If you’ve ever Googled “What does a life coach do?” you’re not alone. I did it once or twice myself. Along with search terms like “life purpose”, “what is my purpose in life”, inevitably led me to the term “life coach”. Maybe you’ve heard of life coaching in passing. Or seen it on someone’s LinkedIn bio and thought, “Is that like therapy? Or just motivational quotes and pep talks?”.
In Singapore (I think Asian context as a whole), the idea of hiring a life coach can feel a little… unfamiliar. We’re raised to figure things out ourselves. Stop being a strawberry.
But increasingly, with phenomena such as “lie flat“, “let it rot“, and “quiet quitting“, more people, especially professionals and mid-career folks are realising the signs and effects of burnout and are trying to intervene before things spiral out of control.
Life coaching isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you ask better questions, gain clarity, and move forward with purpose.
Whether you’re facing a career crossroads, navigating a midlife shift, or just feeling “off” and don’t know why – life coaching can help.
There’s an interesting video on YouTube which sees a TV producer exploring the realm of life coaches and their services.
A life coach is not:
A life coach is not a therapist. Not in the medical sense at least. Life coaches do not diagnose mental health conditions. Therapy focuses typically on healing from the past; while coaching is about building the future.
A life coach is not a consultant. There’s no prescribed plan for you to follow strictly.
A life coach is most definitely not a guru. There’s no enlightenment or universal truths.
In general, life coaches take on a more grounded approach to attend to your personal goals.
What does a life coach do then?
Think of life coaches as a partner, your wing-man. Life coaches help you to:
- Gain clarity
- Navigate through indecisions
- Plan your steps ahead
A life coach is there to help you through a series of facilitation and reflection exercises. We prompt. We nudge. We push. We are a companion.
Why do people hire a life coach?
I think the same reason why sports team hire coaches. Are sports coaches the best in the sports itself? Well some yes, some are not. What they excel in, rather, is to help players get from A to B.
Life coaching is not just for people in crisis. It’s for anyone who are at a turning point, stuck point, or a growth point.
- Facing a big decision
- Feeling lost
- Desiring for meaning or purpose
- Feeling they have been going in circles
- Ready to take action but don’t know how
Sometimes they are not even sure what they want.
If Life Coaching Worth it?
It depends. If you are a person who:
- Thinks or likes thinking deeply about your life
- Wants to make intentional choices
- Is willing to explore, reflect, and take charge of your growth
then most definitely, coaching could be worth it!
Life coaching will not give you all the answers but it can help you find your answers and help you to act on it.
What happens during a life coaching session?
Every coach is different. My approach focuses on play and ikigai. My KoPlay Method goes beyond just conversations.
A typical session could include:
- Powerful reflective questions
- Visualisation
- Goal Mapping
- Exploring your Ikigai
- Play – of course
Why Play? – Play unlocks what logic don’t necessarily reach.
Ready?
If you are feeling stuck, or questioning yourself about your purpose in life; coaching could be the space you didn’t know you needed.
If you are curious about how play fit into this – let’s explore this together.