How to start life coaching: a practical first guide

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential” (ICF Code of Ethics). In practice a life coach helps someone get clear on what they want, look at their options and take the next steps they choose: settling into a new city, building a routine after a big change, making a decision they keep putting off.

The client leads and the coach asks, listens and reflects back. Coaching looks forward. It doesn't diagnose or treat anything, and it isn't therapy, counselling, medical care, or legal or financial advice. Lumera lists non-clinical coaching only.

Lumera doesn't ask for one. Rules and expectations differ between countries and professions, so check what applies where you live and work. If you're also in a regulated profession, such as nursing or psychology, check what your regulator expects when you coach.

Voluntary credentials exist. The ICF's ACC, PCC and MCC credentials each ask for a set number of hours of coach-specific education and of coaching experience (ICF credentials). EMCC Global accredits individual coaches and mentors at Foundation, Practitioner, Senior Practitioner and Master Practitioner level (EMCC accreditation). A credential shows how you trained; it doesn't promise clients or results.

If you're choosing a course, it's worth asking:

• How much of it is practice coaching with feedback, rather than watching or reading?
• Is it recognised by the body whose credential you might want later?
• What does it cost in total, including assessment and mentoring?
• Does it promise income or a set number of clients? No course can.

• Read a code of ethics and keep to it: the ICF Code of Ethics or the Global Code of Ethics, a guidance code shared by EMCC Global, the Association for Coaching and other bodies.
• Coach friends, colleagues or volunteers who know you're practising. Agree how long, how often and what stays private.
• Ask for honest feedback after each session: what helped, what didn't, what they'd change.
• Find a mentor coach, supervisor or peer group to talk your sessions through, without naming clients.
• Keep notes on what you're learning about your own coaching. Keep anything about a client to what you need, stored safely.

The ICF asks coaches to identify their qualifications accurately and work within the limits of their competence, and to consider whether a different coach, professional or resource would serve a client better (ICF Code of Ethics). Before your first client, decide what you'll do when a conversation needs more than coaching:

• If someone says they might harm themselves or someone else, or is in danger, stop coaching and urge them to contact local emergency services straight away.
• If they're struggling day to day, describe a mental health condition, trauma, addiction, disordered eating or physical symptoms, encourage them to see a doctor or a licensed mental health professional. You can pause coaching while they do. Find A Helpline lists free helplines in many countries.
• Say at the start what coaching is and isn't, so nobody expects therapy.

• Who you help: one kind of situation you understand, described in your client's words. You can widen it later.
• How a session works: how long, online or in person, what happens between sessions.
• Your price: one rate you can explain. You can also offer a short free first conversation, so you and the client can see whether you're a good fit.
• A short written agreement: roles, confidentiality and its limits, fees, and how to cancel or end. The ICF code asks coaches to agree these with each client (ICF Code of Ethics).

• Write in your own words, as you'd talk to a client.
• Say who you help and how you coach before your life story.
• List training as it is, and don't call yourself certified unless you hold the certificate.
• No guaranteed outcomes. Share a testimonial only if it's real and the person agreed.
• Use a clear, recent photo of yourself. A short introduction video lets people hear how you speak.

Start with people who already know you or your work, and tell them what you now offer. A single profile link you can share by message, email or on LinkedIn works without a website of your own. Expect it to take time; nobody can promise you clients.