If you’ve typed “life coach for chronic illness UK” into a search bar, you’ve probably noticed two things: there aren’t many of us, and it’s hard to tell who’s actually any good. Coaching isn’t a regulated profession in the UK, which means anyone can use the title. So here is what I’d look for if I were choosing a coach for myself — and the questions I’d ask on a first call.
First, accreditation. Look for a coach who trained with a recognised body and holds a proper qualification — I hold a Certificate and a Diploma in Transformational Coaching, accredited by the Association for Coaching. Accreditation doesn’t guarantee chemistry, but it does mean supervision, ethics and a code of conduct sit behind the work.
Second, do they understand illness? Living with a condition like MS, Parkinson’s, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS or long Covid changes everything about how a session needs to run: energy fluctuates, brain fog is real, and “just push through” is terrible advice. A coach with lived experience — or at least deep experience of chronic illness — will shape sessions around your energy, not the other way round. Ask them how they handle a session on a day you’ve crashed.
Third, boundaries. A coach is not a therapist, a doctor or a nutritionist, and a good one will say so plainly. Coaching works forwards — from where you are today towards the life you want — and a responsible coach will signpost you to therapy or your medical team when that’s the better fit. Be wary of anyone promising to cure, reverse or “heal” your condition.
Fourth, practicalities. Online sessions over Zoom mean you can be coached from your sofa on a low-energy day, and a recording plus written notes mean you don’t have to rely on memory. Check the price is clear (I charge £120 a session or £500 for five) and that there’s a free, no-obligation discovery call before you commit anything.
Finally, trust your gut. The single biggest predictor of whether coaching works is the relationship. On the free call, notice whether you feel heard, whether the coach asks more than they tell, and whether you leave feeling a little lighter. That feeling is data. If you’d like to test it with me, book a free discovery call and we’ll simply talk.
If any of this resonates, a free, no-pressure discovery call is a gentle first step.
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