Why you must practise discernment when selecting a Coach...

I'm seeing a trend in the personal coaching industry that I have wanted to speak to for some time but needed to wait for the right words to percolate on my heart and then find their way to paper. The holiday period is an amazing time for rest and reflection and with that comes many ideas and time for creative expression. I hope this post resonates with those who are growing weary of the modern social media highlight reels and seeking genuine connection and change.

Here are some tips on how to select a coach that is right for you:

• Be curious and do your research! Personally, I would not engage with a coach that consistently sends the 'tough love' message. While this may be successful with people who are genuinely just lacking motivation or stuck in a rut, most often what is perceived as 'laziness' is actually someone suffering from complex PTSD, mental health conditions and genuinely suffering. A lot of coaches in the online space are actually just skilled marketers or leveraging from marketing networks. Marketing by nature is designed to manipulate human emotions, causing people to spend money on something they genuinely don't need. This perpetuates the shame cycles and can add further stress and harm.

• Does this person have an authentic voice and presence? There's so much online noise entering our sensory systems daily. It's easy to see a concept on TikTok or Instagram and make your own version with a slightly different 'spin'. Look for a coach who creates genuine, authentic content, without the filters and popular 'catch' phrases.

• Ask them where they draw their inspiration from? A good coach knows they don't have all of the answers! As a potential client you should not see this person as 'guru' and don't be afraid to ask questions. Another great question to ask is 'tell me about the last time you failed at something and what did you learn from it?'.

Ultimately trust your instincts, be cautious of the glitz and glamour and seek genuine authenticity and heartfelt connection. This is how we create safe spaces to nurture true personal growth and change.

Remember: we all have the answers inside of us, sometimes we just need a gentle, loving reminder.

Hope it helps.

Mel x