What Is a Mindset Coach and When to Hire One?
Are you thinking about getting a mindset coach in 2024? Questions like "What is a mindset coach?", "Should I get one?", and "Will they help me?" might be on your mind. This post is your ultimate guide. It explores the differences, similarities, and benefits of working with a mindset coach versus a life coach or therapist.
You will learn how mindset coaches operate, the problems and goals they can help with, and, most importantly, the qualities to look for in a great coach.
Let’s jump right in.
What Is a Mindset Coach
A mindset coach guides clients to shift their thoughts and beliefs. This work directly improves how clients feel, the actions they take, and the success of their pursuits.
Mindset coaches help people with issues like fear, procrastination, and lack of confidence. They help with goal-setting, overcoming barriers, and enhancing performance.
You might hire a mindset coach to help you improve relationships, manage stress, or grow your career. These are the three common areas where mindset coaches create big transformations.
Unlike life coaches or therapists, mindset coaches specifically target thought patterns to drive change. This approach offers a focused way to unlock one's full potential and achieve specific goals.
What Does a Mindset Coach Do
A mindset coach guides you to think in new ways. They help you see beyond current limits.
This type of coach works with you to change negative thoughts into positive ones. They focus on goals, personal growth, and overcoming challenges. Through questions and exercises, they uncover deep beliefs. And they help you shift your mindset toward success and fulfillment.
A mindset coach meets you where you are and supports you in building confidence and resilience. They lead you to an empowered state of mind from which you can take bolder action toward your dreams. Their work is about transforming your approach to life and its hurdles. This transformation opens doors to new possibilities.
During a typical session, a mindset coach might ask and explore with you the following questions:
What beliefs hold you back?
How does your current mindset serve you?
What would you rather believe?
What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?
What’s the upside to keeping things the way they are?
Questions like these aim at uncovering deeper truths about your mindset and behaviors. They prompt you to reflect on the mental blocks holding you back and redefine what success means to you.
Your mindset coach uses these insights to expertly guide you toward a mindset that supports empowered beliefs and actions. This approach helps you craft a pathway to the changes you seek, transforming your mindset to embrace new possibilities in your life.
Why Hire a Mindset Coach
Mindset is at the core of your experience of life. Mindset shapes what you focus on and the meaning you attach to things, leading to either positive or negative emotions and empowering or unproductive actions.
Often, the things we worry about are rarely the true issue. Worrying is what we do to dodge the real matters. Mindset coaching digs deep to uncover what lies beneath.
That's why working with a mindset coach can be transformative. By diving beneath surface concerns and addressing the root causes, you can expect to:
Learn to create a new story about yourself, life, and the future
Shift how you talk to yourself from critical and negative, to compassionate and motivating
Become aware of unconscious biases and behaviors that hold you back
Realize that beliefs are choices and that embracing new ones opens new possibilities
Let your wiser, empowered self lead the way, living more authentically and courageously
Differentiate your true goals, wants, and needs from those influenced by others
Get closer to your core, authentic self
Set boundaries and advocate for yourself with compassion.
Improve interpersonal skills
Learn to self-regulate in reaction to others and not take things personally
Manage stress better by focusing on self-care and awareness
Mindset Coaching Examples
I have a client, Amanda. (name changed to protect identity)
She came to me because she was struggling with comparison. Seeing certain social media posts would throw her into a loop of negative thoughts. It could last for days. It would make her on edge, less present with her family, and insecure about her path in life. She wanted to stop having these “comparison attacks” and feel better in her skin.
In our one-on-one coaching journey, we explored techniques to defuse those comparison loops. We shifted her focus back to being the star of her beautiful life.
Coaching led to a significant shift in her mindset. She now feels a stronger connection to her sense of self, valuing her life and talents. She has developed skills that help her regain confidence and calm when triggered.
Her goals for the future are clear, and she is laser-focused on achieving them. She takes care of her well-being and enjoys her family time. Coaching redirected the energy she once wasted wallowing in comparison. She pursues her book, her blog, and her business - driven by empowering, positive thoughts.
Amanda is experiencing confidence and self-compassion that previously felt out of reach.
