Coaching: How to Find a Coach and Compare Programmes and Session Prices
What a coach does and does not do
A coach does not hand out ready answers and does not treat you: they ask questions, help you set goals and a plan, and support you in acting. That is what separates coaching from psychotherapy, counselling or mentoring. If you are troubled by anxiety, depression or trauma, go to a psychologist or doctor. For changing careers, growing in a leadership role or balancing work and life, a coach is the right choice.
Types of coaching
- Career. Choosing a profession, changing jobs, negotiating a promotion.
- Business and executive. For owners and managers: strategy, decisions, managing a team.
- Life coaching. Goals, values, balance, motivation.
- Team. For groups and companies.
- Relationship and health coaching. Habits, routine, communication.
A coach's qualifications
Coaching is not a regulated profession, so look at training and practice. A certificate from an international federation, such as ICF, and the number of practice hours are a guide, not a guarantee. Ask about experience in your field: a coach works differently with a senior executive and with a student. It is good when the first meeting is an introductory one, so you can judge whether you “click”.
How to compare offers
A session briefly lasts from half an hour to an hour and a half, so compare prices for the same length and format. Ask whether it is a single session or a programme of several weeks, whether there is homework and contact between sessions, and what happens if you want to stop. Read reviews, and do not be afraid to ask for examples of work without naming clients.
On BlaBlaPrice you do not have to browse directories: you describe your request once, and coaches reply in the chat with the price, programme and free time. They see where they stand among the others, so they compete on terms, and reviews are shown beside the offers. The platform shows the best-value one first. Your phone number stays hidden. More on the How it works page.
What to put in your request
- type — career, life, business, team;
- your aim — what you want to achieve or solve;
- number of sessions or length of the programme;
- format — online or in person;
- qualification — for example an ICF certificate;
- who the client is — you, a manager, a team;
- language and schedule;
- budget per session.
Example: “I am looking for a career coach to help me change profession: 4 online sessions, weekday evenings, in English. An ICF certificate and experience working with managers are preferred. Budget up to $43 per session.”
When you need psychological support, see psychologist services, and for health questions, medical services.
Before the first session, think about what the result would look like — what would change in your life in six months. This helps the coach get oriented faster, and helps you judge whether the programme is working.
