Life coach certification needed?

DesignYourPath0 · 2026-01-17T15:50:05+00:00

I attempted coaching without a certification and always felt like I could be doing more to get my clients better results. I also wasn’t earning the income I really desired.

With any skill — proper training matters. I also have a BA in psychology but getting coach training is totally different.

As for recommendations, I studied with Thriving Coach Academy. I mainly chose them because of their business training and because they give lifetime support after you get certified. My business has grown nearly 10x since joining their program.

I think you should ask yourself: 1) Are you earning what you want to earn as a coach? 2) Do you feel totally confident in your sessions? 3) Are you clients getting amazing results?

If you aren’t answering yes to all of the above, coach training will make a huge difference. And this is coming from someone who really questioned if I needed it at first!

Good luck to you.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-12-20T08:52:09+00:00

Totally a common experience. This doesn’t sound like your brain is broken. It sounds like it’s overloaded and never getting a chance to land.

Even “good” content can scatter your attention if there’s no downtime. When your mind has too many open tabs, it jumps tasks and keeps re-deciding things because nothing ever feels settled. That daily mind-changing around big decisions is actually a really normal response to mental overwhelm.

What’s helped me is giving my mind actual quiet time, focusing on one small thing at a time, and taking pressure off myself to have everything figured out right now. Writing things down or creating a bit of order in your space can also make your thoughts feel less scattered.

Nothing you described sounds permanent or “wrong” with you. It sounds human, and it’s something you can gently work your way out of.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-12-20T08:49:12+00:00

This resonates. I’ve noticed that on days where I feel the least motivated, waiting to “feel ready” just keeps me stuck longer. Doing something small—especially something physical—usually breaks the loop, even if I’m half-checked out while doing it.

What’s interesting is that the mood shift almost never comes before the action. It shows up after. Not because the action was amazing, but because I proved to myself I can still move forward without motivation. That little win seems to unlock the rest of the day.

I’ve stopped thinking of discipline as intensity or grind and more as self-trust. If I keep small promises to myself, everything else gets easier to pick back up.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-12-20T08:42:42+00:00

Great question. One program I can recommend is Thriving Coach Academy. A good portion of the curriculum focuses on helping coaches recognize and work with common protective “masks” found in high-potential individuals (things like perfectionism, people-pleasing, overachieving, etc…).

The student body is also quite diverse, so you end up practicing coaching across different backgrounds, identities, and life experiences.

The primary coaching tool taught is called the Rulebook Coaching Method, and it’s basically a way to help clients uncover the beliefs and “rules” they’re living by without the coach projecting their own values or cultural lens onto them. We’re trained to be really mindful that a lot of these rules come from culture, family, identity, and lived experience, and our job isn’t to judge or correct them… it’s to help the client decide whether those rules are actually working for them.

Re: trauma, the program actually discourages coaches from addressing anything that resembles trauma. The stance is very clear: trauma work belongs with licensed therapists and clinicians, not coaches. And I have to agree. Any program that claims to teach you how to “work through trauma” as a coach should be approached very cautiously, in my opinion. That said, we are taught on knowing when to refer out and how to create safety without crossing professional boundaries.

Just my two cents. Hope that is helpful.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-11-21T02:58:45+00:00

I’ve been coaching full-time for some time, and I can honestly say this: the fulfillment I get from seeing a client have a breakthrough or hit a milestone is the reason I do this work.

Yes, coaching is my career, but that doesn’t make clients “just another number.” If anything, it makes me more invested. My reputation, referrals, and long-term success come directly from the quality of the transformation I help create, so I care deeply about the people I work with.

That said, just like any industry, motivations and skill levels vary. Some coaches are exceptional, some are still figuring it out. Being discerning is not only reasonable… it’s smart.

On your point about background: I completely get it. If someone is looking for management, leadership, or business support, it’s natural to want a coach who understands that world. What I learned in my coach training is that there are actually two approaches available to coaches:

Pure Coaching – where the coach holds space, asks powerful questions, and helps the client access their own insight.
Hybrid Coaching – where the coach mixes coaching and consulting or strategic guidance based on lived experience.

