At Vital Ability, “TLC” reflects the thoughtful, individualized care we bring to every coaching relationship. Our coaching services support individuals, professionals, caregivers, groups, and organizations as they navigate change, clarify goals, and take meaningful action.
We offer personalized coaching for life, health, transitions, and professional development, resulting in intentional transformation.
Common Coaching Questions
(click on question to see the answer.)
Who could benefit from working with a certified life coach?
Anyone who is committed to putting in the effort and doing the work necessary to make changes in their life to better themselves or achieve their goals. Coaching is an ongoing relationship between the coach and the client that takes trust and time. The opportunity for success for you will unfold and dramatically increase when you decide to make a genuine commitment to yourself and the coaching experience.
How long will it take to benefit from coaching?
A client really sees the impact of their efforts within the first few sessions. However, on average it may take 3–6 months for a new behavior to become a habit, though this estimate varies by person (some may take less time, some may take more time).
How can life coaching help me
Life coaching provides a supportive, future-focused space to clarify what you want, explore what may be holding you back, and create realistic steps toward meaningful change.
Depending on your needs and goals, coaching may help you:
- Navigate personal, professional, health-related, or unexpected life transitions
- Clarify your goals, values, priorities, and sense of direction
- Recognize and build upon your strengths, skills, and abilities
- Improve organization, time management, balance, and follow-through
- Strengthen communication, self-advocacy, and informed decision-making
- Identify limiting beliefs, unhelpful patterns, and barriers to progress
- Develop practical routines and strategies that support your goals
- Build confidence, accountability, motivation, and self-awareness
- Approach challenges with greater intention and a fresh perspective
- Move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed toward purposeful action
Your coach will not tell you how to live your life or make decisions for you. Instead, your coach will listen, ask thoughtful questions, offer observations and resources, and help you develop an action plan that reflects your needs and priorities.
Ultimately, you determine the destination, and coaching helps you create a path for moving toward it.
What is the role of my coach during our sessions, and what is included with coaching?
The role of a coach is to:
- Provide clients with questions, observations, and feedback
- Provide clients with support, encouragement, and accountability to meet the clients’ own goals; work with clients to create actionable plans for achievement
- Encourage steps that are action-oriented and present or future-focused
- Facilitate conversations to help clients find clarity and direction
- The coach may share strategies, insights, tools, or even training based on their own experiences and training
- The coach may offer strategies that benefit the body or the mind and increase well-being by helping the client reframe past experiences by improving present and future applications in their daily life.
After deciding to move forward with coaching through Vital Ability, you will receive an application to complete, along with a coaching agreement and confidentiality agreement to read and sign. You will also gain access to the client portal, where you can set up a username and password. Your initial consultation appointment (60-90 minutes is reserved for you) will be scheduled, during which your individual coaching sessions will be arranged.
We use Zoom for our coaching platform. We are able to use video or phone calls, based on client preference. We will establish this choice (video vs no video) during the initial consultation appointment.
You will have access to the client portal at any time that is convenient for you; the ability to email your coach when you have questions; access to any assigned worksheets or files; and the ability to keep track of the goals you set for yourself.
What is the difference between coaching and therapy?
Coaching and therapy are distinct services, although they can complement one another.
Life coaching is a collaborative, future-focused process that helps clients clarify goals, explore possibilities, develop practical strategies, and take purposeful action. A coach may provide thought-provoking questions, observations, resources, encouragement, and accountability. The client remains responsible for their decisions, actions, and results.
Therapy is a clinical service provided by a qualified mental health professional. Depending on the provider’s credentials and scope of practice, therapy may include assessment, diagnosis, treatment, trauma support, symptom management, and care for mental-health or emotional concerns.
Coaching does not:
- Diagnose or treat mental health conditions
- Provide psychotherapy or clinical counseling
- Prescribe or manage medication
- Prevent, cure, or treat medical conditions
- Replace with appropriate medical or mental health care
- Provide emergency or crisis intervention
Some people work with both a coach and a therapist. With the client’s written permission, the professionals may coordinate when appropriate while remaining within their respective roles and scopes of practice.
If your concerns are causing significant emotional distress, interfering with daily functioning, or require clinical assessment or treatment, a qualified mental-health professional may be the appropriate source of care. Vital Ability can provide general referral resources when needs extend beyond the scope of coaching.
Therapy supports clinical mental and emotional health needs; coaching helps you identify where you want to go and take intentional steps toward getting there.
Do you have a coach who speaks my language or is from my area?
We welcome clients from anywhere in the world as long as they are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English, since English is our primary language. We also provide all of our coaching and programs in a virtual environment, which allows us to provide our services to the global community.
