What Does a Life Coach Actually Do? A Guide to Coaching for Clarity and Growth

What Does a Life Coach Actually Do? A Guide to Coaching for Clarity and Growth

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Many people have heard of life coaching, but few truly understand what a life coach does. Is it like therapy? Mentoring? Advice-giving?

In reality, life coaching is something quite different — and potentially transformative.

At Spirit Bear Coaching, I help people find clarity, balance, and purpose in their lives. This guide will help you understand what life coaching really involves and how it might help you move forward.

What Is Life Coaching?

Life coaching is a collaborative process designed to help you clarify your goals, overcome obstacles, and create meaningful change.

Unlike therapy, which often explores your past to promote healing, coaching focuses on the present and future — identifying what you want next, and how to get there.

A life coach doesn’t give you all the answers. Instead, they help you uncover your own — by asking powerful questions, offering reflection, and holding space for growth.

What Does a Life Coach Actually Do?

A good life coach acts as both a mirror and a guide. During coaching sessions, we might:

  • Explore what truly matters to you — your values, priorities, and sense of purpose.
  • Identify patterns or beliefs that might be holding you back.
  • Help you set clear, realistic goals.
  • Provide tools and strategies to stay accountable and motivated.
  • Support you through transitions, challenges, or uncertainty.

Life coaching is a partnership — one that’s focused entirely on your development, confidence, and well-being.

Areas Where Life Coaching Can Help

People seek coaching for many reasons, including:

  • Life transitions such as career changes, relocation, or relationship shifts.
  • Burnout or stress when you feel stuck or overwhelmed.
  • Work-life balance, especially when you’re juggling too much.
  • Confidence building and personal growth.
  • Finding deeper meaning or direction in your life or career.

Whether your goals are practical or deeply personal, coaching offers space to pause, reflect, and move forward with intention.

What Happens in a Coaching Session?

Each session is a conversation designed to create clarity and progress. A typical session includes:

  • A short check-in on how you’re feeling and what’s changed.
  • Focused exploration of a current challenge or goal.
  • Reflection and insight — uncovering what’s beneath the surface.
  • Practical action steps for the week ahead.

At Spirit Bear Coaching, my approach blends mindfulness, reflection, and action, helping clients connect inner awareness with outward change.

Benefits of Life Coaching

Clients often describe coaching as both grounding and energizing.

Some key benefits include:

  • A stronger sense of clarity and purpose.
  • Improved balance between personal and professional life.
  • Greater self-awareness and confidence.
  • Clear, achievable steps toward your goals.
  • Renewed motivation and emotional well-being.

How to Choose the Right Life Coach

When choosing a coach, look for:

  • Professional training and credentials (for example, I hold an MA, PG Dip, MAC accreditation and
    a Master Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).
  • A personal connection — you should feel comfortable and supported.
  • A free consultation, so you can explore whether the coach’s style suits your needs.

The best results come from a trusting, collaborative relationship.

Getting Started with Spirit Bear Coaching

If you’re ready to create positive change, I invite you to explore Life Coaching in Tunbridge Wells or online.

You can book a free consultation to discuss your goals and see if coaching feels right for you.

Book your consultation →

Final Thoughts

Life coaching isn’t about fixing you — it’s about helping you discover what’s already within you.

Through curiosity, reflection, and action, you can uncover a clearer path forward and live with more purpose and balance.

Unlocking New Beginnings: The Bear – The Power of Introspection | Spirit & Destiny

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In December, winter starts to become cold as nights get longer. At this time, all bears may have already started hibernating in their dark caves.

It is the perfect time of year, in wishing everyone Peace and Joy for Christmas and the New Year to come.

The symbolism of the Bear in Native American traditions, representing introspection, inner strength, and a time for healing and renewal, marks a “new beginning” as a shift in perception, releasing the past and embracing the present moment. 

Bear’s hibernation is a metaphor for going within, confronting shadows, and emerging, transformed by forgiving the past and recognising our inherent innocence. This perspective encourages self-reflection to uncover limiting beliefs and embrace a new perspective.

In life coaching, this synthesis provides a powerful framework for personal growth. The “new beginning” isn’t merely a change in circumstances but a profound inner shift. Like the Bear retreating to its den, we must create space for introspection in order to identify what no longer serves us. By integrating forgiveness and the Bear’s wisdom of inner strength, we can emerge from our “hibernation” with renewed purpose and a clear vision for the future, ready to create a truly new beginning.

To have a shift in perception to create a “new beginning’ is to recognise that there is a link to shifting our thoughts and decsions from Sepeartion (fear) to Oneness (love), clearly it takes practice as we make decisions all day based on our judgements of situations. 

Bear’s introspection symbolises the process of recognising how our judmental decisions influence us. By going within, we can identify the limiting beliefs and fear-based thoughts that keep us bound by the illusion of separation. This awareness empowers us to exercise our free will by choosing to release those thoughts and embrace the truth of our Oneness with Spirit.

In essence, the “new beginning” is the moment we consciously choose to align our will with Spirit, thereby reclaiming true freedom. This is not a freedom to do, as any thought pleases, but the freedom to experience the Peace and Joy that comes from remembering our true nature as being of Love and Light.

Enquire: Have your thoughts confused your perception of your true goals?

If you would like to work with me on gaining clarity on your visions and removing what stops you taking actions, then Click here to contact me.

