When a Life Coach Brings Only Debt and Delusion

As Anela Pasalic relocated from her small town in Småland, Sweden, to pursue her studies in Stockholm, the capital city, she recalls experiencing feelings of loneliness and intense sadness. That's when she encountered an elegant spiritual teacher.

Pasalic observed on her mobile device as Kathrin Zenkina, located approximately 5,500 miles away in Los Angeles, described how she transformed her life using manifestation—a belief system suggesting that individuals can bring about desired outcomes simply by strongly believing they will occur. "It really felt like she was a regular young woman who took action and experienced remarkable changes in her life," Pasalic mentions. "She also came across as genuinely kind, compassionate, and empathetic."

To Pasalic, Zenkina seemed like an internet buddy—someone with nearly 450,000 followers on Instagram , refers to herself as a " seven-figure entrepreneur and offers manifestation classes via her company, the Manifestation Babe Academy. Pasalic met Zenkina in 2018 when she was 23 years old and enrolled in a payment plan to pay for a $1,300 program that Zenkina promoted as the sole course needed to achieve one's goals. At age 30, she believes she has invested over $6,000 into Manifestation Babe Academy programs. In order to afford these, she took loans from relatives and neglected some other financial obligations, such as student loan payments. This was partly because Zenkina Her proposal was that acting as if you possess wealth is a method of drawing it in. "I aimed to bring about improved situations, such as my own happiness, having stronger friendships, and feeling in harmony with life," she clarifies. Zenkina chose not to respond.

Even though manifestation dates back to the 1800s, it has shifted from being an obscure concept to gaining widespread attention due to the current wellness trend driven by social media platforms. By the summer of 2020, interest in the word "manifestation" surged as seen through increased Google searches, with many books and podcasts about the topic emerging. From that point onward, the term became commonly used—often with some degree of irony—in popular culture and daily conversations: singer Sabrina Carpenter incorporated it into her track "Bed Chem," and in 2024, "manifest" was selected as the Word of the Year by the Cambridge Dictionary. word of the year .

Meanwhile, certain life coaches started integrating manifesting techniques into their offerings. Their advice, covering areas such as relationships, finances, and careers, might range from $50 monthly to several thousand dollars for a program. Some individuals, including Pasalic, could eventually feel misled and perplexed.

The world of life coaching remains mostly without regulation. While some coaches may obtain credentials from different organizations, this isn’t universal, and those qualifications differ widely in credibility due to the absence of a central governing authority. "Coaching isn't a regulated profession; it's not an officially recognized practice," says Lynn F. Bufka, who leads the Practice Division at the American Psychological Association. "When you consult a licensed individual like me or another psychologist, we're held responsible by our respective licensing boards." Additionally, anyone has the freedom to label themselves as a coach.

Zenkina, who does not promote her credentials, offers instruction on manifestation techniques, keeping a journal, stimulating certain areas of the body while concentrating on specific ideas, and performing tasks that seem "in sync" with personal goals. Her students often capture their wishes through audio recordings, reducing the sound level until it becomes silent, then blending it with soothing melodies and playing it repeatedly—a method referred to as "subliminal hypnosis." Pasalic participated in virtual courses that included pre-recorded video sessions along with handouts and real-time question-and-answer sessions.

Pasalic pursued Zenkina with deep devotion, yet her life remained unchanged. She started feeling powerless and losing grip on things, particularly since much of Zenkina's guidance centered around internal transformation rather than tangible improvements. (Since manifestations are unseen, it can be challenging for clients to determine if their coaching is effective.)

In numerous respects, manifestation elevates the issues inherent in traditional life coaching to an entirely different plane, pushing the practice farther from the tangible, actionable guidance that coaching ought to provide and deeper into the intangible, mystical, under-researched, and potentially more hazardous domain," states Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, a psychiatry professor at Stanford University, a research scientist at Cedars-Sinai, and the author of "A Leader's Destiny: Why Psychology, Personality and Character Make All the Difference.

Zenkina cautioned her adherents that their lives would deteriorate prior to getting better, and that the cosmos would assist them in the " 11th hour. So Pasalic continued forward. In January 2020, her parents persuaded her to see a physician who recommended an antidepressant. The drug provided some relief, but later Zenkina said something that caused Pasalic to question its impact.

During a live question-and-answer session, as reported by Pasalic, Zenkina mentioned that antidepressants may assist individuals in reaching a higher vibrational state—using spiritual terms to describe feelings of joy and optimism—but afterwards, one might consider discontinuing their use. "I had been taking antidepressants for about 10 months," says Pasalic. "And I found myself thinking, 'Maybe she’s correct. Perhaps I should stop taking the medication; maybe I’m feeling better now.'"

"If you lack experience in mental health, you could potentially step into an area requiring specialized knowledge to be truly helpful," notes Bufka, when discussing coaches providing medical guidance.

Pasalic states that she received an awakening after halfway through a approximately $2,400 Sovereign Money class—promising followers "to hack the financial system using the spiritual principles of monetary creation," build up "intergenerational riches across generations" and become "immune to economic downturns"—failed to deliver. She requested a reimbursement, yet it was refused.

