Intro:
The life coaching industry is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. The industry generates over a billion dollars annually, and the number of coaches continue to grow. According to the international Coaching Federation, the amount of life coaches worldwide increased by 54% between 2019 and 2022.
While it is exciting to see the industry grow, it is also important to consider a few things as you get started.
When becoming a life coach, pursuing coaching education that is credible is important. Typically, accreditation is a sign that a program’s training is in alignment with the standards of the accrediting organization. Youth Coaching Institute’s training programs are accredited by the International Coaching Federation, which is the leading body on ethics and standards in the life coaching industry. When you take a training with YCI, ICF ethics and coaching competencies are at the forefront of the content. Coach trainees also conduct practice coaching sessions, where they are evaluated by ICF-credentialed coaches for their adherence to ICF core coaching standards.
If you are interested in becoming a youth life coach, it is important to understand adolescent development from a biological, social, and psychological standpoint. This insight will allow you to tailor your coaching skills to meet the changing and varied needs of tweens, teens, and young adults. Youth Coaching Institute’s Certified Youth Resilience Coach training includes recruiting and coaching a youth practice client (age 16-25) for the final evaluation required to complete the program and certify. This opportunity gives coaches-in-training hands-on experience in coaching youth under the supervision of ICF-credentialed coaches and coaching mentors. Trainees say this in-training experience coaching adolescents helps them feel more confident once they complete training and pursue youth coaching on their own terms.
Becoming a life coach of any kind requires that you have the capacity in your life to learn and develop a new skill. Coaching is a skill, like any other, that requires years of dedication, practice, and commitment to continuing education. While clients must be “ready, willing, and able” to engage with the coaching process, coaches must also be “ready, willing, and able” to objectively and non-judgmentally hold space for the client and their experiences. A coach must be dedicated to their own personal growth in order to successfully support a client on their own growth journey. We encourage prospective coach trainees to reflect on the amount of physical, mental, and emotional space they have available before committing to this work.
Interested in learning more about Youth Coaching Institute’s offerings? Check out our certification programs for more.
