Life Coaching: Achieving Goals and Improving Quality of Life
Coaching • Wellbeing • Personal Development
Life Coaching: Achieving Goals and Improving Quality of Life
Life coaching helps people clarify values, set meaningful goals and build practical plans to improve wellbeing and performance. This guide offers clinicians and coaches a compact toolkit — models, exercises and ethical pointers to run effective life‑coaching conversations.
What is life coaching?
Life coaching is a collaborative, client‑centred process that supports individuals to identify values, set goals, remove obstacles and create sustainable behaviour change. It focuses on the future and practical action rather than diagnosing or treating mental illness.
Core principles
- Client autonomy: the client is the expert in their life; the coach facilitates discovery and accountability.
- Goal orientation: focus on specific, measurable steps that lead to meaningful change.
- Action & reflection: blend experiments (behavioural tests) with reflective learning to consolidate progress.
- Strengths‑based approach: identify and leverage personal resources and past successes.
Common models & tools
- GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) — simple action planning framework.
- SMART goals — ensure goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time‑bound.
- Values clarification — identify core values to align goals with meaning.
- Wheel of Life — visual tool to assess satisfaction across life domains and prioritise focus areas.
- Action experiments — short trials to test options and build momentum (small wins).
Session structure (typical 45–60 min)
- Check‑in & agenda setting (5–10 min)
- Clarify values/goals for the session (5–10 min)
- Explore obstacles & resources (10–15 min)
- Co‑create options and plan actions (10–15 min)
- Agreement, commitment rating and contingency plans (5–10 min)
- Close and schedule follow‑up (2–5 min)
Practical exercises
Values clarification (10–15 min)
- List 8–12 life areas (health, relationships, work, learning, leisure).
- Rate each area 0–10 for alignment with what matters most.
- Identify top 2 areas to prioritise and one small behaviour to try this week.
Wheel of Life
Ask the client to draw a circle divided into 8 segments and rate satisfaction; visual gaps direct coaching focus.
Handling setbacks & sustaining change
- Use relapse prevention: identify high‑risk situations, early warning signs and specific coping plans.
- Celebrate small wins to build self‑efficacy; keep experiments small and achievable to avoid overwhelm.
- Schedule review points and adjust plans—coaching is iterative and adaptive.
Ethics & boundaries
- Life coaching is not psychotherapy—screen for severe mental illness, active suicidality, psychosis or substance dependence and refer to appropriate clinical services when needed.
- Maintain confidentiality, obtain informed consent for coaching, and clarify scope, fees and cancellation policies.
- Avoid dual relationships (therapist–coach) when possible; if unavoidable, document boundaries and obtain consent.
Case vignette
Client: S., 35, wants to improve work–life balance. After a Wheel of Life exercise S. prioritised health and relationships. Using GROW, S. committed to “3 evening device‑free dinners per week” for 4 weeks and to discuss workload with manager. Follow‑up showed increased family satisfaction and clearer boundaries at work.
Measuring progress
- Use simple measures: goal attainment scales, weekly checklists, client self‑ratings (0–10) and qualitative reflection journals.
- Track frequency of action steps and perceived quality of life improvements—adjust plans based on data and client feedback.
தமிழில் — சுருக்கம்
லைப் கோச்சிங் என்பது நபர்களுக்கு தங்களுடைய மதிப்புகள் மற்றும் குறிக்கோள்களை தெளிவுபடுத்த உதவி செய்து, நடைமுறை திட்டங்களை உருவாக்கி வாழ்க்கைத் தரத்தை மேம்படுத்தும் ஒரு செயற்பாடான செயல்முறை. அது சிகிச்சை அல்ல—கடுமையான மனநிலை குறைபாடுகள் இருந்தால் சிறப்பு சேவைகளை அணுக வேண்டும்.
Tools & further resources
- Suggested reading: “Co-Active Coaching” (Whitworth et al.), “The Coaching Habit” (Michael Bungay Stanier).
- Useful templates: GROW worksheet, Wheel of Life PDF, SMART goal planner, weekly action tracker.
- Digital tools: habit trackers, shared calendars, and simple spreadsheets for monitoring progress.
Key takeaways
- Life coaching is a practical, goal‑focused process to improve wellbeing and performance—use models like GROW and tools such as the Wheel of Life.
- Keep actions small, measurable and aligned with values; monitor progress and adapt plans.
- Maintain ethical boundaries—refer to clinical services when mental health needs exceed coaching scope.