think it’s a smart move on your part. While not often stated, most will think you to be a bit of a fool.

ILoveYourVibes

Surreptitious wrote: »

That's pretty bad for a counsellor. Some people shouldn't be in their jobs.

Yeah.

That was just one bad experience though. She did find a good counselor after who was lovely.

I guess she knows the signs now.

Sorry you had your experience.

Piehead

JayZeus wrote: »

Life coaches are for the same feeble minded eejits who go to faith healers and fortune tellers. If it makes you feel better, have at it, but don’t expect anyone else to think it’s a smart move on your part. While not often stated, most will think you to be a bit of a fool.

True. Only good for geeks and weaks I reckon

ILoveYourVibes

JayZeus wrote: »

Life coaches are for the same feeble minded eejits who go to faith healers and fortune tellers. If it makes you feel better, have at it, but don’t expect anyone else to think it’s a smart move on your part. While not often stated, most will think you to be a bit of a fool.

I love fortune tellers ....life coaches much be the next stage for me!

Im joking.

In reality you are 100% right.

Fortune tellers , dating coaches life coaches etc. Career counselors to tbh. I mean are their careers so great?

It would be cool to have a real mentor though.