How Can a Transformational Coach Help You?

by Raluca Olariu
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I still see a lot of misinformation about coaching, especially about transformational coaching.

If there's one question people ask me all the time when it comes to my transformational coaching practice, it is this:

How do you help people exactly with your coaching?

The follow-up after they hear my answer is usually, 'Ah, so it's like therapy.'

Well, no. There are many differences between transformational coaching and therapy, but we won't cover them here.

Instead, we will dig into how a transformational coach can help people exactly, what a coach doesn't do, types of transformational coaches, and how to find the right coach for your needs.

Let's start by understanding what transformational coaching really is.

What Is Transformational Coaching?
If I could give a short, straightforward answer to this question, I would probably skip the follow-ups that people usually come up with, such as: 'So, you solve people's problems.' or 'You're like a therapist or a mentor.'

Transformational coaching doesn't mean any of that. It's a type of coaching that facilitates a person's consideration and reflection on their thinking patterns, belief systems, and worldview.

By bringing these deeper elements into awareness, a transformational coach opens up a realm of mental frameworks that were previously unknown to the client.

This new awareness helps the client unpack and find limiting beliefs or negative thinking patterns that might hold them back from reaching their goals.

That's not to say that the client's external circumstances don't influence their capability of achieving their goals. However, finding and removing the internal blocks they hold and building new resources can definitely improve their capability of dealing with external factors.

'The art of coaching is doing, thinking, and being: doing a set of actions, holding a set of beliefs, and being in a way that results in those actions leading to change. These are the three things that can make coaching transformational.' - Elena Aguilar, The Art of Coaching

If you want to dig deeper into transformative coaching, here's a complete guide:

Everything You Need to Know About Transformative Coaching

Types of Transformational Coaches
Transformational coaches choose niches that range from more general ones like transformational life coaching to incredibly specific ones like money mindset coaching.

Let's look at some common types of transformative coaching niches.

Career coach
A career coach usually works with an employee or person who wants to meet certain career goals or make a change in their professional life.

This career coaching style might help you identify your professional strengths, weaknesses and interests that align with your career path. Career coaches may also guide you to write your resume, search for jobs, and prepare for interviews.

Some people hire a career coach because they need support to climb the corporate ladder, change industries, or start their own business.

The transformational coaching model in career coaching is a more holistic approach that can involve creating a safe space to explore deeper levels of the client's career drives.

At its heart, transformation coaching looks beyond career goals and more into the intrinsic motivations, beliefs, or values that drive those goals.

I've seen many people coming to coaching with a long list of career milestones. 'I want to become a manager by 30.' or 'I aim for 6 figures in the next year.'

However, after diving deeper into these career motivations, many coaching clients come to see different perspectives. Maybe those goals aren't really authentic and represent the voices of their parents or society. Maybe these clients are overachievers because they feel inherently not enough and look for external validation through career success.

All sorts of underlying beliefs and motivations that were previously unconscious can arise in a transformational coaching session.

Why does this matter?

It all goes down to authenticity and living the life that we want instead of running after societal standards or parental injunctions.

Maybe you do want that 6-figure business, and by all means, career coaching can help you achieve it. But maybe the pressure you put on yourself to achieve certain career goals stems from limiting beliefs that don't serve your authentic self. Transformative career coaching can also help you figure that out.

Mindset transformation coach
The human mindset is a set of beliefs and mental habits that we use to behave and make sense of the world around us.

There are entire libraries written on the human mindset. I've always been fascinated by this concept. Is our mindset running the show or are we the ones controlling our mindset?

That's a good coaching question by the way. And it's one of the many things mindset transformational coaching can help you figure out.

Mindset transformational coaching has three primary approaches:

Makes unconscious limiting beliefs conscious, challenges and transforms them into new, empowering ones.

Changes negative thinking patterns that are blocking the client's transformation

Builds new cognitive skills like problem-solving and learning to facilitate the client's evolution.

A mindset coach can work with clients who want to change their mindset in relationships, at work, or regarding their finances.

Since the human mindset has been revealed to have a larger contribution to life achievements than our socioeconomic background, we should really work on our mindsets in all areas of life.

“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.” - Tony Robbins

Spiritual mindset coach
I've put this form of coaching outside the classic mindset coaching category because I feel it deserves a standalone section.

Why? I've learned the hard way that we are body, mind, and spirit beings and can't live harmoniously when one of them, for example, the spirit, is left out.

Also, I don't know if it's a coincidence, but the most successful, happy, accomplished, and inspiring people I've met had a strong connection with their spiritual sides.

I believe personal growth can only go as far when we tackle the mind and body but leave our spirit outside the equation.

In other words, mind over matter, spirit over everything else.

Now, back to spiritual mindset coaching. A spiritual mindset coach helps clients connect with their higher selves, tap into their intuition, and deepen their spiritual practice.

This type of coaching focuses on personal growth and self-discovery on a spiritual level.

A spiritual mindset coach can help you:

Cultivate inner peace and balance

Find your life purpose and align your actions with your soul's calling

Develop a deeper connection with yourself and others

Navigate life transitions with grace and clarity

Overcome fear and limiting beliefs that are hindering your spiritual growth

Connect with your intuition and trust your inner guidance

Spiritual mindset coaching is not tied to any specific religion or belief system. It's about exploring and expanding your own spirituality in a way that resonates with you.

