To become a relationship coach, you’re going to need some money, time, and patience. There are multiple programs for you to choose from, but it’s a business that can take off quite easily. So, let’s take a look at what it takes to become a certified relationship coach and work as one too.
Choosing a Training Program
If you’re interested in becoming a coach, here are some basics you need to familiarize yourself with.
Know There Are No Specific Degree or Certification Requirements
Coaching is one of the few professions which doesn’t require you to have a degree. Yes, that means that you can simply start calling yourself a relationship coach. To work as one, you might need no more than the fact that you’ve been through a lot in life.
Calling yourself a coach and trying to help others without proper training can be harmful. You never know who you can hurt this way. So, if you don’t have proper training, always be wary of the coaching you’re doing so freely.
Determine the Type of Program That Fits Your Needs
In case you do want a certificate, there are many ways to go about it. People from all walks of life become relationship coaches. Why? There are many convenient programs to go through. All you need to do is choose one that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Some programs might be longer than others, while others can cost more. Each program can also provide a different certification. So, before going into it and choosing one blindly, it helps to get all the information you can, just so that you’re able to make the best decision possible.
Decide If You Want an Accredited or Approved Program
However, not all programs are approved or accredited. That’s why you need to do thorough research. Some programs will say that they are approved, but that may cost you in the end. How so? Well, you can’t really practice coaching if your certificate is fake or not well-received.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the only organization that can approve or accredit a coach training program. If you’re looking for a program approved by them, your best bet is to look around on their website.
Choose a Program
Before choosing a program, we recommend you think about what you want to do first. Of course, you can always switch to a different program if you don’t like the one you’re currently in. However, that would likely require more fees, which is not something everyone can afford.
It’s important for you to know that there are so many programs out there you can take. Being a relationship coach requires you to be an expert in many fields, or just one. Here are only some of the programs you can undergo that will help you understand what we mean:
- Couples coach — Help couples overcome their issues and strengthen their bond.
- Singles coach — Help singles find new relationships in life and figure out what it is they’re actually looking for.
- Parent and family coach — Assist parents in dealing with their kids or families in resolving their problems.
- Life coach — Assist individuals in their search for self-love and empowerment.
Building Your Business
Once you find out which program suits you the most and get a certificate, it’s time to talk about building your business.
Market Your Business
Coaching as a profession is much like any other. If you want to start your business, you have to advertise it. There are many ways to go about it. Some of them can involve spending some money, but every business is worth investing in. Most of all, you need a few marketing skills.
One of the ways to advertise your new business is by creating a website. Integrate a blog so people can find you easier. On the other hand, you can simply advertise yourself on social media. That ought to work just fine, considering how many people use social networks daily.
Choose a Price for Each Session
When it comes to prices, they can vary on so many different things. First of all, there is a sea of coaches, and you need to make sure you stand out. Once people find you interesting enough, you can’t slap them in the face with high session prices. You have to think this one through well before opening your business at all.
Sessions can range anywhere from $60 to $150. If you offer multiple services, you should price them accordingly. It can depend on how much time or effort these sessions take you. Basic coaching sessions can have the lowest price, while others that require you to do more will cost more. Always remember that you’re competing with others on the market. The smartest thing you can do is see what their price ranges are and create your own accordingly.
Build a Client List
This is something you should be careful about for your own sake. Why do we say that? When you’re just starting, you think you can take on the world. That may as well be the case until you actually start working. No matter how much you love working with people, it can be draining sometimes.
That is why you should figure out how many people you want or can take on at once. You can either give yourself a full-time job or operate at the hours you choose based on how much you can handle.
Conclusion
Not operating at full-time hours is perfectly okay too. As a relationship coach, you’ll want to be able to commit to each individual as much as you can. Becoming a coach may be easy, but working as one definitely takes a lot out of you.