Life Coaching Regulation - Myth Debunked

This article dispels the myth once and for all, that life coaching will become a regulated profession.

As the author of the "Truth About Life Coaching School Accreditation" article, I get a significant amount of email from readers who are looking to enroll in a Life Coach training program, asking my opinion about various aspects of the life coaching profession and training. When I wrote the article I imagined that I might get feedback from both sides of the issue. Instead, to my surprise and delight, the article is linked to and quoted by numerous other coaching authorities and schools. Every email I have received has been in support of the views I stated. I am excited to see that so many others admit the truth as well.
Tip! A Life Coaching http://www.alifecoaching.

A few days ago, I received an email from a reader who inquired about the likelihood of professional regulation for life coaches. This reader had been a private Christian school teacher and was drawing a comparison between teaching credentials and coaching credentials. She asked for my opinion about whether she should take a secularly accredited Christian course or an uncompromised, bible-based, Christian curriculum, which is what I believe from her letter, she desired.

The reader wrote, "I have a degree in Christian Ministries with 30 hrs of psychology/counseling, and I am looking at PCCCA and trying to decide if I should seek accreditation through their organization (which I prefer) or should I seek secular/bible-based accreditation simply because the day may come when we are required to have secular certification."

Before I tell you my answer, I will just add that certification applies to what coaches receive and accreditation refers to a school or program itself.

I responded "Thank you for your letter. I understand your concern. Coaching however is different (from teaching). #1 - No life coaches anywhere in the US are, or ever have been regulated - unlike the teaching profession. #2 - It is every bit as unlikely that coaches will be regulated as consultants being regulated, because there are too many types of coaches (read coaching niches) and thus no way to standardize requirements. Even if the government tried to do this, legislating coaching would not be possible or practical for anyone. #3 - IF and I say IF it came to regulation, someone trained as a Christian Life Coach could practice for remuneration the way that Christian counselors now do... by being ordained.
Tip! All of the sudden the barriers for individuals came tumbling down, now Life Coaching become aligned with human nature and everyone is happy to learn how to succeed and apply the principles themselves. But, with one major advantage, a Life Coach is still there for the individual if one is needed.

So for Christian Life Coaches, regulation is a mute point.

The only folks who discuss and try to create fear about regulation are the secularists, meaning secular accrediting organizations and their accredited schools and graduates. Is there any surprise here?

The enemy works with fear as his #1 weapon.

Further, fear of regulation is but one major way for secular and secularly accredited Christian programs to market themselves. No doubt the secularists believe what they say. But note how close they came to getting your enrollment fee, based only on fear.
Tip! You can review more on Life Coaching options and other very useful information on the ‘A Life Coaching' website, visit www.alifecoaching.

Please be aware that not all programs that call themselves Christian are created equal. Those that are accredited by secular organizations must comply with secular standards. I know of at least one secularly accredited Christian program, whose leadership tells students that when coaching non-Christians, not to mention their own faith. If a coach were not true to the God they serve and themselves, how could they be true to their client? Even as a non-Christian, one would have to ask, "How authentic and valid would such coaching be?" Coaching after all, is a relationship built on truth and honesty!
Tip! [ii] Deborah Munson, 'The Life Coaching Craze and the Church,' http://www.assistnews.

The coaching school you mentioned in your letter, PCCCA (www.pccca.org), the Professional Christian Coaching and Counseling Academy, trains coaches to be able to offer excellent service, as they are biblically required to do. (The bible instructs Christians to do everything as unto the Lord, study to show yourself approved and most importantly, to seek only the counsel of the godly.) Among Christians, excellence is the goal, training is the process and certification is the by-product.

If you are a Christian seeking coach training, ask yourself these questions:

1 - What can a secular program give me that God can not?

2 - Is there more power available to me by using secular concepts. assessments and forms, or through the Holy Spirit?

3 - Do I believe God is my ultimate provider? And if so, is there any reason to believe that God would send me less clients or not allow me to prosper if, having the choice, I honored Him with my training?

I hope the answers to the above questions are obvious. If not, I encourage you to pray that those answers are revealed to you. Your destiny may well be determined at these crossroads.
Tip! Simon Clarke has over 15 years of experience as a writer, entrepreneur and business specialist. He is also the founder and Director of the Life Coaching Institute and the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors: both industry leading training providers in Australia and overseas.

As I have stated previously, I recommend that potential students not be persuaded by gimicky advertising, high fees and accreditation. Look for the best school for you. Period.

The author, Emery Hilton-Goode is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurial strategies and career training. You may contact the author at diamonglo@aol.com.