Is Life Coaching Just a Trend, or the Support You’ve Been Looking For?

Is life coaching just the latest buzzword, or could it actually be the helping hand that makes life’s transitions feel a little less overwhelming and a whole lot more hopeful? It’s a fair question, especially if you’ve ever wondered, What does a coach even do?

I first stumbled into life coaching through my colleague and friend, Lisa. She’d trained as a coach, but honestly, I didn’t fully get what that meant. What I did know was that Lisa was warm, wise, and the kind of person you trust with the messy stuff.

Right around then, my daughter Dani (22 at the time) was floundering in grief after the sudden loss of her dad. Therapy had been a lifeline for both of us in those raw, early months. But as Dani began to emerge from the heartbreak, she felt stuck, uncertain about her next step, her direction, her future.

When I suggested she meet Lisa, Dani asked the question most people ask: “But how is it different from seeing a psychologist?” To be honest, I didn’t know. What I did know was that therapy had helped us process pain; maybe coaching could help her find a way forward.

She agreed, hesitantly, to give it a go.

And then something magical happened. After just one session, she came home smiling. Smiling! The first genuine smile in months. “Mum, it was so good,” she said. That tentative step evolved into a three-month coaching journey during which Dani clarified her dreams, set goals, and took action. I watched her transform from a heartbroken young woman into a confident adventurer, landing a job as a flight attendant and moving to London on her own.

Here’s the thing: coaching didn’t “fix” her. It gave her the tools, space, and encouragement to take charge of her own next chapter.

Fast-forward a few years, and another of Dani’s friends, Jade, was wrestling with job dissatisfaction and a lack of direction. I sent her to Lisa as well. Coaching helped her spark new business ideas, build confidence, and eventually create not one but two successful businesses. She loved it so much that she became a coach herself.

And then… my turn.

Last year, as I began thinking through how I could transition out of decades in educational leadership, I started working with Jade. My original goal? Find “a little something on the side.” What actually happened? Coaching lit me up. It helped me connect the dots between my love of creativity, mentoring, writing, and, yes, even my obsession with quirky earrings. I thought I wanted to create an e-business to source and sell unique earrings, but as my coaching series progressed, I realised that wasn’t my passion. Suddenly, the path became clear: I wanted to create something of my own, something I was genuinely passionate about. So much so that I trained as a coach myself.

Here’s the truth: I was sceptical. After 30+ years in education, I’d seen plenty of “new ideas” come and go. But this wasn’t a fad. The more I experienced it, the more obvious it became that coaching is about helping people back themselves, take action, and grow into who they’re meant to beno matter their age. And that’s precisely what I now get to do for my clients.

So, is life coaching just a trend? Not in my book. For me, and for Dani, Jade, and countless others, it was a turning point, no matter their age.

The real question is: What could shift for you if you had someone to help you articulate your goals, cheer you on, and hold you accountable as you take steps toward the life you want?

If you’re curious, let’s have a chat. You might just discover that life coaching isn’t hype at all, it’s the support you’ve been waiting forto move into the next stage of your life with confidence and clarity.