Life coaching is a practice of assisting clients to determine and achieve personal goals. A coach will use a variety of methods, tailored to the client, to move through the process of setting and reaching goals. Coaching is not targeted at psychological illness, and  coaches are not therapists (although therapists may be coaches). Coaching is NOT therapy.

With roots in executive coaching, which itself drew on techniques developed in management consulting and leadership training, life coaching also draws from a wide variety of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, career counseling, mentoring, and numerous other types of counseling. The coach applies mentoring, values assesment, behavior modification, behavior modeling, goal setting, and other techniques in assisting clients. Coaches are to be distinguished from counselors, whether counselors in psychotherapy or other careers.

One approach to coaching involves finding a mentor or cheerleader with whom you personally connect and from whom you are able to receive constructive criticism. A coach should be able to give clear, concise directives which stimulate creative ideas by which you can move forward to achieve your goals. If this occurs, then the specific background of the coach may not be as important or relevant as their ability to facilitate focus, maintain hope, and build motivation.

Defination taken from Wikipidia