I was completely mistaken," Pasalic states. "I remained trapped in my life for seven years because I trusted her teachings.

To release her emotions, she turned to the Life Coach Snark subreddit - one of many discussion boards where individuals exchange stories about life coaches they believe are exploiting others - and an overwhelming number of comparable accounts were shared. Pasalic mentions that participants in different subreddits worry about facing consequences for voicing their concerns.

Still, the sense of unity was therapeutic. "It was reassuring to know others were confirming my emotions and experiences," she states.

Dane Schwaebe also felt downhearted and dissatisfied with his life before entering the world of coaching. A friend suggested he explore Nick Unsworth, the dynamic creator of Life on Fire, a spiritual and career development coaching program designed to assist individuals in unlocking their " god-given potential On LinkedIn, he highlights credentials in hypnosis; neuro-linguistic programming, an unverified therapeutic approach that focuses on altering how individuals interpret information; and timeline therapy, designed to help people react to present situations without relying on past experiences.

Schwaebe mentions that he was drawn in by how Unsworth appears online: He resides in a big home in Texas, owns a Dodge Viper supercar, and, according to Schwaebe, somewhat looks like Channing Tatum. Additionally, he is a father to three children and frequently shares photos of his wife and kids on Instagram. content .

In 2018, Schwaebe enrolled in a complimentary orientation session held in San Diego, which was approximately an hour's drive from his residence in Temecula. According to Schwaebe's description, the event ran from early morning through late evening, including a 20-minute lunch pause, during which participants were instructed to switch off their mobile devices and store them away. In addition to a collective trip to a place of worship, Schwaebe mentioned that the gathering included elements of contemporary spiritual practices such as group meditation, Reiki, and the concept of manifesting desires.

Unsworth reportedly entertained guests with the tale of when he was heavily in debt and transformed his life via coaching ( a common subject in his material a frequent topic in his work an ongoing focus in his posts a repeated element in his videos a consistent motif in his creations a prevalent idea in his productions a regular feature in his output a continual aspect of his content a habitual theme in his presentations a constant undercurrent in his works ."They provide some illumination, you know? They're somewhat similar to anglerfish... When you're feeling low and surrounded by darkness, you spot a light," says Schwaebe. Unsworth didn't reply to several attempts to get a statement via his website's contact form, email, and Instagram.

Following the free event, Schwaebe states he spent $6,000 on Life on Fire programs. According to Schwaebe, one class titled "Abundance" participants loudly described the person they hoped to become while a member of Unsworth’s team measured how wide their eyes got as they shouted—the more open, the better. Participants also formed a circle to share a confession and face a group member who looked like someone who had caused them pain. Schwaebe selected a woman who reminded him of his biological mother and, following instructions, expressed everything he was feeling, which included yelling and sobbing. One of the accounts of individuals on the course's website my most cherished moment at the gathering was overcoming ancestral curses, guilt, and sorrow.

"I'm an ideal fit for this mess. I had a credit card to pay for the coaching fees and was feeling down and hurt. I was ready to spend money on anything that might supposedly improve me," says Schwaebe.

The term "life coach" might lead to misunderstandings, according to Aboujaoude. "Once life becomes your area of focus, you essentially function as a therapist," he explains. "Although new support professions can be beneficial for our overall wellness, this completely unrestricted environment poses significant dangers."

A different "Life on Fire" event, according to Schwaebe, taught participants methods to attract wealth, independence, and entrepreneurship. Schwaebe felt uncomfortable when Unsworth promoted an additional class, advising individuals unable to cover the cost to request assistance from people they knew. He also proposed a commission for persuading friends and relatives to enroll, presenting this as a financial venture, notes Schwaebe, who enrolled in the training through his friend's referral link.

Unsworth also provides a class that instructs individuals on how to achieve a career as a A life and business coach within 90 days Certainly, in recent years, coaches coaching coaches have emerged as a central part of the industry's operational strategy.

Nowadays, Schwaebe claims he feels improved. He has received a diagnosis of depression and ADHD; he uses medicine and meets with a counselor. Additionally, he established an internet-based marketing company, whose achievements he credits solely to his own efforts.

What advice does he have for those thinking about working with a life coach who emphasizes manifesting? "Don't buy into the hype."

So, how can individuals looking for life and emotional assistance—regardless of the type—go about finding it securely, especially with so many coaches having well-polished online profiles? Bufka suggests questioning the professional thoroughly. "It’s completely fine to ask questions. How do you know your approach works? When might I start noticing improvements? What steps will we take if I’m not experiencing the desired progress? Asking these types of questions can assist someone in making a better-informed choice," she explains.

She also suggests getting a friend involved, someone who can provide perspective if situations begin to feel uncomfortable. If an individual believes they require assistance with their mental well-being, a trained specialist will be most effective, according to Bufka. "Consulting a professional who has the proper training and expertise in the area where you're facing challenges is crucial," she explains.

Nowadays, Pasalic mentions that she occasionally faces challenges due to the significant amount she poured into (and depended on) Zenkina's guidance, yet she now senses greater autonomy. "I'm truly much better off and experiencing far more happiness," she states. "I feel considerably more like my true self compared to what I was before."

This tale first was published in Los Angeles Times .