What is a life coach

How to become a life coach?


Trainer of trainers, Maha Akoush

When the bank closed its doors, Maha Akkoush discovered an opportunity for creativity amidst challenges. She decided to venture into the world of life coaching to inspire others to achieve their goals and turn difficulties into innovative opportunities. Despite the crises affecting Lebanon, it became a turning point in Akkoush’s life, transitioning from business management to the coaching world. She underwent training courses such as NLP and T.O.T. during her time at the bank, opening new doors for her. Akkoush considers the coaching field diverse and broad, requiring constant evolution from the coach. She pursued certifications like N.B.T. training, the first certificate in this field launched from Lebanon. As one of its nine founders, Maha believes it helps people solve problems and make decisions by utilizing three minds: the mind, the heart, and the gut. Through harmony and balance between them, individuals can make wise decisions. These strategies involve setting specific goals and taking responsibility through personal development plans. The International Coach Federation (ICF) found that 99% of people who hired a life coach were satisfied with the results.

Maha Akkoush highlighted that the union’s regulations stipulate that training hours should exceed 105 hours. Regarding the cost, the course price is set at no less than $1,000 to $1,500 to obtain the certification, as per global standards.

What are the criteria for a good life coach?

“In the world of self-improvement and motivation, Maha aakouch, Esraa Shour, and Hawraa Srour are three life coaches sharing their insights that constitute an essential part of the journey in exploring the role of expertise in this profession and the reasons people turn to them, as well as the criteria for a good life coach. Maha Akkoush, a member of the Trainees’ Syndicate holding certificates in business and a master’s in life coaching, emphasized that a fundamental requirement for obtaining a life coaching certificate is for the individual to have a degree in another field. She added, ‘Experience is beneficial but not sufficient,’ as it varies from one person’s life to another. Answering the question of why people turn to life coaches, Esraa Shour stated that individuals seek someone who listens without judgment, accepts them as they are, and works on enhancing their self-confidence and appreciation. Hawraa Srour highlighted that self-development is one of the key qualities that distinguish a good life coach. She added that a good life coach should be a good listener, possess wisdom, effective communication skills, as well as emotional and social intelligence.”

Course #1

Personal Experiences of Life Coaches

There are many life coaches who have chosen this field as a profession despite having other qualifications. Some of them embraced coaching as a means to help themselves first and then others, while others were driven by their love for listening. Esraa Shour, a 23-year-old life coach, shared her journey that began in 2019 after obtaining three certificates in training: the first in life coaching, the second in neuro-linguistic programming, and the last in T.O.T. (Training of Trainers). She entered this field because she needed someone to help her understand herself, describing her personality as inclined towards reading and self-development. She reached a stage of self-satisfaction after a long journey of self-study. Hawraa Srour combined her expertise in Arabic literature with life coaching at the age of 23. She explained that coaching provides tools to assist people, and by getting to know these tools, one can also help oneself. This was her primary goal. Yara Suleiman’s experience stands out as she made a significant leap from her specialization in computer science to studying life coaching at the ICF (International Coach Federation) in the United States. Through practicing coaching, her perspective shifted to understanding the needs of people.

Does a friend really replace the role of a life coach?


Life Coach Yara Suleiman

The Life Coach, Yara Sleiman, emphasized that while friendship plays a crucial role in providing emotional and social support, a friend on the other side may not possess the specialized professional expertise offered by a life coach. She highlighted that a life coach follows a scientific approach, relying on asking specific questions to extract strengths and weaknesses, as the coach believes everyone has positive aspects that can be utilized in their lives. Sleiman emphasized that a life coach is not a friend but a partner in the process, referring to clients as “customers” as she does not deal with mental patients.

Who is the most famous center for studying life coaching?

Regarding the most renowned center for studying life coaching, Sleiman pointed to the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This organization serves as an engine for developing personal and professional skills, bringing together a global group of life coaches who adhere to distinct standards. Continuous monitoring and recurring assessments are conducted to ensure that life coaches maintain the foundations of the profession. The ICF may revoke the certification if coaches violate these standards.

Social Media vs Life Coach

In Suleiman’s discussion about the negative impact of life coaches on women, she clarified that “ideas disseminated by some unqualified individuals posing as life coaches on social media are the ones negatively affecting women, not the content of life coaching itself.” Yara described social media as “a double-edged sword” because it serves as the main engine for the spread of influencers who encourage women through marketing. However, the difference here is that the marketing is not for a product but for people’s lives. The downside Is that most of these coaches lack social and family success, so their visions come off as impulsive and conflicting, causing harm rather than benefit. They often advocate for self-love, excessive selfishness, family neglect, tarnishing marriage, emphasizing independence, and asserting that the end justifies the means. Most of their views clash with religious, national, and family values, reinforcing the principle of "me first, then the deluge." Therefore, this dramatized video presents an image borrowed from reality.

Analog video: white to black

Under the illusion of motivation, women experience a rebellious journey against the family, forgetting motherhood and turning towards the immersion in a selfish world that dismantles family bonds. This video is just a dramatization illustrating the result of the destructive impact on the image of women who submit to and are affected by the content spread on social media. Since women represent half of society and are the educators of future generations, the victim at that point is not only the individual but also their family, community, and nation.


Journalist Maryam Kranib - presenter of the program - Because She

While acknowledging that some excel in this field, like the woman described by journalist Mariam Karnib as “a woman reflecting a real and vibrant model leading women on the right path,” this program features experiences of specialized women who resisted and overcame their crises between acceptance and contentment through relying on God and facing themselves. They managed to balance their societal roles with their goals and dreams.

In the first episode of the program “leanaha ,” experiences of three women resisting illness and loss are showcased, emphasizing their refusal to surrender and their self-motivation and reliance on God. Among these stories is the tale of “Leila,” who decided to shed the role of the victim and live with her illness, “bone disintegration,” after five years of shoulder transplants, treatments, and surgeries. Through her trust in God and the support of her family, Leila turned her struggle from a point of weakness into a source of strength. She became an active woman who continued her educational journey and cared for her family alongside her treatment. Karnib highlighted that Leila “managed to become a life coach for herself and then for others.”

Email

nemerinas@gmail.com

Phone

(961) 71-815 947

Address

Lebanon
Biakout
El-Ein