If you’ve ever thought about working with a life coach but hesitated because you weren’t sure how it’s different from seeing a therapist, meeting with a spiritual director, or grabbing coffee with a mentor — you’re not alone. I get this question often, and it’s a great one.
The truth is, all of these relationships can be valuable. They’re just different tools for different purposes. And as a pastor, you may already have some of these in your life. The question is: do you have all the support you actually need?
I created this simple comparison tool to help clarify what each type of relationship offers:
Personal_Development_Comparison_Tool
Here’s what I want you to notice: life coaching is distinctly future-focused. We’re not processing your past — that’s therapy’s sacred work. We’re not primarily listening for God’s voice together — that’s spiritual direction. We’re not sharing wisdom from my own ministry experience — that’s mentoring. And I’m not diagnosing your church’s problems and handing you a plan — that’s consulting.
Coaching is a partnership. You set the agenda. We clarify your goals, identify what’s getting in the way, and build actionable steps forward. My role is to be a catalyst — asking the questions that help you find the clarity you already have inside you.
For clergy specifically, this matters because many pastors are good at caring for others but have very few spaces where someone is fully focused on them — their growth, their sustainability, their calling.
One of my clients described it this way:
“Before I tried coaching, I wasn’t sure what it was or if it’d be worthwhile or if I’d feel comfortable being vulnerable about my life and ministry with someone I didn’t really know. Now it is hard to imagine NOT having Barbara as my Clergy Coach. She is able to listen and provide space, safety, clarity and prayer.” — Pastor Lucy S.
So let me ask you a few questions:
- Do you have someone in your life who is fully focused on your goals and growth — with no agenda of their own?
- Do you have a safe space to think out loud about the hard leadership decisions, the difficult relationships, the questions about your own calling?
- Is there someone helping you move forward — not just processing the past or managing the present?
If the answer is no — or not really — that’s exactly what Clergy Life Coaching is designed to provide for you.
I’d love to have an introductory conversation with you. You can schedule one here: go.oncehub.com/clergylife
Blessings! –Barbara