Vital Ability, LLC is based in the United States of America. However, because our services are offered virtually, we have had the pleasure of coaching clients from around the world, including those in Africa, Arabia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
Is coaching confidential?
We take confidentiality seriously. The International Coach Federation (ICF) also maintains strict confidentiality guidelines for all coaches who are aligned with it.
This coaching relationship, as well as all information (documented or verbal) that the Client shares with the Coach as part of this relationship, is bound by the principles of confidentiality set forth in the ICF Code of Ethics. However, please be aware that the coach-client relationship is not considered a legally confidential relationship (like the medical and legal professions), and thus communications are not subject to the protection of any legally recognized privilege. The Coach agrees not to disclose any information pertaining to the Client without the Client’s written consent.
Many of our clients come to us as referrals; part of our process is to ask clients if they would be willing to offer a testimonial in writing to us, along with whether it is okay to list their name along with the testimonial, and how they want their name listed publicly. Most clients are more than happy to oblige this request. Out of respect for our clients who want to remain anonymous and still provide a testimonial, you may see “anonymous” instead of a person’s name on our testimonial page.
Further, we also provide coaching for employees of various businesses, or we are hired by a business/corporation to work with their employees/volunteers. Whether we share the business name or the type of business, it all comes down to the client’s request. Testimonials from businesses may state the name of the business or just the type of business.
How long is each coaching session?
Individual coaching sessions are usually 60 minutes.
How frequently will we meet?
Meeting frequency depends on your goals, needs, availability, and selected coaching service. Many clients meet weekly or every other week, some twice a week, while others choose a different schedule. You and your coach will determine what frequency best supports your goals, your schedule, and your desired progress.
How long do clients typically participate in coaching
The length of a coaching relationship depends on your goals, needs, and preferred pace. Some clients benefit from a few focused sessions, while others choose several months of ongoing support as they work toward broader goals or navigate significant transitions.
Vital Ability’s individual coaching sessions are generally 60 minutes. You and your coach will determine an appropriate meeting frequency based on your goals, availability, and selected coaching service.
Coaching is not a quick fix. Meaningful and sustainable change often requires reflection, consistent effort, and time to practice new strategies. You and your coach will periodically review your progress and discuss whether to continue, adjust, or conclude the coaching relationship.
We encourage open communication throughout the process. If you achieve your goals, no longer feel that coaching is providing value, or believe another type of support would better meet your needs, please discuss this with your coach. Our goal is for every session to remain purposeful and relevant to you.
Can I work with a coach while attending therapy?
Yes. Coaching and therapy can complement one another when each professional remains within their respective role and scope of practice. Your therapist may address mental-health or emotional concerns, while your coach supports future-focused goals, practical action, and accountability.
Please let your coach know if you are attending therapy when it is relevant to your coaching goals or well-being. With your written permission, your coach and therapist may coordinate when appropriate. Coaching does not replace therapy or other mental-health treatment.
Will my coach tell me exactly what to do or do the work for me?
No. Your coach will not make decisions, “fix” things, or complete the work for you. Instead, your coach will ask thoughtful questions, help you clarify your goals, explore options, develop practical strategies, identify helpful resources, and provide support and accountability.
You remain responsible for deciding what is right for you and for taking the actions needed to move forward. Your coach supports and guides the process, but you have to do the work to create the changes you want to see.
Is coaching covered by insurance?
At this time, Vital Ability LLC does not bill health insurance for our services.
Please note: Coaching, consulting, educational Academy courses, digital products, workshops, peer mentorship programs, and speaking engagements are generally not considered insurance-covered services unless specifically provided under a separate contract or organizational agreement.
The coaching profession continues to grow, and certified professional coaches are increasingly being recognized as valuable members of interdisciplinary healthcare, workplace wellness, leadership development, and personal growth initiatives. In recent years, some employers, healthcare systems, and specialized programs have begun incorporating coaching into employee wellness benefits, chronic disease management, leadership development, and behavioral health initiatives. In certain settings, reimbursement pathways for specific types of certified health and wellness coaching are also emerging. However, insurance coverage varies widely depending on the type of coaching provided, the coach’s credentials, the payer, the employer, the specific benefit plan, and applicable state or provincial regulations.
Because insurance coverage is not yet consistent across the coaching profession, clients should not assume that their health insurance plan covers coaching services. We encourage individuals to review their insurance benefits, employer wellness programs, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), or Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA), as some plans or employers may offer reimbursement or wellness benefits for eligible coaching services. Coverage and eligibility are determined solely by the payer or employer.
As the profession continues to evolve, Vital Ability LLC will periodically evaluate opportunities to participate with insurance carriers or other reimbursement programs when doing so aligns with our mission, professional standards, and the needs of those we serve. While we hope to explore these opportunities in the future, we do not currently accept insurance for our services.
