July 10, 2009 – United Church Observer – Toronto, ON, Canada
She was 36 when she started seeing certified life coach Helen Tsotsos. Yvonne (not her real name) was at the lowest point of her life. She was unemployed, a four-year-long relationship had ended, and she was constantly battling with her family. Eight months of weekly coaching sessions later, she had landed a great job, was back in her relationship, and was no longer letting her family push her buttons. Taking small steps and feeling accountable to someone else did the trick, she says. ‚ÄúThere was no punishment if I didn’t do it, but promising it to myself wasn’t motivating enough.”
The life coaching industry has grown rapidly since it first emerged as a trendy new profession in the early 1990s. The International Coach Federation formed in 1995 and by 1999 had 2,122 members in the United States. Today, the organization boasts more than 17,400 members in more than 95 countries. Unlike therapists, these Oprah-endorsed professionals don’t diagnose or delve deep into the past. They operate more like upbeat guides or personal cheerleaders who help people determine and achieve life goals. ‚ÄúIt’s not about seeing the client as broken,” says Jeannie Campanelli, a life coach from the Niagara Falls, Ont., area. ‚ÄúIt’s about seeing them as brilliant and gifted and resourceful and bringing that forward through questions rather than advice.”
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