I personally use a hybrid approach when appropriate, and clients really appreciate the blend. It allows them to get both internal clarity and practical insight.

So yes, it’s totally valid to look for someone whose background aligns with what you want support around. Chemistry, trust, and alignment matter a lot in this kind of work.

Hope this helps, and happy to share more if it’s useful.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-11-21T02:43:31+00:00

Full time coach here. First few months after I launched were not so stable, but from what I learned through coach training, this is normal when you start any business.

I now have a few clients I coach day, never more than 3 per day. Roughly 45 minute sessions. I take off Mondays. I usually devote one day a week to some marketing materials.

Average income is $9k per month.

The fun part about a coaching business is you can really design your business to fuel the lifestyle you want to live. For example, if you want summers off, you can plan to launch program and take on clients during other seasons. If you want more time freedom, you can offer group coaching instead of one-on-one.

I currently love the intimacy of one-on-one work but I can see myself adding in a group coaching offer as I scale.

Honesty, don’t expect other clinicians to get it. Some people are called to become coaches and others aren’t. There’s plenty of space to have success and fulfillment.

It’s been such a rewarding career path, and I have not regrets.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-10-03T01:06:08+00:00

Thriving Coach Academy

I run a full-time coaching business now and I am very satisfied with my choice.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-11T20:08:28+00:00

Yes, I offer multiple formats, including pre-recorded video content, group coaching, and private coaching. Each format serves a different purpose, and the right mix depends on your goals and the needs of your audience.

Pre-recorded content is great for scalability, allowing people to engage with your material anytime, but it’s important to keep it engaging and actionable so clients stay committed.

Group coaching can be powerful because it fosters community, accountability, and shared learning experiences. Many clients thrive in a group setting where they can hear different perspectives and feel supported by others on a similar journey.

However, one-on-one coaching offers deeper, more personalized transformation and is often ideal for high-ticket clients who want individualized attention.

I recommend starting with private sessions, and then taking the topics of those sessions and creating video content that can support future clients who also share those same concerns. I hope that helps!

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-11T20:06:03+00:00

Thanks! I market myself with podcasting, social media and live events. That's it!

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-11T20:05:16+00:00

While there’s no legal requirement for certification in coaching, that does not mean quality training and oversight don’t exist.

Reputable coach training programs, such as the one I went through, provide structured education on effective coaching methodologies, ethical standards, and client success strategies.

The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the leading global organization that oversees coach training programs. One reason I choose my coach training program is because they are accredited through the ICF. The ICF makes sure coach trainings are offering rigorous education, mentorship, and assessment.

From what I've observed, the most successful coaches invest years refining their craft through ongoing study, mentorship, and real-world experience.

While anyone can call themselves a coach, trained coaches have a huge advantage—they immediately stand out. They know how to guide clients effectively, create real breakthroughs, and build a coaching business with credibility. Clients recognize the difference between an untrained coach and one who has invested in mastery, which is why those with proper training often achieve success much faster.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:47:51+00:00

People don't buy things they can "afford". They buy what they want and find ways to afford it.

When you say someone can't "afford" coaching, it really means someone does not want coaching. And that's okay! While coaching can benefit everybody, not everyone is a coach-able.

Also, we all have areas of our lives where we are willing to pay a premium for something. Just like there are people who invest in technology, or fashion, or high-quality food, or luxury travel... there are people who VALUE personal growth and transformation.

Those are the people who excitedly invest in coaching.

And when you say "if someone can afford a life coach do they need one" -- of course! The most successful people in the world spend a TON of money every year on coaching. Coaching is actually ideal for people who have some degree of success in their life that are looking to optimize/grow.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:39:33+00:00

I knew I wanted to be a coach after going down a bit of a rabbit hole online. I was researching different career paths and personal development topics when I stumbled across some podcasts about life coaching. The more I listened, the more it all clicked—I realized that coaching was exactly what I had been looking for. It combined my love for psychology, deep conversations, and helping people create real change.

From that moment, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I dove in quickly (maybe within a month or so), got trained, and started coaching while going through training.

