Life Coaching 101: Why Get Coached?

[Editor's Note: First post of a three-part series on my experience with life coaching. Enjoy.]

Life coaching. It’s a phrase that can set people on the defensive.

“Why would I need someone to coach me on how to live my life,” some may ask.

Well, why did Michael Jordan need a coach throughout his basketball career? Why does David Beckham play under the supervision of Bruce Arena? Why do baseball teams have pitching coaches, base coaches, and managers?

Because everyone, no matter how talented, successful, or gifted, can gain from working with a coach.

That’s why I decided to try it out with Fairfield’s own Liz Hoffmann, executive coach and owner of Atlas Coaching, LLC, on the Post Road. I knew a little bit about Liz and the life coaching business through her , but I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went in for my first session last week.

Would I be asked to lie back on a big leather couch? Images of Betty Draper visiting her psychiatrist whizzed through my head (I’d just finished catching up on all four and a half seasons of “Mad Men.”) Would I have to try to envision a picture from an inkblot, or remember particularly bad childhood memories?

Curiosity outweighed my fear of potentially feeling silly or uncomfortable. I looked up AtlasCoaching.net and reviewed Liz’s credentials -- researching as I would any professional endeavor. It seemed I was in the right hands to try my first life coach session. Why not?

After attending a session with Liz, the first life coaching myth I can dispel is that it’s the same thing as seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist for therapy. It’s not. Those professions help a person analyze past actions or experiences. Life coaching helps a person learn to progress in certain areas of his or her life and to learn to take satisfaction in areas the person is happy with.

And while Liz’s office does have a nice leather lounge to lie back on, I had the choice to sit upright in a chair -- which I did.

For my first session, Liz had me think about areas of my daily life I’m happy with and areas I’d like to see progress in. We spent the session discussing those areas and figuring out solutions for the parts of my daily routine that I find lacking. I had a few pieces of “homework” to complete before my next session -- homework that addressed a few of my problem areas. Already, it seems that life coaching with Liz is working for me.

I look forward to my second of three sessions with Liz. Check back next week for an update.