levensloopcoaches

Levensloopcoaches are professionals who help individuals navigate their life course by aligning education, work, relationships and personal development across different life stages. The term is commonly used in Dutch-speaking contexts and denotes a practice that situates career planning within a broader view of lifelong learning and well-being.

Practitioners assist with transitions such as choosing a study path, entering the workforce, changing careers, returning to work after an absence, or planning retirement. They may work with students, early-career professionals, mid-career changers, and older adults preparing for the next phase of life. Services often emphasize resilience, transferable skills, values, and long-term goals rather than a single job search.

Typical activities include assessment of interests and strengths, exploration of values, scenario planning, narrative future-visioning, setting actionable goals, building networks, skill development, and accountability. Coaches may use structured conversations, life-design and strengths-based approaches, and reflective exercises to help clients translate aspirations into concrete plans.

Work settings for levensoopcoaches vary and may include career centers at schools and universities, public employment services, private coaching practices, and some organizational development programs. The level of regulation and required qualifications varies by country and region; many coaches come from backgrounds in psychology, social work, education, or human resources, and adhere to professional codes of ethics.

Evidence and critique: as with life coaching in general, empirical support for effectiveness is mixed and depends on context and method. Critics highlight the need for clear standards, ongoing professional development, and transparent outcomes.

See also: life coaching, career coaching, guidance counseling, lifelong learning.