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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
I am really torn about whether to turn to a life coach. I'm 28, professional, enjoying the money I make, but feeling empty with my professional life, generally depressed, etc. I saw a therapist for two years, tried pills, psychoanalysis and none of it helped. I am pretty functional in my day to day life: I am an investment banker, pay bills on time, etc. Not terribly productive or efficient, but functional. I know I need to find passion in my work and life. I found a life coach (based out of a different state so it would be phone coaching) for $100 a week for 1/2 hr sessions and unlimited email etc. I am leery because it is over the phone and I don't really know who these people are. Is Life coaching a scam? I'm just not sure what to do. Don't want to waste so much money on someone and have it not help.
Posted by muffled on December 12, 2005, at 14:29:45
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
Hi asya,
Hmmmmm. Dunno. Will be interesting to hear what people have to say.
Out of state seems a bit weird. Noone can do face to face?
I dunno.
Seems a bit odd.
But maybe not.
I'm a suspicious sort.
Hmmmmm.
I'll be watching this thread!
Muffly
Posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 15:09:39
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam? » asya, posted by muffled on December 12, 2005, at 14:29:45
I agree. I am not sure. I know I am at the end of my rope and need something. I don't think they'll take my money and run, but I do wonder if it won't be much more than some friendly conversation with a stranger. Please, thoughts? Thanks Muffled, for yours.
Posted by cricket on December 12, 2005, at 16:02:40
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
I agree with Muffled. I would be skeptical.
I mean what qualifications is a life coach supposed to have? It sounds like anybody could put up a web site and claim to be a life coach.
I'm sorry that therapy and meds didn't help.
If you are willing to share more about what wasn't working with therapy I'm sure that there are many people here that could offer more advice.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 12, 2005, at 16:55:08
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
There is no regulation of "coaching." If you wanted, you could decide that you were a life coach and start a business. That said, there are probably some folks out there who are great at it. However, I wouldn't bother unless I had a credible, first-hand reccommendation from someone who had used the LC's services.
For $100, you could get 45-50 min from a therapist (depending on your city). Therapists are regulated in that they have to have a certain amt of education (Master's, PhD, or MD) and need to be licensed (filing some paperwork about experience and education, at higher levels taking an exam). Of course there are bad t's out there too, but at least you know sort of what you are getting yourself into.
What I would do is get some rec's for therapists. In fact, if you parted on good terms w/ your t's, you might ask one of them if they know someone for you. Explain that at this point in your life, you need something different from your therapy. You want something that is directive, and goal-oriented (I think, right?) Some therapists work this way, whereas others do not.
After you get some names, call them, say what you have said here and ask them if this is the sort of work that they do. How would they approach things?
I also should mention that I am biased b/c I am currently spending a loooooong time in school to become a psychologist. :)
Best,
EE
Posted by happyflower on December 12, 2005, at 17:28:25
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 12, 2005, at 16:55:08
I would say my T is like a life coach. We have dealt a lot about my childhood but we also deal a lot of the here and now. He has been a huge motivator in getting out there and living and doing what I need to do out of life. In the last 6 months I started taking master gardening classes, started playing the trumpet again and performing in a couple of groups, and started to exercise. We do spend a lot of time talking about my life goals and how to achieve them. My T says he is mostly congentive and specializes in trama, EMDR, and child and adult therapy.
But in order to do these things there was some healing that needed to be done from the past. We have worked just as much about the past as the present. Good luck. If it were me, I wouldn't trust "phone therapy" from someone you don't know. But that is just me.
Posted by Shortelise on December 12, 2005, at 19:31:31
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
asya,
I have a friend who uses a life coach. It is also by phone, though I think they met in person at first - but maybe not.
Her experience has been excellent. She's found friendship and support in areas where she needed it.
Her's has helped her organize her time, her bill-paying, has helped her learn to take time for herself, has listened to her when she's needed it.
Her life is better.So, I don't think it's a scam.
