It's Not Just In Your Head #155: Life Coaching Inc (ft. Ronald Purser)
Sep 25, 2023
Ronald Purser, author of 'McMindfulness' and a management professor, dives into the pitfalls of the life coaching industry. He critiques its reliance on poorly regulated practices and flawed positive psychology. The conversation highlights how the emphasis on self-made success can exacerbate societal isolation and mental health struggles. Purser also discusses the commercial edge of coaching and the ethical dilemmas in its application, particularly in fields like the military, advocating for a more community-focused approach to mental well-being.
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Coaching As Neoliberal Individualism
- The life coaching industry repackages neoliberal individualism as personal responsibility for wellbeing.
- Ronald Purser links this to McMindfulness and commercialized self-help influencers who ignore social causes.
How Simple Coach Credentials Can Be
- Purser describes how easy it is to get ICF certification with minimal training hours and franchised courses.
- He gives an example of a three-day coach course that included vision boards, yoga, astrology and ecstatic dance for $1,000.
Wide Spectrum: Harmless To Harmful
- The coaching field ranges from Carl Rogers-style active listening to unregulated, harmful promises.
- Investigations found coaches claiming to cure depression or addiction, exposing ethical risks in an unregulated market.