What happens during the initial consultation?
We offer up to 60 minutes for a 1:1 evaluation and brainstorming session to explore what’s possible for you. During the call we can discuss what coaching is and is not, coaching expectations, the things you feel have been holding your back, your personal goals, and how we can help you reach your goals.
How will I know when coaching is complete or I don’t need any more sessions?
You and your coach will periodically review your goals, progress, and the value you are receiving from coaching. Coaching may be complete when you have achieved your goals, gained the clarity or skills you needed, feel confident continuing independently, or determine that another type of support would better meet your needs.
There is no required length of time you must remain in coaching. We encourage open communication so you and your coach can decide together when it is appropriate to continue, adjust, pause, or conclude your sessions.
If I sign up for a certain number of sessions, can I add more on before I have completed them? How will I know if I need to add on more sessions?
Yes. If you would like continued support, you may generally purchase additional sessions before completing your current package, subject to availability and the terms of your coaching agreement. Your remaining sessions will still be honored according to the agreement.
Before your current package ends, you and your coach can review:
- The progress you have made
- Goals that are still in progress
- New priorities or challenges that have emerged
- Whether continued accountability would be helpful
- Whether you feel ready to continue independently
Your coach may offer observations and recommendations, but the decision to purchase additional sessions is always yours. Additional coaching should support a clear purpose and not create dependency or continue simply for the sake of continuing.
I am interested in hiring a Certified Life Coach? What is the process?
The process begins with being scheduled for a consultation. This is where we determine if we are a good fit for each other. We will have a candid conversation about whether you feel the Coach’s expertise and services align with what you need and are seeking to accomplish. The Coach will ask you specific questions and can also answer any questions you may have, including next steps.
When should I consider seeing a counselor for therapy instead of getting coached?
- If you feel incapacitated or are having an inability to function in daily life
- If you are having panic attacks that are causing you harm, or require hospitalization
- If you have suicidal thoughts, history, or tendencies or are actively suicidal
- If you have been diagnosed as a Psychopath, Sociopath
- If you are having thoughts of harming others
- If you are looking for treatment based on childhood trauma’s, how to leave or deal with a volatile relationship, or how to heal past relationship traumas
- If you have an issue you have been referred to counseling for
Counseling often focuses on working on things from the past as clients seek to help a client relive, talk through, and seek healing for previous traumas or other mental health issues.
Can I work with a coach if I am currently enrolled in counseling or therapy?
The short answer is yes, we can coach someone undergoing therapy if they are mentally stable.
(Please be honest about whether you are engaged with a therapist/counselor; we will provide you with a form for your therapist/counselor to complete so we are covered ethically before beginning a coaching partnership with each other.)
Can a life coach replace my therapist/counselor?
No. A Certified Life Coach does not diagnose, provide therapy, provide counseling, or prescribe. Coaching does not replace therapy or counseling.
Have a question that isn’t answered here?
Contact Vital Ability at myvitalability@gmail.com to ask any questions not listed here or in our FAQ page
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An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. ~Benjamin Franklin
Investing In You
Next Steps
After you have completed your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to select which services and scheduling package work best for you.
Once your package has been chosen, you will be scheduled for an intake session.
Intake Session – All new clients begin with a one-time intake session. The fee for this session is a flat rate if you choose to do 1 session at a time. If you have chosen a package, it is included as part of the total package cost. The intake ranges from 60 to 90 minutes (based on individual needs). An intake session is for a new client and is often defined as someone who is having their intake scheduled with the coach for the first time. It may also include anyone who may have been a client previously but has not received services for 1 year or longer.
Coaching: All sessions are at a time agreed upon between you and your coach. All sessions last about one hour.
Cancellation Policy: We understand that sometimes things happen and you may have to reschedule an appointment or cancel one altogether. If you cancel an appointment within 48 hours of the appointment, please reschedule it within 7 days to utilize the credit for that time.
If you miss an appointment, fail to cancel within 48 hours, or do not reschedule within 7 days, you will be charged full price for that reserved appointment time.
Refund Policy: All coaching sessions already started (mid-session), completed, or already billed (including, but not limited to, intake sessions, regular appointments, no-shows, or cancellations not done within 48 hours) are non-refundable.
Regardless of how many sessions you commit to, you are welcome to stop your coaching at any time you choose and receive a refund for any sessions not yet completed, minus the cancellation fee. If ending coaching services at any time, this must be indicated in writing through email notification to your coach HERE.
If the coach is unable to keep a session for whatever reason, you will be notified in advance with as much time as possible. You will also receive that session at no charge. A replacement session will be scheduled as soon as possible with mutual collaboration between you and your coach.
Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. ~Henry Ford
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“Empowering Health. Inspiring Growth. Transforming Lives.” 