The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today's uncertain and complex environment.”  It’s important to emphasize that coaching is not therapy.  While therapy seeks to heal behavioral dysfunction, usually by analyzing a painful past, a coach helps a coachee to step confidently into the future by attentive and reflective listening, by asking thoughtful questions, and by helping to create a vision and plan for life.