01
What it is
Cleveland Clinic says "life coaches work in the present tense". They help with goals, plans and obstacles, and are "more informal and action-oriented than mental health providers" (Cleveland Clinic).
02
Common forms
Life coaching, and health and wellness coaching, which supports changes in habits and is separate from medical treatment (Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland Clinic).
03
Who it may not suit
Cleveland Clinic says coaches "should never diagnose you with a health condition," that therapy suits deeper work such as past trauma, and: "If a life coach claims they can heal you, walk away" (Cleveland Clinic). When Coaching Is the Right Door and When Therapy Is the Right Door cover the difference.
04
Credentials, and whether Arizona licenses it
"There's no formal education required to become a life coach," and there is "no central governing body" (Cleveland Clinic). We found no Arizona license for coaching. Arizona exempts from behavioral health licensing "a person who is not providing psychotherapy" (A.R.S. 32-3271). Diagnosing or treating mental health conditions without a license is still barred (A.R.S. 32-3286).
International Coaching Federation (ICF) credentials:
| | ACC | PCC | MCC | |---|---|---|---| | Coach-specific education | 60+ hours | 125+ hours | 200+ hours | | Coaching experience | 100+ hours | 500+ hours | 2,500+ hours |
All three also require mentor coaching, assessed recordings and an exam, and renewal every three years (ICF). Another credential is the Board Certified Coach from the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE).
05
What a listing here shows for this kind of work
Anyone can call themselves a coach. A coaching listing here shows:
- the credential, confirmed with the body that issued it, with the date
- the line "Arizona behavioral health license: none held. Not a licensed therapist. Does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions", where that is the case
Common questions
Do life coaches need a license?
Not in Arizona. Arizona exempts people who aren't providing psychotherapy from behavioral health licensing, but diagnosing or treating mental health conditions without a license is still barred.
What does ICF certified mean?
The International Coaching Federation issues three credentials, ACC, PCC and MCC, each with set training hours, coaching hours, mentor coaching and an exam.
Life coach or therapist?
Coaching suits someone steady who wants structure. Therapy is the door for deeper work, like past trauma, or when something may be clinical.