Angela and others,
I couldn't agree more with Angela's general take on coaching. While I don't coach the way she does, I also don't coach the way a traditional life coach does (I trained with CTI, so I know one of the primary models of life coaching). My coaching has a very spiritual focus, and I often use a process called The Sedona Method (curious, check it out at
Sedona Method (official site) The Secret self-help program; self-improvement technique).
I've also trained as a therapist, and I prefer coaching because it is less geared toward looking at the past. But the past always comes up in coaching. Memories are very strong and very much active for most people. Not to get all Eckhart Tolle, but focusing on
right now is far more useful to my clients than focusing on the past or driving them toward the future.
Steve outlined a traditional approach to life coaching, one that is
not being used by large numbers of highly effective coaches. Coaching is very open-ended, very exciting and can benefit clients in all kinds of ways. That's why I do it. Traditional or non-traditional, it works. Okay, I better quit because I'm starting to sound like an advertisement!
And to echo Tim: I will do follow-ups with clients via email, to answer a question or two, but a session is best in some live format. I personally only work via phone. I love the interaction that way. When I worked face to face with clients, I felt they were more inhibited. Of course, that was counseling, not coaching, but still, I love the freedom via phone gives my clients and me.