How is life coaching different than mentoring?

A mentor often has many more years of experience than the person being supported. In mentoring, the mentor is someone who has walked that road before and therefore has experience and advice on how you should do what you are trying to achieve. Mentoring is akin to role-modeling where the client see attributes, qualities or abilities in the mentor that he/she wishes to learn or emulate. Alternatively, a life coach may or may not have personal experience in a given situation but it doesn’t matter, as the client is naturally creative, whole and resourceful and will know what to do. Coaching is a partnering of two equals that focuses on the unique and intrinsic qualities already within the client that may not be recognized or appreciated. A life coach helps the client affirm and embrace their own true self. A life coach will facilitate the discovery process but won’t actually advise.