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Life coaching

ไลฟ์โค้ช

A structured conversation with a coach to clarify goals and move towards them: a support for personal growth, not a treatment.

IntensityGentle

Origin

United States

History

Took shape in the late 1980s and 1990s; the International Coach Federation was founded in 1995

Licence in Thailand

Not required

01

Where it comes from

Life coaching draws on several older currents: sports coaching and sport psychology, the 1960s human potential movement, and ideas borrowed from different branches of psychology. Academic interest in coaching as a psychological practice dates from the 1980s.

Commercial pioneers such as the American Thomas Leonard made life coaching and coach training more visible in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995 Leonard, with others, founded the International Coach Federation (ICF) in the United States as a place for coaches to support one another.

Over the following years the ICF created core competencies, a code of ethics and a credentialing system. In 2020 it renamed itself the International Coaching Federation; by 2023 it reported 50,000 credential holders in more than 140 countries and territories.

02

The principle

The ICF describes coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that helps them draw out their potential in personal and professional life. The coach mainly asks questions, listens and helps the client turn ideas into concrete actions.

Coaching looks mostly at the present and the future: goals, choices, habits and follow-through. It is not therapy. Coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and ICF guidance asks coaches to recognise when a client's needs go beyond coaching and to help them seek professional help.

What people come for

  • Clarify what matters to you and set realistic goals
  • Prepare a career change, a new project or a big decision
  • Build new habits and stay accountable
  • Organise your time and priorities
  • Gain perspective on a life transition (moving country, retirement, new role)
03

How it works on the body

Coaching works through conversation and reflection: it engages the mind, and sometimes attention to stress, energy and daily routines.

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04

A session, step by step

  1. 01

    First contact

    Many coaches offer an introductory call to see whether you work well together and what coaching can and cannot do.

  2. 02

    Agreement

    You agree on the topic, the number of sessions, fees and confidentiality before starting.

  3. 03

    Exploring

    The coach asks questions and listens so you can describe your situation and what you want to change.

  4. 04

    Action plan

    You define concrete steps you choose to take before the next session.

  5. 05

    Follow-up

    Later sessions review what happened, what you learned and what to adjust.

Precautions

  • Coaching is not a substitute for medical or psychological care. If you have persistent low mood, anxiety, trauma or thoughts of self-harm, see a psychologist or a doctor.
  • In Thailand, coaching is not among the licensed healing-arts professions: anyone can call themselves a coach. Ask about training and credentials (for example ICF ACC, PCC or MCC).
  • Ask for a clear written agreement on price, duration and cancellation before paying for a package.
  • Be wary of promises of guaranteed results, income or 'life transformation'.
  • If you are in crisis in Thailand, call the free 24-hour mental health hotline 1323.

Complementary practice: does not replace medical advice.

05

In Thailand

In Thailand you will find coaches working in English, Thai and other languages, in person in the big cities and very often online. We found no Thai licence for coaches: the Healing Arts Practice Act B.E. 2542 (1999), which licenses professions such as clinical psychology, does not include counsellor or coach titles. Quality therefore depends on each coach's own training. International credentials such as those of the ICF (ACC, PCC, MCC) are voluntary but give a useful reference point, since they are tied to the ICF's core competencies and code of ethics. For mental health difficulties, the Department of Mental Health hotline 1323 is free and open 24/7.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a coach, a counsellor and a psychologist?

A coach helps you set and reach goals and focuses on the present and future. A counsellor offers a confidential space to talk through difficulties and find your own solutions. A clinical psychologist is, in Thailand, a licensed professional who can assess and treat mental health conditions. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can also prescribe medication.

Is a coach qualified to help with depression or anxiety?

No. Coaches are not trained to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Ethical coaches will suggest you see a psychologist, counsellor or doctor, and coaching can sometimes continue alongside that care.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no standard number. Many coaches work in packages agreed at the start; agree a short trial first and review whether it helps.

How do I choose a coach?

Ask about their training, any credential (for example from the ICF), experience with your type of question, fees and confidentiality. A free introductory call helps you judge whether you feel at ease.

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Sources

  1. International Coaching Federation: About ICF
  2. International Coaching Federation: History
  3. ICF Research Portal: Referring a Client to Therapy: A Set of Guidelines (abstract)
  4. Wikipedia: Life coaching
  5. TherapyRoute: Academic Credentials for Mental Health Professionals in Thailand
  6. Find A Helpline: 1323 (Thailand)
  7. BACP: What is counselling?
  8. MGR Online: Department of Mental Health hotline 1323 (2010)