Sessions · 7 October 2026
How Many Types of Coaching Are There? Life, Relationship, Career and Executive Coaching
Types of coaching are named after the topic the conversation deals with. The four names people hear often are life coaching, relationship coaching, career coaching and executive coaching. The method is similar in all of them: the coach asks questions and the answers come from you.
What are the types of coaching?
This post looks at four common areas of coaching. The borders are not sharp; in one session a work topic can open onto a relationship, and a relationship topic onto life as a whole.
- Life coaching: looks at life in general, at goals and at decisions.
- Relationship coaching: focuses on relationships and on the way you communicate.
- Career coaching: deals with choosing a profession, changing jobs and career decisions.
- Executive coaching: deals with topics that come with the role of managing a team.
What is life coaching and when is it chosen?
Life coaching has a wide scope. The topic is not limited to one area: where you want to live, what you give your time to, a goal you keep postponing. People often start here when they cannot name one area and simply want something to change.
What is relationship coaching?
In relationship coaching the topic is the bond you have with someone else: a spouse, a partner, family, a friend or a colleague. The session looks at your own way of communicating, at what you say and at what you cannot say. Relationship coaching is not couples therapy and does not take the place of a clinical service.
When is career coaching chosen?
If you are thinking of changing jobs, are about to start your own business or cannot decide which direction to take, the topic belongs to career coaching. The coach does not suggest a profession for you. The coach lays out the options and your own criteria together with you.
Who is executive coaching for?
Executive coaching is done with people who manage a team or have recently moved into management. Decision making, delegating, difficult conversations and the balance between work and private life are frequent topics. Some organisations arrange this work for their staff, and some managers apply on their own.
What other coaching names are used?
Beyond these four you may also hear student coaching, parent coaching, team coaching and coaching for entrepreneurs. They are all formed in the same way: the topic of the conversation, or the role of the person who comes, is placed in front of the word coaching. Sports coaching, in the sense of training athletes, is a separate job.
What do the types of coaching have in common?
Whatever the name, the way a session works stays the same. First you talk about where you are, then the place you want to reach is made concrete, and the distance between the two is broken into steps. The coach does not give advice; the coach asks questions. The decision and the plan are made by the person who comes.
Which type of coaching suits you?
It is easier to choose by topic than by name. These questions give direction:
- Is the topic mainly about your work, your relationships or life in general?
- Do you have a concrete decision in mind, or do you first want to find out what you want?
- Would you like to meet face to face or online?
- Do the coach’s training and areas of work match your topic?
No type of coaching includes diagnosis or treatment. If you have an ongoing health concern, you need to consult your doctor or a psychologist.
Which areas does Merve Tüfekçi coach in?
Merve Tüfekçi offers coaching under two headings. The first is life, relationship and communication coaching: the work deals with goals, relationships and communication, and strategies and action plans are drawn up in the sessions.
The second is coaching at work. Managers, people starting their own business and people thinking about a career change come to this work. First the present position is discussed, then the place the person wants to reach is made concrete, and the distance is broken into steps. In this work Merve Tüfekçi draws on her ICF certified professional coaching training and on her NLP training.
Both are one to one and can be held at Şifa Köyü in Şile or online, in Turkish or in English. First contact is through our team, and the programme is planned together in an introductory meeting.
Types of coaching differ by topic, while the way a session works stays the same. If you are not sure which heading fits you, it is enough to talk about it in the first meeting.
This post is for general information only; it is not medical or legal advice.
Life, Relationship and Communication Coaching page →
Frequently asked questions
How many types of coaching are there?
Coaching is named after the topic it deals with. The names people hear often are life, relationship, career and executive coaching. The borders between them are not sharp, and in all of them the method rests on asking questions.
What is the difference between life coaching and career coaching?
Life coaching looks at life in general, while career coaching focuses on decisions about work and profession. The two topics can overlap within one session.
Is executive coaching only for senior executives?
No. Anyone who manages a team or has recently moved into management can apply. People starting their own business and people thinking about a career change also come to Merve Tüfekçi’s coaching at work.
Can coaching be done online?
Yes. Merve Tüfekçi holds coaching sessions face to face at Şifa Köyü in Şile or online. Sessions can be in Turkish or in English.
Does coaching replace therapy?
No. Coaching is not a treatment and does not replace psychotherapy. If you have a concern about your mental health, you need to consult your doctor or a psychologist.
