How to Become a Life Coach in New York
Working as a life coach could be a rewarding career for those interested in helping others to reach their goals and fulfill their maximum potential. Life coaches come in many forms, from those who help clients with general life improvement, to those who help with specific tasks such as starting a business, obtaining spiritual goals or even improving romantic connections. There are a nearly endless number of ways to adapt this career to meet to your personal interests and abilities.
Life coaches don’t typically spend every moment with one client but instead will make several appointments weekly or monthly depending on the needs of the client and their ability to pay. This can mean either online consultations, phone conversations or face-to-face meetings. These shorter sessions generally will follow a more in-depth initial consultation where client and coach meet to discuss and agree upon possible goals, both short-term and long-term. Those working in the field often carry several clients at once and have the freedom to schedule meetings and appointments around their own schedules or even work remotely.
Life Coaches in New York State
Life coaches are unregulated within the state of New York; however, it is important for those pursuing this career to have a strong sense of ethics and appropriate training. Having an affiliation with an accrediting organization will greatly boost career potential as well as distinguishing a potential coach’s professionalism to the client.
Where to Begin Training?
Life coach training tends to not be limited to a specific locale, with training programs that occur online or move from city to city for a specific period of time. A potential candidate would be wise to decide, first, whether they prefer to coach from a specific niche and then search for a program that meets their goals. A small sampling of the many possible programs that offer seminars in New York are as follows:
- Hudson Institute of Coaching is an eight-month program with residential retreats interspersed throughout.
- Accomplishment Coaching requires 12 weekends of training with emphasis on “the simple,” such as being present to listen to a client’s needs.
- Erickson International offers three levels of certification, all of which qualify for credentialing.
Certification and Credentialing
For those wishing to excel in this field, certification and credentialing is recommended. It is important to choose a credentialing organization with a good reputation and legitimate program, which should include practical and ethical standards. A popular program is the International Coach Federation (ICF). ICF offers three levels of credentialing including Associate Certified Coach, Professional Certified Coach and Master Certified Coach. Each credential consists of educational requirements and coaching experience, as well as periodic renewals, with ongoing continuing education requirements.
Salary and Job Growth Expectations
While wages for life coaches aren’t specifically tracked by state by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,they did report an average annual income of $61,900 in 2015. There are also no official statistics for career growth potential; however, many people are becoming more and more interested in self-improvement programs, and it is reasonable to expect significant growth within this career track.
Career Opportunities
Life coaching is a self-starting profession, meaning those who pursue this career should expect to run a business, including outreach for potential clients, advertising and collecting payments. Due to its solitary nature, it is possible to work as many or as few hours as desired, allowing each life coach to tailor their business to their own individual needs. Potential for pricing may vary widely depending on geographic area, and those who are hoping for success might consider offering their services in larger or more economically advantaged areas.