I just googled "life coach" and found some info there. You might want to have a look.
And if you feel you can't trust a person you contact only by phone, find someone in your area.
I honestly don't think it's a bad idea.
ShortE
Posted by Shortelise on December 12, 2005, at 19:37:17
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
Posted by Lucia Francisca on December 12, 2005, at 19:39:51
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 12, 2005, at 16:55:08
Hi Emily Elizabeth. So you're earning your doctorate in psychology to become a psychologist! Good for you! I'm working on my doctorate in English, American literature to be exact. I think it's amazing what good psychologists can do. I don't know if I could have the courage or the patience to be a therapist. I guess my interest in literature also involves thinking about people, interpersonal relationships, psychology, and people's motivations. I can totally relate to spending a loooong time in school. Keep on keeping on! And keep in touch! :) All the best, Lucia
> There is no regulation of "coaching." If you wanted, you could decide that you were a life coach and start a business. That said, there are probably some folks out there who are great at it. However, I wouldn't bother unless I had a credible, first-hand reccommendation from someone who had used the LC's services.
>
> For $100, you could get 45-50 min from a therapist (depending on your city). Therapists are regulated in that they have to have a certain amt of education (Master's, PhD, or MD) and need to be licensed (filing some paperwork about experience and education, at higher levels taking an exam). Of course there are bad t's out there too, but at least you know sort of what you are getting yourself into.
>
> What I would do is get some rec's for therapists. In fact, if you parted on good terms w/ your t's, you might ask one of them if they know someone for you. Explain that at this point in your life, you need something different from your therapy. You want something that is directive, and goal-oriented (I think, right?) Some therapists work this way, whereas others do not.
>
> After you get some names, call them, say what you have said here and ask them if this is the sort of work that they do. How would they approach things?
>
> I also should mention that I am biased b/c I am currently spending a loooooong time in school to become a psychologist. :)
>
> Best,
> EE
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 12, 2005, at 20:34:03
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a s » Emily Elizabeth, posted by Lucia Francisca on December 12, 2005, at 19:39:51
Yup. Guilty as charged. :) So glad that we "met." BTW, I love your posting name. So pretty.
Best,
EE> Hi Emily Elizabeth. So you're earning your doctorate in psychology to become a psychologist! Good for you! I'm working on my doctorate in English, American literature to be exact. I think it's amazing what good psychologists can do. I don't know if I could have the courage or the patience to be a therapist. I guess my interest in literature also involves thinking about people, interpersonal relationships, psychology, and people's motivations. I can totally relate to spending a loooong time in school. Keep on keeping on! And keep in touch! :) All the best, Lucia
>
> > There is no regulation of "coaching." If you wanted, you could decide that you were a life coach and start a business. That said, there are probably some folks out there who are great at it. However, I wouldn't bother unless I had a credible, first-hand reccommendation from someone who had used the LC's services.
> >
> > For $100, you could get 45-50 min from a therapist (depending on your city). Therapists are regulated in that they have to have a certain amt of education (Master's, PhD, or MD) and need to be licensed (filing some paperwork about experience and education, at higher levels taking an exam). Of course there are bad t's out there too, but at least you know sort of what you are getting yourself into.
> >
> > What I would do is get some rec's for therapists. In fact, if you parted on good terms w/ your t's, you might ask one of them if they know someone for you. Explain that at this point in your life, you need something different from your therapy. You want something that is directive, and goal-oriented (I think, right?) Some therapists work this way, whereas others do not.
> >
> > After you get some names, call them, say what you have said here and ask them if this is the sort of work that they do. How would they approach things?
> >
> > I also should mention that I am biased b/c I am currently spending a loooooong time in school to become a psychologist. :)
> >
> > Best,
> > EE
>
>
Posted by orchid on December 12, 2005, at 20:34:08
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
I don't know if there are board which certify life coaches, or if there are prescribed textbooks etc. So mostly they just go by their gut instincts.
