Today’s working mothers face many challenges including stress, guilt, confidence issues and time management problems. Rather than dealing with these challenges alone, many working moms are turning to life coaches to help them set goals and achieve work/life balance.
Life coaching may seem like a fad, but its increasing popularity has made it hard to ignore. A January 2010 Newsweek article titled “Do You Need a Life Coach?" said that life coaching has been around for a decade now, and that life coaches are available for everything from work issues to marriage problems to writer’s block.
The popularity of life coaching can be attributed to its effectiveness. A survey conducted by the International Coach Federation showed that “83 percent of the general public who have been involved in a coaching relationship were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied.’”
Amber Rosenberg is a professional life coach for working mothers. She is also a mother of two, so she understands the challenges that working moms face. She said life coaches can help working moms find the peace and balance they are looking for.
“I help working mothers manage guilt and stress and re-define success on their own terms,” Rosenberg said in an email interview with Suite101 in December 2010. “Through one-on-one coaching, I’ve empowered hundreds of moms across the U.S., Canada and Europe to achieve success that’s balanced.”
Rosenberg has been coaching for 15 years. She began her career by coaching executives at Fortune 500 companies and non-profits on how to work with the media. She discovered that her true calling was helping working moms, so she opened her own life coaching practice in 2004.
“I spent much of this time struggling to create balance and meaning in my life,” she said. “Eventually, I discovered that my passion was empowering mothers to live successful, fulfilled and balanced lives.”
About Life Coaching for Working Moms
Life coaching is a specialized process that is tailored to the individual client. Rosenberg said working moms come to her when they are looking to change something in their lives or careers and need some extra support to make it happen.
The coaching process consists of goal setting, prioritizing and self-reflection. Rosenberg begins by asking thought-provoking questions to help her clients identify their “vision for success.” She then offers “support, guidance and accountability” to help women recognize their strengths and core values so they can use them to make important changes in their lives.
“We break down all of your goals into small, achievable action steps that are big enough to move you forward and small enough to be realistic,” she said. “We also determine what will motivate you and hold you accountable. In short, I help you reprioritize yourself which benefits you, your family, your career and everything else that’s important to you.”
According to the Newsweek article, life coaches charge between $75 and $300 per hour. Rosenberg said she offers a money-back guarantee for her services. Her one-on-one coaching services start from as little as $400 for three phone sessions and $600 for three in-person sessions.
Life Coaching vs. Therapy
Many people ask about the difference between life coaching and conventional therapy. Rosenberg said that while conventional therapy delves into a patient’s past and attempts to explain behaviors or identify disorders, life coaching only looks forward. The goal of life coaching is to help clients accomplish goals and achieve success.
How to Find a Life Coach
The coaching industry is not regulated, so virtually anyone can call themselves a life coach. There are many coaching certification programs that prospective coaches can participate in, but it is not a requirement.
The ICF offers the following life coach selection tips on its website:
- Educate yourself about coaching.
- Know your objectives for working with a coach.
- Interview three coaches before you decide on one. Ask each about his or her experience, qualifications, skills, and ask for at least two references.
- Remember, coaching is an important relationship. There should be a connection between you and the coach that “feels” right to you.
In addition to reaching their goals, Rosenberg said her clients feel an overall sense of wellness and empowerment from their life coaching experience.
“They feel better physically, more connected spiritually, and are finally moving forward towards definitive goals,” she said.
Kari Lomanno - Kari Lomanno is a high school English teacher and mother of two children ages 9 and 7. She lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with her husband ...
