Is Life Coaching a Scam?

This video answers the questions: Is life coaching a scam? How does it relate to counseling? Should I become a life coach or should I become a counselor? What can I expect to get from life coaching? Is it a substitute for counseling? When we talk about life coaching one of the difficulties here is there's no real single definition for this construct. Life coaching is an unregulated field, so anyone with or without training can go out at any time and open up a life coaching business as long as they're in line with other applicable laws. There are no laws that I'm aware of that regulate life coaching. Counseling is regulated. Counselors at some point, we would hope, achieve level of licensure and that's the level where they can bill insurance companies. They have other certain rights and privileges like the ability to diagnose.
They go through certain steps like education, testing, and postgraduate supervision to make sure they reach a level of competency. None of those safeguards exist in life coaching. Just because something's not regulated doesn't automatically make it a scam, but it certainly makes it more vulnerable to be a scam in any particular instance.

[SaraX]

I know a whole lot of losers who don't have their own life or finances together calling themselves "life coaches". It's kinda scary.

[michalyaari]

Whats stopping an actual narcissist from calling themselves a life coach? Its a perfect job for them...

[rbb]

I am an educated professional. Hired 2 coaches on separate occasions. One had a professional degree!! Both lacked integrity and were only accountable to the money and not me as an individual. It was a huge disappointment. "Renting a friend" is an accurate description. The friendship only lasts as long as you pay!

[nancydrew]

The promises that life coaches make are so amazing. The first thing they learn; there's a sucker born every minute.

[rachelselby]

My experience of life coaches is that they encourage you to make bold decisions by building up your sense of invincibility. The actions are all entirely at your own risk, with absolutely no risk to themselves either financially or emotionally. I do believe in being in harmony with the Universe, but I wouldn't pay someone to tell me to jump off a cliff in order to see how harmonious we are.

[michaelcrandall]

I dealt with a life coach that was a complete narcissist. He thought he had all the answers and was never wrong. As long as everyone agreed with him he was nice. As soon as you saw through his con and pointed out anything he would turn on you and turn others against you. And by you I mean me. He was a false preacher that believed in Prosperity Gospel and Law of Attraction. For a pastor, these things are incompatible. So glad to be out of his control. Beware of life coaches that think they have all the answers, for nobody can know everything.

[annptully]

I am a coach, I have a psyche degree and I am a trained counsellor. But I have chosen to be a coach. If I have a client with mental health issues, I stand aside and advise my client to approach their GP or I will refer the client to mental health services myself. I find it immoral and unethical to work with a vulnerable person who is in desperate need of a mental health professional.

[SandraLovesRoses]

"renting a friend that can be supportive" LOL it is SO validating to hear you say all of this. I USED to be friends with someone who is now a life coach. She RIPS people off & me & her ex husband have been wondering if she is a narcissist & definitely feel like she is. But she believes her own shit! Exactly how she can be unscrupulous. She thinks she is awesome at life but she lies and she lost a best friend and her husband, which apparently she wanted to anyhow. She sucked. Thanks for doing this.

[FinancialMatter]

I had 2 free sessions with a life coach through my work and it was a positive experience as it was tailored to professionalism & growing in my career. But this video did talk about distinctions that I wasn’t aware of!

[jessepitt]

My sister in law was a life coach for awhile. She had been unable to get a real job because she is a completely self absorbed little narcissist, so life coaching was a perfect fit. Now she’s a financial advisor😂

[nomoretears]

It's extremely scary when a "life coach" goes around claiming that their "client " tells them that they saved their life in order to promote themselves. Sounds grandiose, self serving, controlling, manipulative and very narcissistic! Look how many are floating around You Tube looking for vulnerable people and donations. It's really disturbing in my book.

[brittanyhoffman]

"Renting a friend" did make me laugh because I was anticipating that response to come out at some point in the video due to the route it was moving towards. I have heard of life coaching, but I never would have compared it to counseling in the sense that if I need professional help that I'd go to a life coach. I can see where a life coach would be beneficial for some, but if someone is truly struggling with mental illness, it is best to seek a counselor. Thank you for the video!

[theotherkangaroo]

Unlocking your inner narcissist! Spot-on Dr! 👍

[rubidirrojnamcha]

I was once inspired by a life coach who motivated me to be positive with everyone. With that positive attitude I approached a malignant narcissist, and then I managed to survive. Trust me, it was a bad idea!!! And now I'm negative with everyone!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[mikebaker]

I really wish there was some outside sociological research or studies on the industry so that evaluations on Life Coaching (positive, negative, and nuanced) would be less anecdotal than they are currently.

[laurastokes]

Many life coaches without degrees
charge a fortune without insurance
coverage availability

[haczabim]

Big scam in my opinion. The coaches I've met were intellectually underwhelming. I think those who want tp help people can study psychology, social work or even yoga. But something completely unregulated, no. And evenen someone with a degree may suck at the job.

[katiestilltherapytalkandre]

Couldn’t agree more. Boundaries and clarity are a real issue. I wonder if life coaches are able to reflect upon their own process and recognise when they are hooked into someone’s material when it mirrors their own.

[habibaduval]

Great topic and insight. Life coaching seems to be the show business off-shoot of mental health. That aspect perhaps couldn't stop you from using dry humour in your usually austere delivery. Really interesting Dr Grande

[amyhensley]

I’m applying to grad school for counseling and you took the words right out of my mouth. Excellent video with well put information. Keep up the videos, they are very informative and explanatory.