![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7520b8b29c.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d767936180d.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d78804afac2.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7876b74e3e.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7678468c82.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d767899b741.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d769908e0cf.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76cd703080.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76cd7202f0.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76792854c5.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76791033ff.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76785c0207.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76bcd20506.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76cd4bea69.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d77466352ba.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7678701a83.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d77c32702a0.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d767860224d.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76783c21ae.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d76786ab0f1.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d767957465b.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d780db40082.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d782cca28ad.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d784292f97d.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7842c037e7.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7851b5e973.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7894bde4bc.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d85d75349f0.jpg)
![The dark side of life coaching](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65d7888ba67cb.jpg)
See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 29 Fotos
Coaching
- If you have a sense of feeling stuck or lost in life, you might have considered working with a coach. But can they really help you get where you want to go?
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Coaching
- The term "life coach" covers a range of potential services, including: career coaches, financial coaches, happiness coaches, and more.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Definition
- The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Life coaching boom
- Between 2019 and 2022, the number of life coaches rose by 54%. This makes it one of the fastest growing careers in the US.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Life coaching boom
- The life coaching services trend is happening alongside the growth of the "people development" industry, which emerged in the past 15 years.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Pandemic effect
- An unforeseen effect of the pandemic, the conditions of lockdown provided the perfect business opportunity for would-be life coaches.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Growing anxiety
- For the past few years, reported rates of anxiety and depression grew, as people struggled to adjust to a new way of living.
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Reevaluation
- In the wake of lockdowns and more time spent evaluating life choices, many people found themselves desiring change.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Filling a gap
- For many, the pandemic led to a shift in values and goals. Some felt lost and alienated from the people around them in the fallout.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Filling a gap
- Life coaches fill a gap where people desire guidance and support with regard to their career, relationships, and confidence.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Accountability
- Life coaching is a way to get a push or outside opinion about an area of life. It can also provide a layer of accountability in the pursuit of a personal goal or objective.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Social media
- Social media has given a boost to coaches, who can access a larger audience, with a wider reach, than was possible in the past.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Social media
- They can introduce themselves and give free advice, offering the viewer 'value' while at the same time marketing their services.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
The rise of the influencer coach
- On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it's not unusual to find coaches selling their own coaching courses alongside their services. Usually, the lifestyle they share with followers is the course's unique selling point.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Unregulated
- However, while there are some accrediting bodies for coaches (including the International Coaches Federation), the industry is largely unregulated.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
Unregulated
- While many people earning large fees as coaches provide a service that there is clearly a demand for, it's important to remember there are no legal standards for entry into the profession.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Scams
- Unfortunately, the lack of regulation leaves people open to scams and less qualified, predatory practitioners. A lot of the time there is no way of knowing whether the practitioner has the expertise they say they do.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Ponzi scheme
- It's easy to fall into the trap of paying for life coaching courses that ultimately lead nowhere. Many promise a desirable lifestyle and a high-figure salary, for instance.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Mid-level marketing
- However, courses can lead to retreats, memberships, and mentoring that make a lot of promises they can't deliver on. Some might hinge on making a living from selling the same course to others, in what's referred to as a mid-level marketing scheme.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Cult mentality
- Even darker still, some of these schemes create a cult of personality around their leaders and encourage magical or 'New Age' spiritual thinking, which can be employed to silence valid concerns or complaints.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Vulnerability
- Considering many people seek these services when they are in a vulnerable place, for example going through a life transition and unsure where to turn next, they are left open to being taken advantage of.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Remain skeptical
- If you're looking into life coaching services, it's always best to maintain an air of skepticism when investigating what's on offer. Proceed with caution.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
Warning signs
- Watch out for pushy sales tactics, people who try to create a sense of urgency where there isn't one, or someone who is putting pressure on you to make a decision.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Warning signs
- If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of courses that make outrageous claims or present six-seven figure earnings as previous coaching course student success stories.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Credentials
- While there may not be a certified degree program for coaches, there are some accrediting coaching bodies. For example, the Association of Coaching requires members undertake a certain number of hours of training.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Find the real deal
- People may be experts in their field, however, without certain certifications, the services they offer are consulting, not coaching.
