What is Life Coaching?
Many people think that coaching is simply a form of counseling. While counseling and coaching do have some similarities, both are confidential, both have set boundaries, and both help personal growth, self-awareness, and solving specific problems; coaching holds some very important differences that need to be understood when deciding which is best for an individual.
Coaching is not therapy or counseling. These ideals seek to find past issues and work to solve them to move forward. Coaching is not mentoring, which is more focused on sharing experiences and advising. It is not training, which works on change coming from the outside set by an agenda. Lastly, coaching is not authoritarian, which relies on change coming from an outside force pushing to move forward. So, what is coaching?
Coaching is a collaborative, proactive, solution-focused alliance focused on future performance and outcomes. Coaching focuses on creating motivational and behavioral mindsets to unlock personal potential for growth and healthy maturity rather than unhealthy dependence on things and people.
Coaching itself relies on a client-coach relationship. Whereas Christian coaching takes on a triangular relationship between the client, coach, and God, with the dependence and growth coming from a deeper relationship with God instead of self. Christian coaches are set apart by their devotion to making godly disciples by guiding clients to achieve a greater competence, confidence, and commitment to God.
Why does Christian coaching work? It centers on helping the client achieve their personal best, which God has created for them. It relies on the client’s own guidance and information. The coach thus fully engages in what the client says. Christian coaches want to help draw out God’s calling in a client’s life. (Proverbs 29:18: If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 20:5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.)
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING?
Christian Coaching is not therapy but a way to help people move from where they are to where they want to be using God’s word and leading them to accomplish personal goals. While we will recognize the past and what it brings to the present, we will not dwell on the past but instead look toward the future.
WHY DO I NEED A LIFE COACH?
Do you feel stuck? Is fear holding you captive? Do you have self-destructive talk or habits? Can’t find focus? Or are you facing major transitions or obstacles? If you answered yes to any of these, you could benefit from the help a life coach can bring.
FAQ'S
Who is a good fit for Crisis and Trauma coaching?
Trauma Survivors
High-stress professionals
Caregivers and Parents
Individuals who need to unblack behaviors
WHAT DO WE DO DURING SESSIONS?
During our time together, we will find the power for you to fully explore your relationship with Christ. We will find ways to help you truly hear from God and find his purpose for your life. This time will not be easy, but through our sessions, you will find ways to push through your personal resistance, doubts, fears, and uncertainty to move forward into all that God has for you.
Why choose to coach with me?
I want to see you find your best life! I have been in the trenches, and I know that there is a way out. God has shown me his blessings through even the darkest nights, and I want you to be able to experience that as well. I won’t coddle but will challenge you through motivation, empathy, and love. It is my job to ask the hard questions, find clarity in answering them, and help you grow spiritually in your relationship with Christ to ultimately reach your goals and find the life you seek.
How will my life improve as I receive coaching?
Doors open to not only personal growth but spiritual transformation.
How are sessions provided? Through our secure TherapyNotes portal.
How do I pay for my sessions? You will pay through our secure TherapyNotes portal. Clients can use credit cards or debit cards to pay for sessions. You will be charged the day of the session.
What are your payment terms? Full payment is required prior to the first coaching session.
How long is one session? 45 minutes
Do I have assignments between sessions? Yes.
Are you available to talk with me between sessions? Yes, via email.
Do I need to be over 18 years old to receive coaching? Yes.
Do you coach people of any Christian denomination? Yes.
What is your statement of faith? I truly believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent to earth to live a sinless life so He could be the ultimate payment of our sins through His death on a cross. Through His bloodshed as payment for our sins, we are forgiven and free to have a relationship with God through Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. His Holy Spirit lives within us and inspired the Holy Bible that is eternal truth--infallible, and without error.
Do you coach unbelievers of Jesus Christ? Yes, but clients need to know that all coaching sessions will come from a biblical perspective.
Where did you receive training and certification? I have received my B.S. in Counseling and Religion as well as my Master’s in Crisis/Trauma counseling from Liberty University.
Do you do public speaking? Yes, please contact me for more information.
Katy Smith - kennykaty7@yahoo.com
About Katy
Katy is a mother of five and holds a Master of Human Services Counseling with a focus on Crisis and Trauma. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Counseling and Religion, and she has used that in her ministry for the past 15 years. Katy's journey through life has been deeply shaped by her faith, especially in realizing that the often-quoted phrase, "God doesn’t give us more than we can handle," doesn't fully capture the reality of life’s challenges. As she grew older, Katy discovered that, in fact, life frequently presents us with more than we can handle on our own. These moments are not meant to test our individual strength, but rather to draw us closer to God, encouraging us to depend on His power rather than our own.
This profound understanding became particularly clear during some of the darkest periods of her life. Katy has witnessed the depths of despair as a foster parent, seeing firsthand the unimaginable experiences many children endure. She has faced the heartache of adopting children who have survived traumas that would be unbearable for most adults. In addition, she has navigated the pain of losing loved ones, the uncertainty of job loss, the instability of losing a home, and the fear of financial insecurity. The year she nearly lost both her mother to a devastating stroke and her husband to a life-altering accident was a particularly harrowing time. Yet, in each of these moments, God’s presence and strength became her refuge and guide.
Katy has learned that in every instance of darkness, God has shown up powerfully, lifting her eyes to see Him clearly and teaching her to depend fully on His might. Through these experiences, she has come to cherish Hebrews 11:1, which says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." This verse has become her anchor, sustaining her through even the most challenging times.
These life experiences and the wisdom gained from them are why Katy knows that God has called her to help others find their way out of their own dark places. She firmly believes that if God could bring her through such trials, He can do the same for anyone. The scars from these experiences are not something she hides; rather, she wears them proudly as badges of courage and testimony to God’s faithfulness.
Katy invites others who have experienced crisis and trauma to consider where God might be preparing to transform their struggles into successes. She believes that everyone deserves to experience this transformation, and she is committed to walking alongside others, with God, to help them realize the badges of courage that await them. Together, through faith and determination, these victories can become a reality.