She is one of several clients who have benefited from mindset coaching.
Another client I worked with was uncertain about her career's next steps. By the end of her coaching journey, she had a clear vision and a plan to get there. Most importantly, she felt a full-body YES about her path forward.
Yet another client was having a hard time dealing with conflict at work. She learned to manage her fears and stand up for herself. Her new emotional intelligence skills led her to move into a leadership role.
Another issue I’ve helped clients overcome is their relationship to food and alcohol. Through coaching, they can acquire effective skills, strategies, and systems to honor their limitations.
How to Find a Great Mindset Coach
When choosing a coach, there are certain things to look for:
Experience and Qualifications
Life coaching is not a protected profession. Anyone can call themselves a life coach. So look for someone with credentials (eg. ICF credentials). Though they tend to charge higher fees, these coaches typically provide better results for clients. Choosing an untrained and inexperienced coach can block rather than boost your progress.
Specialization
Look for someone who’s successfully helped people in a similar situation to yours. Coaches who specialize tend to understand their clients' issues and goals better. Because they’re dedicated to solving a specific problem, their skills and methods are often much more effective. It's like choosing a dermatologist for skin issues over a general doctor.
Product Offerings
Coaches have varied approaches. Many conduct hour-long sessions, but exceptions exist. Some propose individual sessions, while others swear by packages—fixed-term coaching agreements. Single-session breakthroughs are possible but rare. Therefore, we suggest enrolling in a coaching package for continuous support and accountability. Most coaches offer 3- or 12-month packages that will take you from where you are to where you want to be.
Personal Compatibility
The relationship between a coachee and a coach is built on trust. You’ll share personal details, feelings, and goals with the coach. Ensure they genuinely have your best interests at heart and make you feel comfortable before hiring them. Many coaches provide a complimentary strategy session before they onboard a new client. Use it to see if they’re the right fit for you. Can you imagine working with them long-term?
Hey you! Are you looking for a mindset coach?
Let’s get together on a 1:1 discovery call to discuss your goals and see if mindset coaching with me is a fit.
FAQ
Mindset Coach vs Life Coach
Both types of coaching support personal growth, but their methods and areas of focus vary. Life coaches look outward. They focus on goals and plans and look at the big picture. Mindset coaches look inward. They work on beliefs, attitudes, and internal narratives—zeroing in on your thought patterns to unlock your potential.
Mindset Coach vs Therapist
Therapists delve into emotional and psychological challenges. They often look to heal past wounds. They are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Mindset coaches aren’t. Their focus is on forward-thinking strategies. They work on altering your perceptions and beliefs to spur action towards your goals. This approach is more about empowerment and achieving potential.
How Much Does Mindset Coaching Cost?
The cost varies widely, depending on the coach's experience, specialization, location, and the programs they offer.
Prices for mindset coaching with a certified coach usually start at $100 in the United States and can go as high as $500 for a single session depending on the qualifications, experience, and specialization of the coach.
Can a Mindset Really Change?
Yes, mindset can change. And there’s evidence that supports it.
Carol Dweck's "growth mindset" concept shows that viewing abilities as improvable leads to greater achievement and resilience. It contrasts with a "fixed mindset," where abilities are seen as static.
Research on neuroplasticity supports this, demonstrating that our brains can adapt and change through new experiences, environments, and behaviors.
Positive psychology further emphasizes the power of gratitude, mindfulness, and optimism in transforming our outlook. Together, these insights affirm that mindsets can indeed be changed, highlighting the value of practices and coaching in facilitating this transformation.
How to Change One’s Mindset
Mindset usually changes in one of 3 ways:
Exposure to New Experiences: New experiences broaden your view. They challenge old beliefs and introduce new ideas. This can reshape how you see the world and yourself.
Reflective Practices: Journaling, meditation, and thoughtful questioning lead to self-awareness. They help you notice and question your current mindset. This awareness is the first step to change.
Learning from Others: Mentors, coaches, and inspiring figures offer new perspectives. Their experiences and insights can influence your thinking patterns. Learning from them can shift your mindset towards growth and possibility.