Click here to save and download the article here >>>Download Article

Walk in Peace;

Walk in Beauty

until we meet again…

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BIO: Johnathan Brooks MA, PG Dip, FMAC is an experienced Master Executive and Personal Coach with 1,800+ hrs in the field, who has trained in a wide range of personal development methods including CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (postgrad), EFT Emotional Freedom Technique, Master NLP Neuro Linguistic Programming,  has a Postgraduate Diploma Degree in ‘Coaching and NLP’, which he passed with a ‘Commendation’, a Master of Arts in ‘Applied Coaching’ and certified Career Coach. He is based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Bio Trivia: Johnathan is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and whose godfather was Yul Brynner who won an Oscar for the ‘King and I’ film (1957).

He is a Fellow of the Association for Coaching (FMAC), Master member of the European and Mentoring Council (UK) and a professional member of the Association of NLP.

Click here for Johnathan’s LinkedIn

Beaver Moon: Lessons in Mindful Work | Spirit & Destiny

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The month of November, the Native Americans or First Nations say it’s the Beaver Moon, as by the end of the month all dams have finished being built and marks the start of bitter cold winter months to come.

The beaver, a creature often overlooked, offers a fascinating metaphor for mindful work towards one’s dream, as many people dream of starting a family and having a home. Known for its industrious nature and meticulous planning, the beaver embodies principles of focused attention and strategic action. To ‘beaver away’ at something is a phrase muched used today. 

Here is how the beaver can inspire mindful work practices:

Goal-Oriented Focus: Beavers have a clear vision of what they want to achieve: a dam (home) with many tunnels and food facilities. This focus allows them to work tirelessly towards their goals. Similarly, setting clear, achievable goals can help us stay focused on and motivated in our work.

Strategic Planning: Before starting construction, beavers carefully assess the terrain and resources available. This strategic approach ensures the efficient use of time and materials. We can also benefit from planning our work in advance, breaking down large tasks into smaller manageable steps.

Mindful Execution: As beavers work, they are fully present in the moment, using their tools (teeth) skilfully with precision and purpose. This mindful work approach can enhance productivity and reduce stress.

Resilience and Adaptation: Beavers are remarkably resilient, able to overcome obstacles, and adapt to changing conditions. When faced with challenges, we can draw inspiration from a beaver’s tenacity and flexibility.

By embracing the beaver’s work ethics, we can cultivate a more mindful and productive approach to our lives. By setting clear goals, planning strategically, executing tasks mindfully, and maintaining resilience, we can achieve our aspirations and live a fulfilling life.

Lessons from the Beaver your co-coach, look at this as an opportunity, to discover what is blocking the flow of your dreams.

Enquire: Have you neglected your dreams or created obstacles to your productivity? 

A beaver (earth) reminds us of taking action on passionate (fire) dreams (air). How would it feel (water) to have your dream become reality? This completes the manifestation cycle or medicine wheel Air>>>Fire>>>Water>>>Earth.

If you would like to work with me on gaining clarity on your visions and removing what stops you taking actions, then Click here to contact me.

Click here to save and download the article here >>> Download Article

Walk in Peace;

Walk in Beauty

until we meet again…

signature

BIO: Johnathan Brooks MA, PG Dip, FMAC is an experienced Master Executive and Personal Coach with 1,800+ hrs in the field, who has trained in a wide range of personal development methods including CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (postgrad), EFT Emotional Freedom Technique, Master NLP Neuro Linguistic Programming,  has a Postgraduate Diploma Degree in ‘Coaching and NLP’, which he passed with a ‘Commendation’, a Master of Arts in ‘Applied Coaching’ and certified Career Coach. He is based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Bio Trivia: Johnathan is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and whose godfather was Yul Brynner who won an Oscar for the ‘King and I’ film (1957).

He is a Fellow of the Association for Coaching (FMAC), Master member of the European and Mentoring Council (UK) and a professional member of the Association of NLP.

Click here for Johnathan’s LinkedIn

Embrace Healing: Lessons from the Pelican | Spirit & Destiny

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As the autumn months descend upon us, walks in the colourful orange and red leaves of woods are a site to behold, but so are walks in wetlands and lakes. Enter the mighty Pelican making a return, soaring freely through the skies and dives into the water, plunging their heads deep to catch fish.

This month, we look at how a pelican could be used as a metaphor to resolve guilt, resentment that weighs us down, and how that affects our communities.  Just as a pelican dives into the depths to find what it seeks, we must also dive deep into ourselves to confront the emotions that hold us back. This involves acknowledging the pain, anger, or resentment we may harbour.

Lessons from the Pelican, your co-coach, is to look at this as an opportunity, which is being presented to us right now, to rise above these tribulations. The pelican is a powerful symbol of the journey toward forgiveness and healing. By understanding and applying this metaphor, individuals can embark on a transformative process that leads to greater emotional wellbeing and personal growth.

Enquire, where do you feel angry towards someone or yourself?

If you’d like to work with myself on forgiveness, I have some wonderful and gentle ways to release it. Click here to contact me.

Click here to save and download the article here >>> Download Article

Walk in Peace;

Walk in Beauty

until we meet again…

signature

BIO: Johnathan Brooks MA, PG Dip, FMAC is an experienced Master Executive and Personal Coach with 1,800+ hrs in the field, who has trained in a wide range of personal development methods including CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (postgrad), EFT Emotional Freedom Technique, Master NLP Neuro Linguistic Programming,  has a Postgraduate Diploma Degree in ‘Coaching and NLP’, which he passed with a ‘Commendation’, a Master of Arts in ‘Applied Coaching’ and certified Career Coach. He is based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Bio Trivia: Johnathan is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and whose godfather was Yul Brynner who won an Oscar for the ‘King and I’ film (1957).

He is a Fellow of the Association for Coaching (FMAC), Master member of the European and Mentoring Council (UK) and a professional member of the Association of NLP.

Click here for Johnathan’s LinkedIn