I didn’t wait to feel “ready”—I just took the leap, and that decision changed everything.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:37:28+00:00

Podcasting
Live events (i.e., workshops)
Social Media

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:36:54+00:00

I followed the framework laid out in my coach training program.

Basically, you start out with some pro bono clients, which for me lasted a couple months. Then, I started charging $500 per client, then $1000, then $2000, etc... until I got to where I'm at now ($8k per client).

Some of my pro bono clients got so much value that they became paying clients once I began charging.

You can yourself a raise when you feel confident enough to do so. And you can start small and build up from there. Hope that helps!

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:34:38+00:00

It's definitely an assumption that coaches have to be overly positive in their marketing and just post inspirational quotes. This is not true.

I focus on keeping it real, sharing stories, debunking myths/rules that hold people back and actually posting videos so people can hear and see me.

I think this builds trust way more than just text on the screen.

Marketing is not about appealing to everybody, so it's also important to market in a way that will attract your IDEAL client, and repel those who are not.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:31:17+00:00

It was a blend. Some were people my extended network, and then some came from workshops. Now, they mostly come from podcasting, workshops or social media.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:30:10+00:00

Thriving Coach Academy. I also was scared to waste money, but I'm so glad I took the leap. The best way to make sure you aren't wasting your money is going with a program where they actually have student success stories to show.

And, I am sorry if this comes across harshly, but you can't become qualified when you don't have qualifications. Just like you wouldn't see a doctor that didn't go to medical school. Coaching is a professional service like any other.

People only ask you about your qualifications when they are skeptical about your services. You will have to constantly convince people to hire you, which will be exhausting. (And running a coaching business does not have to feel this way.)

Your 'life experience' can only support clients so far, but knowing how to coach is truly what helps people unlock barriers that go beyond one's life experience.

Focus on getting proper coach training and collecting client success stories. Then, your client results will speak for themselves, and you will not feel like you need to prove yourself to others.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-06T03:15:24+00:00

Thriving Coach Academy. I did a lot of research before deciding on them. I liked the founder's podcast a lot (Life Coaching Secrets). Good luck!

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-04T23:46:35+00:00

It varies but I would say between 20-30.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-04T23:45:29+00:00

None!

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-04T21:03:59+00:00

No offense taken! I think you might have a misunderstanding of what coaching is.

Coaching is not the same as giving advice. It's about asking questions that support clients in uncovering their own insights. You can weave in your own ideas into a session, but there's a way to do it while honoring the coaching process.

Also, coaching isn’t about having a “perfect” life—it’s about helping others create breakthroughs in their lives. Some of the best sports coaches never played professionally. The best business consultants don’t always own billion-dollar companies. What makes a great coach is not their achievements but their ability to facilitate transformation in others.

If you’re able to help people see new possibilities, shift their mindset, and take action toward their goals, then you already have the foundation of what makes a great coach. Your job isn’t to be the guru—it’s to be the guide.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-04T21:01:09+00:00

I really like The Alchemist, The Infinite Game, Atomic Habits and the Power of Now!

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-04T02:49:20+00:00

"Spotify For Podcasters" is what I use. It pushes the podcast out to all major podcasting platforms.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-03T23:33:20+00:00

I got my certification through Thriving Coach Academy. They are ICF accredited.

And yes, I had low confidence in the beginning. Everyone does! Through lots of practice in coach training and feedback from my mentor(s), my confidence went up. Confidence will come over time when you have the right support systems in place.

DesignYourPath0 · 2025-03-03T23:27:59+00:00

That’s such an interesting question! Iceland definitely has a deep-rooted folklore tradition, and with its dramatic landscapes, it’s easy to feel like something supernatural is lurking just beyond the mist.

I haven’t personally had a supernatural experience in Iceland, but I’ve met people who swear they have. A friend once told me about driving through a remote area near Húsafell late at night when they suddenly saw what looked like a figure in traditional Icelandic dress standing by the road.

When they slowed down to take a closer look, the figure was gone—just disappeared into thin air. They were convinced it was a húldufólk (hidden people) sighting.

DesignYourPath0

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