Sometimes, we fear confrontation and sweep our issues under the rug. But burying too many issues becomes toxic, and we end up jeopardizing our relationships. So what makes a good relationship? It’s a tricky question, and though people’s responses may overlap — such as strong communication and mutual respect — the overall vision of a functional relationship varies from person to person.
A relationship coach defines what makes a good partnership with their clients and helps instill the skills couples and single people need to foster healthy relationships, such as communication and respect.
Learn what relationship coaching is (and isn’t), how much relationship coaches earn, and more in this ultimate guide.
What does a relationship coach do?
Relationship coaches generally mentor couples who want to improve their romantic relationships. They help clients understand one another better, refine their communication skills, and overcome mental barriers. Relationship coaches often guide clients toward insights they can add to their “toolbox” for future issues and conflicts.
While many relationship coaches work with couples, there are other specialties in the field. Some work with single people who want to find partners, while others help improve family dynamics. There are even relationship coaches that specialize in business interactions.
What relationship coaching isn’t
It’s time to get technical. Relationship coaches can do a lot — from helping individuals find love to giving couples the tools to solve issues in long-term relationships. But “couples coaching” is not a catch-all term for every intervention focused on improving interactions. For example, a licensed mental health professional performs couples therapy and marriage counseling. These services may address past traumas or misunderstandings and attempt to repair relationships through therapy and psychoanalysis.
Clients for relationship coaches
Great coaches know their boundaries. They understand when a potential client is a good fit for coaching and when an individual needs a different kind of help, such as therapy. Here are the types of people who would seek mentorship:
- Single people seeking a new relationship
- Single individuals having trouble finding love
- Singles who are frustrated by dating multiple people but not being able to find a stable relationship
- Couples who are casually dating but may be ready to take things to the next level
- Couples dating for a long time and considering a significant step such as marriage
- Married or long-term partnered couples experiencing fallouts in communication
- Partners seeking conflict resolution tools
- People dealing with issues bonding with friends and family members
- Managers (at a business) who want to have better interactions with employees
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Why is relationship coaching beneficial?
Before exploring the benefits of relationship coaching, it’s important to remember that these services can’t tackle all relationship issues.
Relationship or dating coaches act as guides, motivators, and active listeners who provide a safe space for conversation. However, couples facing grave problems or dealing with mental health issues should seek the help of a therapist.
In other words, a relationship coach isn’t so different from one that guides a team. Coaches can motivate and steer a team toward victory, but they can’t take action for clients — nor can they “fix” deep problems that may be holding clients back or causing pain. People who are a good fit for relationship coaching and wish to apply new tools and insights in their partnerships or family lives may see the following benefits, but they must do the work.
Relationship coaching can:
- Help partners get on the same page about where the relationship is heading
- Improve communication between couples and family members
- Guide single people toward discovering their strengths and boosting their self-esteem
- Help couples set boundaries
- Mentor couples facing challenges or changes, like a move or pregnancy
- Help partners in committed, successful relationships “shake things up” in their love life
- Aid couples in addressing here-and-now issues (as opposed to past traumas, which is territory for therapy)
- Support couples in aligning on financial goals
- Give partners tips for improving day-to-day interactions
- Assist people in making quick changes by implementing simple tools that affect interactions in the present
- Aid couples and individuals in identifying limiting beliefs
- Provide couples with trust-building tools
How much do relationship coaches make?
If you’re starting to think relationship coaching sounds like a good gig, that’s because it is. You get the opportunity to help others find and maintain love and foster healthier relationships.
But before you take the leap and enroll in a relationship coach training program, you should also know what you can expect financially. So how much can a relationship coach make?
According to Glassdoor, the average relationship coach's salary is around $57,000 annually. But this number can vary greatly. As coaches often run their businesses, they set their coaching session and package rates, and some charge drastically more than others. Geography also comes into play, as wellness services may go for more in areas where the cost of living is higher or people are willing to pay higher rates. A coaching niche can also determine how much they charge.
Relationship coaches and strong coaching relationships
Remember, many coaches are also entrepreneurs. This means they have to be experts at coaching clients toward love and fulfillment in their relationships and must also be excellent at running a business.
Luckily, the right tools can help alleviate some of the administrative hassle and time of managing a coaching practice. Customer relationship management (CRM) systems help entrepreneurs streamline communication with clients. Practice is designed with coaches in mind, allows users to make appointments, message clients, and even receive secure payments. Try it today.
