Life coach Christopher McCluskey, in a Christian Counseling Today magazine article, describes the relationship between the Christian coach and client: “…the two are embarking on a journey together to understand more fully the Lord’s purpose for that person’s life and to see that fulfilled.” So there is always a third party in the Christian coaching relationship: God.
Christian coaches don’t ask simply, “What do you want to do?” but they also explore with their clients, “What do you think God wants you to do?” The basis of the relationship between Christian coaches and their clients is the common ground of their shared faith. In deciding whether the Christian coach you will work with is right for you, it is important for you to explore with him/her any differences in your faith beliefs that would keep you from working well together.
Oftentimes members of the clergy offer Christian coaching in addition to their jobs as pastors, ministers, etc. but they are not necessarily the majority of Christian coaches. There are many wonderful Christian coaches whose training, certification, life and ministry experience qualify them. The one thing most all coaches who provide Christian coaching have in common is a deep involvement with their faith and religious institutions.
While most of the life coaching issues will be the same as the non-Christian issues, the approach to planning and goal-setting will definitely have a Biblical foundation and God perspective.