Guide to Becoming a Life Coach in the UK

When it comes to the journey of self-discovery, we all need help. Gaining understanding of your character, feelings, and abilities is daunting. But with the help of an experienced life coach, you can find fulfilment, become more confident, learn to set goals, and achieve them.

In the UK, there are an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 life coaches counselling everyone from political leaders to anxious office employees. While a life coach can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, many people do not fully understand life coaching.

Want to learn more about life coaching? in this post, we explore what a life coach is, how to become a life coach, skills needed, the different types of life coaching and more.

What is a Life Coach?

A life coach is a wellness professional who helps people identify internal and external obstacles. As an experienced specialist, a life coach will help a client improve his career, day-to-day lives, and relationships.

Let’s assume you have a fixed mindset. You believe that talent alone can help you achieve success. Basically, you believe that intelligence is usually fixed. A person with a growth mindset believes that he can achieve anything he wants through learning and good strategies.

Whether it’s to be a great singer or artist, learning, practice, and the assistance of a life coach can help you change your mindset – from fixed to growth.

When creating strategies to help you overcome obstacles, a life coach will target your gifts, talent and skills. A life coach offers guidance by helping you make the most of your strengths and overcome your weaknesses, to make changes in your life.

How Can You Become a Life Coach?

Life coaching is an extensive field. As such, there are several niches to choose from. This helps a life coach prove to clients that he has the expertise to help them with their unique challenges. The following are niches to choose from.

Career
Business
Spirituality
Academic
Relationships
General wellness
Weight loss
Work-life balance
Personal Improvement
Leadership

The following are steps to become a life coach…

1) Complete a Training Program

To become a life coach, you must complete specialised training. During training, you will learn:

Life coaching ethics
Communication skills
Psychological principles of coaching
Coaching assessment

To learn this and more, you must find an institution that offers degrees.

2) How to Become a Certified Life Coach

In addition to a degree, you need to earn a certification. Research shows that 77% of coaches agree that clients expect them to have certification.

A certification can help you gain the trust of potential clients. Certifications are usually provided by professional associations. An example is the International Association of Coaching.

For example, the International Coach Federation offers a Professional Certified Coach certification. It requires 500 hours of coaching experience. Before applying for this certification, you must complete the Coach Knowledge Assessment. It tests you on your understanding of ethical guidelines, goal setting, active listening and more.

From the International Association of Coaching, you can earn the following certifications…

Masteries Practitioner designation
Certified Masteries Coach

To earn a certification, you need to demonstrate high work standards and expertise.

3) Set up Your Life Coaching Business

If you’re starting your life coaching business, you’ve the following choices:

Sole proprietorship
Limited liability company (LLC)

In the UK, sole proprietors are usually taxed as self-employed, while an LLC follows the corporate tax structure. Also, an LLC is more heavily regulated compared to a sole proprietorship. One crucial step in setting up your life coach business is to register your business.

You’ll also need business insurance. This will protect you against lawsuits or an emergency. Examples of insurance to consider:

Business owner’s policy
Malpractice insurance
Cyber liability coverage

Once your business is up and running, plan your life coaching services and prices.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Life Coach?

Beyond the life coaching skills you’ll learn during training, there are many skills that will help you become a competent life coach.

Marketing
Budgeting
Active listening
Entrepreneurship
Networking
Leadership
Creativity
Skill building

You’ll also need a strong sense of ethics. We recommend taking one day at a time. Life coaching can overwhelm you at the start of your journey. To succeed, be patient, learn from your failures and experience. Before you know it, your confidence will grow.

What Are the Different Types of Life Coaching?

There are different types of life coaching.

Spiritual
Group Coaching
Relationship and dating
Personal Development
Retirement
Youth Coaching
Performance management
Executive business
General wellness and fitness
Career
Addiction and sobriety
Financial
Family life
Mental health
Life skills
Sports

To succeed in life coaching, research each discipline, have a clear understanding, train and get certified

Can You Train to Be a Life Coach Online?

Of course, you can train to be a life coach online. Here are websites where you can find affordable life coaching courses.

