Should Life Coaching be regulated?

[msc545]

As it is now, Life Coaching in unregulated, and many people who have lost their licenses as therapists become Life Coaches?

Updates

+1 y

https://www.propublica.org/

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, I believe so. I know not to fall for scams, but I've met many scammers online who tried to get me to fall for their scams but sorry I am one step ahead of scammers, romance scammers, catfish. The last person who was a scammer "Ghost" me in 2011 and so glad the asshole did me a favor. I emailed her from the same one we used to chat from but no more communication, but I see things this way God had a reason for it to happen.

[exitseven]

I had a friend who was a wellness coach. She had very little training and she worked for some chain of Wellness Coaches. I would not take her advice too seriously but she actually helped me get over depression.

[msc545]

They are not all bad.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[Agape93]

Why does everything need regulation. If people wanna waste money on stupid scams, let em.

[msc545]

Because some of these people do serious harm.

[Agape93]

So? If they willingly pay for something and it's a scam, oh well. Tough shit. Maybe others will learn

[msc545]

That's not the way it works and I think you know that. Luckily we're not nationalizing your anger.

[Agape93]

Still not my problem.

This country would be better of if they did weaponize my anger. Every sex offender would be killed horribly and publicly. People might be less interested in raping a child if they know they'll be burned alive, no trial needed.
If you don't wanna live under religious extremists, you'll love me, because I won't fucking let some doctrine control you or your kids lives.

[msc545]

Sadly for you, the horrible things you propose wouldn't work to prevent anything. You just want vengeance.

[Agape93]

If I wanted vengeance, I know who to target. What I'm after, is justice, a justice most women and children who've been raped will never get from the courts or police.

Would you be willing to do something if you knew that getting caught would mean being brutally killed? No, you'd at least think twice about it.

And how is killing rapists and pedophiles horrible?

[msc545]

I would not be willing, no. Plenty of people would be.

[Agape93]

Then those would be the next to die.

Also, again, how is killing rapists and pedophiles horrible?

[msc545]

Killing anyone is horrible.

[Agape93]

So you'd rather victims pay for their rapists to live in prison? Or, faaaaar more likely, for them to be out and about, free to ruin more lives?

[msc545]

Prison is actually worse than death.

[KrakenAttackin]

"Life Coach" seems to be akin to "spiritual healer", which seems like BS to me.

[msc545]

I agree, in many ways it's the same thing

[lightbulb27]

Maybe. Most are no problem i suspect, especially if there's public reputation. Some could be downright criminal and abusive.

[abc3643]

I don't believe it can be regulated. Any regulation might be unconstitutional as long as "life coaching" is not considered a health profession.

[msc545]

That is being debated now.

[abc3643]

I don't see how one can plausibly separate life coaching from preaching. In that context, regulating life coaching would be a violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

[msc545]

I think if people who lose their therapist licenses and then become life coaches because that doesn't require a license continue to abuse patients, there is going to be regulation.

[abc3643]

I don't disagree however the legal hurdles will be difficult and likely a waste of time, energy, and money.

To regulate the life coaching industry, first you have to define what a life coach is and do so narrowly so that it does not include psychiatry or religion but still establish that it is some form of care in which the client might be considered a patient.

Next, you need to establish standards and testing and that usually is associated with some industry professional organization giving guidance.

But, so what? What happens to those life coaches who refuse to be certified and licensed? They establish churches instead and then they are home free due to the First Amendment.

There are lots of industries in which someone who provides a service and that industry is not regulated (*). And, no matter what that service is, there's going to be a whiny Karen or Chad who'll complain. Are we going to start licensing every service profession then? Maybe the responsibility should be on the client to do their due diligence and investigate the service practioner before hiring them.

(*) Although they may be certified by a professional organization. For instance, your car mechanic at a particular dealer likely isn't regulated, but he is likely certified by the car manufacturer of the cars that the dealer sells, e. g., a Chevy dealer will have GM-certified maintenance specialists.

This is an example of how the private sector often self-regulates because it's in their best interests to have established standards and certifications. This is one reason why large organizations often seek ISO-9001 certification.

(more)

[abc3643]

Back to life coaching, instead of regulation, per se, there ought to be a certifying body. Then, clients can know if someone is certified or not. In fact, there is such a body: The International Coaching Federation.
https://coachingfederation.org/

So, instead of bothering with regulation, an alternative is already in place:
1. Let the buyer beware. Do your due diligence and go only with certified life coaches.
2. If you are a client who believes they've been screwed by a certified life coach, then sue for fraud or a tort or whatever.

[msc545]

That is all fine and well, but for regulations to have an effect, the violation of those regulations has to have statutory consequences.

[NathanDavis]

and who's going to regulate it?

and who's going to regulate those who regulate the coaches?

[msc545]

There are already state agencies that regulate real therapists.

[NathanDavis]

a lot of these coaches are conmen... sounds like a big headache
and in a way, would validate them... so, it is tricky for sure

[msc545]

Yes, it's not going to be easy but the people that do life coaching that are not scammers are getting sick and tired of having their reputation ruined. I don't blame them in that regard.

[DrPepper12]

Yes. Its an amorphous area where real damage could be done.

[Anonymous]

therapists are just scammers with useless advice and tons of brainwashing