Fundamental Peace · Essay
How to find a coach — a buyer's guide for serious people
The coaching profession is wonderful and unregulated, which means the bar to call oneself a coach is low and the bar to be a good one is high. The difference between the right coach and the wrong one is rarely price; it is fit, training, and ethics. A short, careful checklist saves months of wrong-room work and protects the wallet too.
The reframe: Fundamental Peace
From ICEF / FP20, choosing a coach well is itself an act of Inner Wisdom — you are practising, in the choice, the discernment the work will deepen. The qualities to look for in the coach are the qualities you are coming to coaching to develop. The interview is already the first session, whether either of you names it that way.
Shadow · Gift · Essence
The expensive disappointment. The slick salesperson with a course and no training. The 'transformational weekend' that left a hangover and a credit-card bill.
Disappointment is information. Each wrong fit sharpens the criteria for the right one. Sovereignty in this choice is itself part of the growth.
A working relationship that respects your money, your time, and your sovereignty — and produces, slowly and visibly, the change you came for.
The practice
The Discovery-Call Checklist — print this before the call
Training and credentials. Ask: 'What coach training have you completed, and what credential do you hold?' Look for ICF (ACC, PCC, MCC) or an equivalent recognised body. 'Self-taught' is not a credential.
Specialty fit. Ask: 'Have you worked with people on this specific challenge before? What were typical outcomes?' Generalists can be excellent, but in specialised terrain (executive, somatic, trauma-informed, addiction-adjacent) you want lived terrain.
Ethics and scope. Ask: 'When do you refer out, and to whom?' A coach who never refers to therapists, doctors, or specialists is a coach to walk away from.
Structure and price. Ask: 'How many sessions, how often, total investment, and what happens if I need to pause?' Vague answers here usually mean vague answers later.
Felt sense. After the call, ask yourself: did I feel both safe and slightly stretched? Both are required. Safety without stretch is a friend; stretch without safety is a hazard.
When to seek more support
If you are in active mental-health crisis, the right first call is to a licensed clinician, not a coach. Good coaches will help you make that referral and offer to begin coaching after the foundation is stable.
Frequently asked
What is a fair price for coaching?
It varies widely by experience and specialty. As a rough orientation: newly credentialed coaches often charge $100–250 per session; experienced (PCC-level) coaches $250–600; senior executive coaches $500–2,000+. Price is a signal, not a guarantee.
Should I prefer in-person or video sessions?
Video is now the norm and works for most coaching arcs. Choose in-person if it is logistically easy and you sense the work benefits from shared physical space (somatic, trauma-adjacent, leadership presence).
What if I sign up and it isn't working?
Say so by session three. A good coach welcomes the conversation, will adjust or refer, and will not guilt you for changing course.
Sources & further reading
- International Coaching Federation — Find a coach
- EMCC Global — Find an accredited coach
- Harvard Business Review — How to choose an executive coach
These references are provided for educational purposes. Hypnotherapy complements, and does not replace, medical or psychological care.
Measure where your inner peace stands today
FP20 is the Fundamental Peace Scale — 20 questions, about 4 minutes. It reveals which of the four components (including Emotional Coherence) most needs your attention right now, with a personal reading from Luis.
Take FP20 →Continue reading
