• the way we view a particular challenge we may meet
• the way we experience our interactions and relationships with others
• how we make career and business choices
• how we ultimately feel about ourselves

Frequently, these longstanding habits result in a sense of being “stuck.”Your life coach offers the comfort of an ally or partner during challenging times, the opportunity to have someone in your camp and provides the ability to bring objectivity in learning to think outside of the box. A life coach: 

• promotes personal growth
• maximizes your strengths
• assists in discarding your “old tapes”
• develops realistic life goals with strategies for success
• favors action over procrastination
• determines behaviors that get in your way
• strives for your emotional empowerment
• develops improved communication skills
• refines social skills
• assists in developing judgment and the ability to making informed decisions
• increases the ability to attract success in all aspects of life
• favors action over procrastination

With roots in executive coaching, life coaching draws from the disciplines of psychology, sociology and various other counseling arenas. Generally, individuals seek coaching for improvement in relationships in their careers and personal lives. There is often confusion between the process of psychotherapy vs. life coaching. Life coaching is often an extension of psychotherapy. Coaching is most effective for individuals who have already resolved past issues and are no longer experiencing debilitating symptoms such as those attached to severe anxiety or depression. 

There is some controversy surrounding the ethical aspects of life coaching because of the unregulated, unstandardized nature of the process.  Many life coaches, while ‘certified’ or ‘credentialed’,  do not have formal training or higher education in psychology, social work or mental health counseling.  Critics fear that life coaches without a basis of formal education of at least a Master’s level will not be able to distinguish when an individual may be developing signs of requiring a higher level of care. In addition, a licensed therapist will also have malpractice insurance while, in most cases, a certified life coach will not. As such, one may wish to carefully consider the educational training and experience of the life coach you ultimately select.

At Linda Berlin, Psy.D. & Psychological Associates all Life Coaching is delivered by Masters or Doctoral level clinicians who are fully licensed in the State of Florida. To learn more about Dr. Berlin, click here or call (954) 227-2700 or (561) 347-0997.

Read Dr. Berlin's article on Depression.

Read Dr. Berlin's article on Treating Anxiety & Panic Disorders.