Udemy…

Udemy is one of the most popular marketplaces for learning. Founded in 2010, Udemy has been improving lives by connecting students worldwide to the best instructors. As such, the global marketplace helped over 40 million learners connect with over 70,000 instructors.

Today, Udemy is available in over 65 languages, has 150,000 courses and 115 million minutes of video. As an aspiring life coach, Udemy offers a Life Coaching Certification– £9.80. This comprehensive online training offers an understanding of the life coaching profession.

You’ll also learn how to…

Communicate with clients to build rapport and trust
Create practical actions plans to help clients attain their goals
Develop essential people skills and social awareness
Help clients establish goals that will motivate them
Cultivate self-discipline and self-awareness

This course has 7 articles, 52.5 hours of on-demand video, 351 downloadable resources, and certification of completion. You’ll also have access to the course on your smartphone, tablet and TV, plus full lifetime access.

To enrol, you must fulfil the following requirements…

No previous life coaching experience
Reliable internet connection
Google Docs or Microsoft Word for taking notes

If you like learning on the go, Udemy offers an MP3 version of the course.

Shaw Academy…

Get certified in life coaching at Shaw Academy. Founded in 2013, Shaw Academy is an online education provider that offers pre-recorded online courses. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Shaw Academy has over 12 million students, offers 100+ courses and 3,000 hours of content.

They offer an Online Coaching Course. Best for people who want to become an influence life coach, this course has four online modules, 32 lessons plus assessments. The course duration is 16 weeks and its globally recognised by:

International Accreditation Organization
International Council of Specialized Online Certification
Continued Professional Development

Here is what you’ll learn…

Growth in emotional intelligence as a life coach
Using your coaching skills to improve your environment and relationships
Understand the coaching process to create life-changing strategies for clients
Sustain your life coaching skills to build a successful brand
Understand life coaching and become a leader in transforming habits and beliefs

The online course is flexible. You can pick your own schedule, take a break any time and study from anywhere. Shaw Academy allows you to download class recordings for offline learning.

The course content is as follows…

Diploma in Coaching (Module 1)
Intermediate in coaching (Module 2)
Advanced in coaching (Module 3)
Proficient in Coaching (Module 4)

Module 1 is free and takes two to three weeks to complete.

Oxbridge…

Oxbridge is an award-winning online course provider. For over 150 years, Oxbridge has been helping online learners control their lives in career, work, and relationships. The online learning provider offers bespoke qualifications developed to meet all your needs.

One of those courses in the Life Coaching Level 3. Available now at £337.50 or from £26 per month, this course is specially designed for those who aspire to be life coaches. The total number of hours needed to complete the course is 60 hours. This translates to 20 minutes per day for 6 months.

Through the course, online learners will work on tutor-marked assignments and self-assessment questions. These assignments and questions enable tutors and yourself to monitor your progress. You’ve up to a year to complete the course, but Oxbridge can organise an extension for an additional fee.

This course is fully endorsed by Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists and Hypnotherapists. Once you finish the course, you can apply for membership and become a life coach. The course content is as follows:

Introduction to Life Coaching
Pathways to Success- Identifying Success and Barriers to Success
Setting and Achieving Goals
Theoretical Principles of Changes
Time Management and Productivity
Coaching using Positive Psychology

The course includes unlimited tutor support and a certificate from a recognised awarding body.

Animas…

Become a life coach with Animas free introduction to transformational coaching. This is a 3-hour intimate group training session that is live and fully interactive. The free course is usually led by experienced coaches who’re ready to answer all your questions.

During the course, you’ll learn the following:

What is coaching?
How does coaching differ from mentoring and therapy?
Where has coaching come from?
How coaching is changing?

You’ll also learn the three levels of coaching and transformational approach. Before getting started, you’ll need the following…

Reliable internet connection
Desktop, Laptop or tablet
Microphone and headphone
HD Webcam for desktop

The following bodies fully accredit this course…

ACSTH ICF Approved Coach Specific Training Hours
Accredited Diploma in Coach Training
CCE ICF Continuing Coach Education

To book your spot, head to the Animas website, enter the following details:

First name
Last name
Email
Mobile

You must answer the question “How did you hear about us” then click “Book My Spot.” To attend the virtual course, you must be 18+ years.