So you should also trust your gut to see if the guy/girl is good or not in her job. If they are advocating things and changes which are reasonable and which you *can do* and which makes you feel good, then go for it. On the other hand, if they want you to turn up a mountain to feel good, then run away from them :-)
But I think a psychologist is better than a life coach, because without making psychological changes, it is hard to do lifestyle changes - and even if you end up donig something, it will only last for a shortwhile. Like, on instruction you might start acting like an extrovert for sometime, but if you don't make the underground work necessary to actually become outgoing, you will lose the ability to be outgoing in a shortwhile.
Posted by Dinah on December 12, 2005, at 21:04:55
In reply to Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a scam?, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 12:42:11
I'm sure there are excellent ones and not so great ones. I guess the difference is the licensing and education and continuing education requirements. I like to think that licensing is a deterrant to the worst of the ethical abuses. But maybe I'm kidding myself.
One big difference is the deductibility and or reimbursement possibilities.
I'd also worry a bit about life coaches accidentally opening up issues that they have no training to deal with. If they stick to plain coaching, that shouldn't be a problem, I guess.
Posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 22:57:59
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a s » asya, posted by Dinah on December 12, 2005, at 21:04:55
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it. Has ANYONE used a life coach and had a positive experience with one?
Posted by fairywings on December 14, 2005, at 20:53:06
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a s, posted by asya on December 12, 2005, at 22:57:59
> Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it. Has ANYONE used a life coach and had a positive experience with one?
hi asya,
earlier this year i saw a life coach, but he was too rah, rah, cheerleader for me. i know lots of ppl just loved him, and i'd say if i didn't have the problems i have, maybe a coach would be what i need. also, one of the professors i had was a life coach. she was awesome! i might not have stayed in school if it wasn't for her. she just knew the right thing to say, the right thing to motivate me. is it possible to find a life coach in your area? one avenue is to look for local adult add support groups, i know add adults often prefer a life coach to a therapist. or, if you want a definte source of life coaches, there are online adult add site that has what i know are legitimate coaches. I know they're legit because my coach knew, and talked about these ppl. if all else fails, try it. it can't hurt, unless you give out credit card info, your social security number, or something like that.
fw
a few of the sites with legit coaches. these people do add and other issues:
http://www.add.org/articles/index.html#coaching
(discusses issues)www.addconsults.com
Posted by 64bowtie on December 15, 2005, at 20:06:11
In reply to Re: Comments on life coaching, please! - is it a s » asya, posted by Dinah on December 12, 2005, at 21:04:55
> I'm sure there are excellent ones and not so great ones. I guess the difference is the licensing and education and continuing education requirements. I like to think that licensing is a deterrant to the worst of the ethical abuses. But maybe I'm kidding myself.
>
> One big difference is the deductibility and or reimbursement possibilities.
>
> I'd also worry a bit about life coaches accidentally opening up issues that they have no training to deal with. If they stick to plain coaching, that shouldn't be a problem, I guess.<<< Thanx so much for exploring the financial part of this whole debate... Like you say, there are scammers at all levels in every profession... I suggest we each keep our 'eyes on the prize'... By my own unscientific listening survey, 19 out of 20 folks willing to be honest, state the end game as being 'wellness' (an uncluttered and un distracted life)... I am rather cynical about the percentages of people actually willing to do what it takes to seek out 'wellness' and embrace it... Far toooo many are so internally conflicted that they can't imagine anyone else really being able to define 'wellness', let alone being able to help someone else approach it... Whether a person is highly educated, highly certificated, highly experienced, or highly whatever, do they really help solve the puzzle for others??? ...or do they just have a legal right to collect money for trying??? My successes tell my story!!! I just keep racking 'em up...
Rod
PS: ...and no, I don't treat those the DSM-VI would categorize as 'the mentally ill'... At the same time, my deep understanding of them allows me to be their friend if I choose to be...
This is the end of the thread.
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