Click here to subscribe to my free fortnightly Life Coaching Accelerators, for insider coaching tips.

How to Fire a Life Coaching Client Without Loss of Goodwill

No matter how positive and motivated you were to coach some new clients, they sometimes turn out to be uncoachable (at least by you). They have drained your energy and confidence, and you come to dread session time with them. You just want out.

The challenge is to end the coaching relationship with them cleanly, nicely, and without causing offence. This is why you need to know how to fire a client.

But first, let's identify three of the most common reasons to let a client go.

Quick Links

1. 3 Reasons to fire a coaching client

2. How to let the client go "nicely"

FYI: I may receive commissions at no cost to you. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. More...

What Are Some Reasons To Fire A Coaching Client?

Toy mannequin pushing another mannequin away.

1. Do they need therapy rather than life coaching?

The client may be really keen to keep working with you, but their issues start getting into deeper waters—therapy issues such as past trauma, addictions, or severe depression. You know you simply are not confident or qualified enough to help them, and they need someone with therapy qualifications.

As a coach, you have to be really aware of your responsibility in not trying to coach a client who obviously needs therapy support that you are not able or qualified to give. It's time to refer them to someone who is.

2. Do they resist trying new behaviors or strategies?

Although they can admit that the way they are handling an issue is not working, they simply are not able or willing to look at their own behavior and try something new.

You question, lead, and suggest until you are blue in the face, but they don’t or won’t look at a different strategy or behavior that might work to solve the problem. Asking them, "What do you think the solution to this could be?"—which often works with clients—also doesn’t get you anywhere with this client.

Coaching sessions can become more like a contest of wills.

3. Have they been "sent" for life coaching?

Another reason you may want to fire a client is that they have been "sent" for coaching by a family member or employer, so it's not their own idea, and they are not enrolled or committed. Rather than being self-motivated, they are "other" motivated, and that rarely works.

They may even be resentful, combative, and determined to give you a hard time. If you can't enroll them in the benefit of coaching, you may have to have a conversation with the person who instigated the client working with you.

When the actual client is not paying for coaching themselves, a conversation with their sponsor may be necessary—whether a family member or employer—with a firm agreement in place around such things as confidentiality.

You can read more about how to handle this third-party paying challenge here

I also share a couple of my own experiences and learnings in two case studies. These examples will help you understand how to fire a coaching client professionally and without loss of goodwill.

How Do You To Fire A Life Coaching Client Nicely?

Here are three possible approaches to fire a client nicely.

Each depends on the reason you want to end the coaching relationship. Sometimes they may genuinely want to be coached and be coachable, but it turns out you feel you are not the right person to work with them.

Option 1: I'd love to continue, but...

"I would really love to go on with our coaching, but I feel I wouldn’t be doing you justice or giving you the best value. The issues you are facing are more of a therapy/consultancy/business issue than I am qualified or able to handle."

And then you recommend them to a suitable person you have established a connection with, such as a psychologist, relationship counselor, or even a business consultant.

Allied professionals—whether they be professional coaches, psychologists, qualified counselors, and the like—are invaluable support to your own coaching practice. Having someone you can personally recommend gives you the confidence that you are helping the person in the best way.

I cover how to create successful alliances for your coaching business in full on this site.

Option 2: I’m not the best coach for you...

"I’ve realized I’m not the best coach for you on these issues. I’d like to recommend you to a colleague of mine who is better suited to your coaching needs."

If the client has been particularly trying or toxic, let your colleague know what your experience has been!

Option 3: I don’t think I can help you further

"I really don’t think I can help you further at the moment, so let’s have a break from coaching while you put into action some of the things we have discussed you might do."

In my coaching practice, I had a clear and specific refund policy. However, if the client appeared to be angry and resentful—even after several sessions—I still offered either a full or partial refund.

I believe it's much better to lose a few dollars than the goodwill of a client who may talk negatively to others about you.

Balance & Self-Care Toolkit

Self care package for life coaching clients

As well as being a bit blown out yourself by a toxic or uncoachable client and needing to find calm and balance again, you may need to coach a client through a similar issue they are experiencing. .

The Coaching Tools Company has a brilliant Balance and Self Care Toolkit that could be useful to invest in as a resource.

There are nine tools including

Self-care check-in
Self-care quiz,
Letting go exercise
And much more....

All the tools are brandable to your own coaching business. See details of all nine Balance and Self-Care Tools here. Some of them may be available as a single purchase.

Of course you may never have to consider firing a client, but if you do, I hope the information, suggestions and my lessons will have helped you do it without a lot of stress.

Want more? I also share a couple of my own experiences in two case studies. These examples will help you understand how to fire a coaching client nicely.

More help to grow your coaching skills and promote yourself

I have written a wide range of informative books (all from my own 25+ years experience) that will help you to authentically attract new quality clients, increase your coaching skills and promote your coaching services.