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
Find the real deal
- Just because someone has a large social media following, and is relatively well known, doesn't necessarily mean they will provide good value. A lot of information people post online is very general.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
Not therapy
- Lastly, remember that coaching is not therapy. If you need help with mental health issues such as depression, trauma, anxiety and/or addiction, you should always speak to someone who is properly trained. Sources: (The Guardian) (BBC Worklife) (Grand View Research) See also: Is breathwork a therapy?
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 29 Fotos
Coaching
- If you have a sense of feeling stuck or lost in life, you might have considered working with a coach. But can they really help you get where you want to go?
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Coaching
- The term "life coach" covers a range of potential services, including: career coaches, financial coaches, happiness coaches, and more.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Definition
- The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Life coaching boom
- Between 2019 and 2022, the number of life coaches rose by 54%. This makes it one of the fastest growing careers in the US.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Life coaching boom
- The life coaching services trend is happening alongside the growth of the "people development" industry, which emerged in the past 15 years.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Pandemic effect
- An unforeseen effect of the pandemic, the conditions of lockdown provided the perfect business opportunity for would-be life coaches.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Growing anxiety
- For the past few years, reported rates of anxiety and depression grew, as people struggled to adjust to a new way of living.
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Reevaluation
- In the wake of lockdowns and more time spent evaluating life choices, many people found themselves desiring change.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Filling a gap
- For many, the pandemic led to a shift in values and goals. Some felt lost and alienated from the people around them in the fallout.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Filling a gap
- Life coaches fill a gap where people desire guidance and support with regard to their career, relationships, and confidence.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Accountability
- Life coaching is a way to get a push or outside opinion about an area of life. It can also provide a layer of accountability in the pursuit of a personal goal or objective.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Social media
- Social media has given a boost to coaches, who can access a larger audience, with a wider reach, than was possible in the past.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Social media
- They can introduce themselves and give free advice, offering the viewer 'value' while at the same time marketing their services.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
The rise of the influencer coach
- On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it's not unusual to find coaches selling their own coaching courses alongside their services. Usually, the lifestyle they share with followers is the course's unique selling point.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Unregulated
- However, while there are some accrediting bodies for coaches (including the International Coaches Federation), the industry is largely unregulated.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
Unregulated
- While many people earning large fees as coaches provide a service that there is clearly a demand for, it's important to remember there are no legal standards for entry into the profession.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Scams
- Unfortunately, the lack of regulation leaves people open to scams and less qualified, predatory practitioners. A lot of the time there is no way of knowing whether the practitioner has the expertise they say they do.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Ponzi scheme
- It's easy to fall into the trap of paying for life coaching courses that ultimately lead nowhere. Many promise a desirable lifestyle and a high-figure salary, for instance.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Mid-level marketing
- However, courses can lead to retreats, memberships, and mentoring that make a lot of promises they can't deliver on. Some might hinge on making a living from selling the same course to others, in what's referred to as a mid-level marketing scheme.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Cult mentality
- Even darker still, some of these schemes create a cult of personality around their leaders and encourage magical or 'New Age' spiritual thinking, which can be employed to silence valid concerns or complaints.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Vulnerability
- Considering many people seek these services when they are in a vulnerable place, for example going through a life transition and unsure where to turn next, they are left open to being taken advantage of.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Remain skeptical
- If you're looking into life coaching services, it's always best to maintain an air of skepticism when investigating what's on offer. Proceed with caution.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
Warning signs
- Watch out for pushy sales tactics, people who try to create a sense of urgency where there isn't one, or someone who is putting pressure on you to make a decision.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Warning signs
- If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of courses that make outrageous claims or present six-seven figure earnings as previous coaching course student success stories.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Credentials
- While there may not be a certified degree program for coaches, there are some accrediting coaching bodies. For example, the Association of Coaching requires members undertake a certain number of hours of training.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Find the real deal
- People may be experts in their field, however, without certain certifications, the services they offer are consulting, not coaching.