Confidence coach
Confidence is a key factor in achieving success and happiness in all aspects of life.

However, it's estimated that around 85% of people struggle with self-confidence.

A confidence life coach is specifically trained to help individuals boost their self-esteem, overcome self-doubt, and develop a strong sense of self-worth.

More exactly, the confidence coaching journey can include the following elements:

Identify and challenge self-limiting beliefs: We all have beliefs about ourselves that hold us back from reaching our full potential. A confidence coach will help you identify these beliefs and challenge them, replacing them with positive and empowering thoughts.

Set and achieve goals: A lack of confidence can often lead to a fear of failure and a reluctance to take risks. A confidence coach will work with you to set meaningful and achievable goals, and provide support and accountability as you work towards them. They will help you break down your personal goals into manageable steps and set action plans to improve your self-confidence.

Improve communication and interpersonal skills: Confidence plays a crucial role in effective communication and building healthy relationships. A confidence coach can help you develop assertiveness skills, enhance your public speaking abilities, and improve your overall communication style, enabling you to express yourself with clarity and confidence.

Overcome imposter syndrome: Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon where people doubt their own accomplishments and feel like they don't deserve their success. A confidence coach can help you recognize and overcome imposter syndrome by celebrating your achievements, acknowledging your skills and talents, and fostering a positive self-image.

What Are the Benefits of Working With a Transformative Coach?
By now, you have probably understood how a transformational coach can help you.

I'll reiterate for those of you who jumped straight to this section and I'll add some more information.

Let's dig in.

Break free from limiting beliefs and thought patterns
Transformative coaching can give people a get-out-of-the-limiting-belief-jail card and bring into awareness new, empowering thinking patterns that support profound shifts.

People may go from 'I'm not worthy of being successful and rich' to 'I'm as worthy of being successful and rich as any other people.'

This new affirmation, which is not a belief at the beginning of the coaching process, can become a belief thanks to neuroplasticity, the holy grail.

Scientists have discovered that if we consistently reinforce a new thought or belief, our brain can rewire itself, creating new neural pathways that support this new belief.

It turns out we are not doomed to be prisoners of our past conditioning. If mom believed that success was only for others, we don't have to carry that belief forward. Instead, we can work on our psyche to rewire it to think and believe supporting thoughts.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Jen Sincero

Get clarity on what you really want from life
Many people I've spoken with are often conflicted or uncertain about what they truly want. They find it hard to figure it out and to connect with their authentic purpose and what gives them meaning.

Actually, most of the people who come in for coaching say they are living according to societal expectations and family pressures or are limited by their own fears and insecurities.

That's when transformational coaching comes in. Through a process of self-reflection and exploration, coaching clients manage to uncover their deepest aspirations and passions. They may identify core values that were previously unconscious, set new priorities and align their actions and decisions with these new findings.

Through various coaching techniques, such as powerful questioning and goal-setting exercises, a transformative coach can support you in clarifying your vision for the future.

Develop a growth mindset
A study conducted by Carol Dweck found that people with a growth mindset were more adaptable and experienced more positive professional results.

These people, compared to those with a fixed mindset, were more likely to embrace challenges and persist despite setbacks. This resilience helps them view failures as opportunities to learn and improve.

Working with a transformational coach can help you develop this growth mindset, which can make a big difference in your entire life experience.

This process also involves looking at potential limiting beliefs and transforming them into empowering ones that support your growth.

How to Find the Right Transformational Coach
Now, if you've read this far, you might be interested in working with a transformational coach.

Although coaching is still a 'new' profession, there are more than 50,000 coaches offering their services in 2024.

How do you pick the right one for you?

Well, that's a very personal decision that should be based on your specific needs, like the kind of coaching you want to do and your budget.

I'm going to offer some general criteria for choosing the right transformational coach:

Before you start looking for a coach, clearly define what you want to achieve through coaching. Are you seeking personal growth? Do you want to develop professionally, improve your relationships, or cultivate a growth mindset?

Look for a coach with proper training and credentials from recognized professional bodies like the International Coaching Federation or Association for Coaching. Also, you might want to see their track record with clients who have similar goals to yours.

Look for a coach whose style aligns with your preferences. Some coaches may be more directive, while others might take a more facilitative approach. Think of how you'd like to work with a coach.

During your initial interactions, pay attention to how well the coach listens, understands your concerns, and communicates their thoughts.

Set your budget beforehand and discuss costs during your initial consultation. Some coaches may offer sliding scale fees or payment plans to meet your financial needs.

These are just some of the things you should look for when searching for the right coach. Take the time to research and evaluate potential coaches before making your decision—it may pay off more than you think.

Reach Your Full Potential by Working with the Right Coach
Transformative coaching can be powerful, especially when you work with the right person.

It supports you to make long-lasting changes towards the life you authentically desire. And get closer to the top of Maslow's pyramid where self-actualization lies.

Are you looking to reach your full potential and need the support of a transformational coach?

Get in touch and let's start your transformation.