This is a Guest Contribution by Emily Haruko Leeb. Visit her site at www.emilyleeb.com to know more.

I’ve been a professional coach for seven years, and I still cringe at the term ‘life coach.’ It makes me uncomfortable.

Why? Probably because the coaching industry is unregulated. Your grandpa, your gardener, or your dog can call themselves a coach. It means you need to actively seek a coach who took the time to meet the certification requirements with a professional body.

Some coaches have honed their craft over the years, spending countless hours training and developing their skills to earn their reputation. Unfortunately, some decide to call themselves a coach, possibly with little or no experience or training at all. And isn’t that cringeworthy?