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
Find the real deal
- Just because someone has a large social media following, and is relatively well known, doesn't necessarily mean they will provide good value. A lot of information people post online is very general.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
Not therapy
- Lastly, remember that coaching is not therapy. If you need help with mental health issues such as depression, trauma, anxiety and/or addiction, you should always speak to someone who is properly trained. Sources: (The Guardian) (BBC Worklife) (Grand View Research) See also: Is breathwork a therapy?
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
The dark side of life coaching
Scams abound in an unregulated industry
© Shutterstock
The life coaching industry has exploded in the past few years, and that trend looks set to continue. The US life coaching industry alone is estimated to be worth US$2.1 billion by 2030, growing 4.85% between 2023 and 2030. Many people seek out a life coach when their lives are at a standstill, as a form of self-care. But in an industry that's largely unregulated, is there potential for foul play and Ponzi schemes?
Intrigued? Click on to learn the dark side of life coaching.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![Unlocking your potential with a growth mindset](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fd8da0bfd4.jpg)
![Adorable animal friendships that will brighten your day](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a347b7ab21f.jpg)
![Love hurts: the ways in which heartbreak affects you physically](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a34533a841e.jpg)
![Outdated workplace trends to say goodbye to](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a241cfb6915.jpg)
![The top 30 countries with the highest salaries](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a1257b5af9b.jpg)
![30 animals with surprisingly human traits](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fc7d59e9be.jpg)
![How to tell if someone is lying, based on their zodiac sign](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a0bf8100fc4.jpg)
![How to keep kids safe during a heat wave](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fda1b16851.jpg)
![The ultimate summer skin care routine](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a0f721df09f.jpg)
![What is the 'brat girl summer' trend all about?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a246addc9ca.jpg)
![Fascinating facts you probably didn't know about the Oval Office](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669f79198a06a.jpg)
![What are the ancient origins of your zodiac sign?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e75af237bf.jpg)
![The fascinating history of crop circles](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a21460c3c72.jpg)
![What toll does spaceflight take on astronauts?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fa07d627e8.jpg)
![The comprehensive guide to managing and resolving credit card debt](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fc270d28d6.jpg)
![Age-specific tips for better sleep](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a216e1b5386.jpg)
![The dangers of compartmentalizing emotions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697c3f7ccd57.jpg)
![Stunning nature photographs that look like paintings](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_609e6540bdb61.jpg)
![The most polluted rivers in the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a98796a53a.jpg)
![Fascinating dog facts that will change the way you look at your pup](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664c9ce143f08.jpg)
![Countries with the highest disposable income, ranked](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fad641cf77.jpg)
![Get to know the "Mad Monk" who had the ear of a Russian empress](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_61cc7aa429f9a.jpg)
![Trees avoid touching? The stunning mystery of crown shyness](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6086d0b58fd21.jpg)
![How the first letter of your name defines your character](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66969fdb92841.jpg)
![How did dinosaurs grow so big?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697d2df7ee71.jpg)
![The most notorious Olympic cheats (other than doping)](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a0a66010aeb.jpg)
![Mediterranean tragedy: the dangerous migration routes to Europe](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e61a422da8.jpg)
![Are liposomal supplements really better?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a6a9b3acea.jpg)
![How to grow food in the city](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663cb61851ff9.jpg)
![Everything you need to know about slow living](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663b862fda57a.jpg)
![The French origins of the Swedish monarchy](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663ba08c3840f.jpg)
![What rapid weight loss can do to the body](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6641df4c4a90e.jpg)
![Your guide to starting a successful franchise](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663a5255b413a.jpg)
![Seeking out the "four F's" of commonly foraged food](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66332bd2057c7.jpg)
![A parent's guide to raising emotionally intelligent children](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e897d15e3e.jpg)
![How (and why) to create a personal development plan](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664488d8abddc.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week