New Skills Academy…

Get your Life Coaching Diploma from New Skills Academy. The online course provides insights into the life coaching career. As a candidate, you’ll learn about what life coaching is and how you can use your skills to transform other people’s lives.

You’ll also learn…

Active listening and communication skills
Fundamentals of life coaching
Core belief systems and decision-making processes
Process of life coaching in the UK
Powerful Questioning Skills

In total, the course has 10 modules. Tutors will also teach you how to attract your first clients and profile them for your life coaching business. The course duration is 13 hours. Since the course is available online, it’s compatible with major browsers and devices.

The course is £100, and to get started, visit the New Skills Academy website, complete checkout and start learning.

What Do You Learn on a Life Coaching Course?

The first thing you’ll learn on a life coaching course is the fundamentals of a life coach. This section covers what life coaching involves, why be a life coach, and different types of coaching. You’ll also learn how coaching compares with therapy.

Setting up as a life coach is another part of the course. It teaches candidates how to get started, what skills a life coach needs, how to assess strengths and weaknesses. Candidates also learn face to face coaching and using a telephone for coaching sessions.

Lastly, candidates will learn how to change the client’s behaviour. First, candidates learn how to help clients step out of their comfort zone. Next, they learn about negative thoughts, fear of failure, self-deception, fatalism, and procrastination. By learning this, candidates can help their clients take action, set goals, conduct gap analysis, and persist.

Some life coach courses will teach candidates how to coach their clients for their career, finances, business and more.

How Much Can Life Coaches Earn?

According to PayScale, the average base hourly rate for a life coach in the UK is £47.50. A life coach with 1 to 4 years of experience can receive an average compensation including bonus, tips and overtime pay of £45.51. If the life coach has 10 to 19 years of experience, he will earn £50.87 per hour.

How to Market Your Life Coach Business…

As a life coach, it’s essential to give marketing a high priority. Marketing boosts brand awareness, your online presence and helps you connect with clients. Here are ways to market your life coach business.

1) Pick a Business Name

Finding the right brand name has a significant impact on your business. The right business name helps with your branding and marketing efforts. To come up with a winning business name, avoid hard to spell names, and find a name that conveys meaning. The business name should be scalable and memorable.

To find the right business name, use business name generators and conduct a trademark search.

2) Create a Website and Supporting Social Media

A website is the backbone of your online presence. Without it, you make it hard for your clients to access simple things like a map to your business or an address. After you register your business, create a website. To create an award-winning website for your life coach business, hire an experienced web developer.

He will streamline navigation, prioritise speed, incorporate responsive design and add social links. The social links will allow your online visitors to share your content with their followers on social media.

3) Create Life Coaching Packages

What is the most reasonable fee to charge your clients? Before creating life coaching packages, there are a couple of things to consider. The first is geographic location. If you provide your services in the city, your rates will be higher, unlike in the rural areas. Second, your target client. The people you target with your life coaching business, are they financially capable.

Lastly, the payment schedule. Decide your payment schedule. There are three options- hourly/session, monthly or per coaching package. To craft your life coaching packages, take the following steps:

Find your life coaching niche
Create your list of services
Write service descriptions
Map your expenses

Don’t forget to check out your competitors.

4) Offer Discounts to Entice New Customers

The average going rate for life coaching sessions is £50 to £100 per session. Since the fees are not usually regulated, some life coaches may charge higher than £100 while others charge less than £75. To attract more clients to your new life coach business, offer discounts.

Discounts allow clients to save. On your part, discounts help you create a long-lasting relationship with your clients.

5) Advertise Your Services on Freelance Websites

Freelance websites such as Fiverr and Upwork connect skilled professionals with clients. These sites provide a platform where a life coach can list his services and clients can browse for what they need. Some sites offer free listing, while others provide paid listing.

For listing your services, some freelance sites take a percentage while others have a flat rate. The good news is they all serve a similar purpose – connecting life coaches with clients worldwide.

Final Thoughts…

Now, you’ve all the major points to become a successful life coach. To grow your business, keep learning, promote your business, find a mentor and get coached. We also recommend using videos to attract clients, get referrals and partner with influencers.