Package discounts are a great way to invest in the relationship and save on services. Group coaching is a smart way for personal trainers to make more money, as it allows them to assess if any type of group training will be beneficial to the process. Generally, personal trainers charge rates similar to those of other helping professionals, such as therapists, physical therapists, massage therapists and acupuncturists, but there is more variability since the life coaching industry is less regulated. For instance, Keith Webb, a renowned coach and business leader in the United States, suggests charging based on the client's results, the difficulty of training given to his clients and the experience he can offer.
It is important to note that most life coaches are not qualified to diagnose mental illness, so there is a risk of overlooking a mental health issue. Life coaches with reputable school certifications, advanced degrees, a recognized reputation, or more experience can earn higher rates than life coaches with no similar background. Therefore, you can find beginning coaches who will charge little or no money during their certification period, and other, more experienced coaches who will charge hundreds of dollars per hour. One option is to use an online coach directory, such as the one provided by the International Federation of Coaches (ICF).
This means offering your group training to those who are least likely to pay for individual training. Therefore, it's very important to interview coaches and ask questions before starting a coaching relationship. You can get some value from just one life coaching session, but the real benefit of hiring a life coach is experienced through an ongoing relationship aimed at achieving your goals. The ICF discourages coaches from giving advice, but in reality many coaches assume the role of mentors and give examples of how they have solved problems similar to those of their clients.
Once you have chosen a life coach, your first appointment will be an opportunity to clarify the details of the coaching relationship and the process. A second fundamental difference between life coaching and psychotherapy is that life coaches don't address issues related to unresolved losses or trauma from the past.
