Life Coaching - Formulas
Serving Mind, Body and Spirit in the areas of personal development, strengthening relationships, Creative & Career Development.
Life Coaching Techniques
Starting Point for the Journey
Our family of origin is always the starting point for the journey, a crucial seed ground for what comes after at every stage of life. We all must heal the wounded parts and take full advantage of the nurturing parts, but every hero’s journey presents us with a time when we must leave home and strike out on our own, literally and metaphorically. To not grow up and out is to never leave home.
Obligation to Self
While the adventure begins there, the journey must result in a departure.
When the bags are packed for the journey, self-parenting is a main ingredient that must develop the farther we go and the longer we are away from home. The obligation to self is to leave some of our history behind as new narratives, new history is written by our experiences on the road to find-out who and what we are and what we are to become. A well- known expression of this is “Going on Being”, the title of a wonderful book by author Mark Epstein
Constant Re-Writing
From the Transpersonal perspective, all narratives, all our stories, can be a trap, a kind of dead end, if we are so married to them that they start to live us. A real life is a constant re-writing and editing as we go. Show me a person that is locked into their own story and I’ll show you a person that has lost control of their own narrative by trying to live up to it, instead of periodically up and out of it. The more we crystallize our own stories about ourselves, the more others see us that way as well, and we lose the wiggle room to shake ourselves out of rigidly defined roles and social masks.
Instant Gratification
Look at instant gratification with suspicion. It feels good on impulse but often feels dubious on reflection. It also becomes habit forming when over-indulged. As with all choices, take a moment to breathe and ask how it fits into your approach to an optimal life. An occasional harmless one is not a big deal. As we learn to check in with ourselves as to habits and tendencies we pretty quickly learn when to curb our immediate appetites for the over-all good of our larger and more meaningful purposes.
Happiness
If people ask you if you are happy, probably the most honest and accurate response would be “sometimes.” And yet it’s human nature to want to be happy all the time, as if it can be a condition of existence rather than a period state, dependent on outcomes and various forms of positive reinforcement.
It’s really more fleeting, mood dependent, and situational. It is more likely that happiness is a bi-product of meaning and purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction.
It’s less served up as a goal, as if there is a magic pill you can take. It shows up when it shows up and, in that sense, there is no formula for happiness or even contentment. Better to work on meaning and purpose in life and the odds are with you, it will show up more often.
FAQs - Life Coaching
Please reach us at dan@fulfillmentformulas.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The average cost of hiring a life coach in the United States ranges from $75 to $300 per session, with top-tier coaches charging upwards of $500–$1,000 per session. Many coaches offer monthly packages, typically between $300 and $1,500, depending on the level of access, specialization (e.g., executive, career, or wellness coaching), and format (in-person vs virtual).
- Certified coaches or those with extensive experience tend to command higher fees.
- Some offer sliding scale pricing or group coaching at reduced rates.
- ICF-accredited coaches often justify higher pricing due to proven methodology and ethical standards.
No, life coaching is not typically covered by health insurance, as it is not classified as a medical or mental health service by insurance providers or the DSM-5.
However:
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) may be used in rare cases if the coaching is deemed part of a medically recommended wellness plan.
- Some employers offer wellness stipends that can be applied toward coaching.
Tip: Life coaching is considered a personal development service, not a clinical one. Unlike therapy, it does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions.
A life coach is a professional partner in personal development, helping clients:
- Set clear, actionable goals (career, health, finances, relationships).
- Identify limiting beliefs and reframe unproductive narratives.
- Create strategic roadmaps toward measurable success.
- Build accountability systems and overcome inertia.
- Enhance self-awareness, purpose alignment, and confidence.
Unlike therapists, life coaches do not delve into clinical diagnoses or deep emotional trauma. They focus on future-oriented transformation, behavioral optimization, and mindset shifts.
Yes—if you’re seeking clarity, structure, and support to reach your personal or professional goals, investing in a life coach can yield exceptional returns.
A 2022 ICF Global Coaching Client Study found:
- 99% of clients were satisfied
- 96% would repeat the process
- Benefits reported include:
- Improved self-confidence (80%)
- Enhanced relationships (73%)
- Greater work-life balance (67%)
For driven individuals, ROI from coaching is measured not just in dollars—but in momentum, confidence, and purpose.
Life coaches are not better than therapists—they serve different purposes.
Choose a life coach when you’re mentally healthy but want to level up your life. Choose a therapist when dealing with emotional pain or clinical issues.
While life coaching can be transformative, there are a few downsides and risks:
- Lack of regulation: Anyone can call themselves a life coach, even without formal training.
- No clinical expertise: Coaches are not equipped to handle mental illness or trauma.
- Varied quality: Without vetting, you may end up with unqualified or ineffective coaches.
- Cost: High-quality coaching can be expensive, and there’s no guarantee of results.
Always look for certification, reviews, and a discovery session to assess fit and credibility.
Life coaching is ideal for people who are:
- Stuck or lacking direction in career, relationships, or purpose.
- High achievers seeking optimization and peak performance.
- Transitioning (new job, divorce, retirement, entrepreneurship).
- Struggling with self-discipline or clarity.
- Ready to invest in growth, not just reflect on the past.
Coaching is best for those ready to take action, not just talk about change.
Most clients commit to 6–12 sessions over 3–6 months. However:
- Introductory packages may include 3–6 sessions.
- Deep transformation programs can last 12+ months.
- Some coaches offer weekly or biweekly sessions, depending on intensity.
Your goals and timeline will determine the right cadence. Many coaches provide a free discovery call to help tailor a plan.
Life coaches cannot:
- Diagnose mental health disorders
- Prescribe medication
- Perform psychotherapy
- Claim to cure or treat mental illness
- Offer legal or medical advice
Coaches must stay within the scope of personal development, goal setting, and accountability, referring clients to licensed professionals when needed.
Absolutely. Life coaching has gone mainstream, with:
- Over $4.5 billion spent globally on coaching services in 2023 (ICF)
- Executives, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and everyday individuals hiring coaches
- Companies offering coaching to boost leadership and team performance
From career pivots to wellness breakthroughs, people are increasingly turning to coaches to fast-track success with clarity and confidence.
Life Coach: Focuses on holistic personal development—goal setting, mindset, purpose, and accountability across all life areas.
Lifestyle Coach: Specializes in daily habits and behavior change related to health, fitness, fashion, time management, and overall lifestyle design.
Think of life coaches as strategy partners for growth, and lifestyle coaches as implementation allies for daily optimization.