A dawn of a new era: how holistic, whole person coaching is needed in a world of AI

One of the biggest uses of AI right now is... therapy and coaching chatbots. 

In fact, since 2015 when I first seriously started thinking about creating my own coach training school I knew that so much of what was being taught in coaching education was outdated. I'm no tech visionary so I didn't predict what AI could do it was more that with my background in Psychology I recognised that many of the models and concepts were transactional and there was so much more you could do in this space. 

In 2019 I started Optimus with a focus on"Whole person" holistic coaching integrating Psychology & Coaching. Over the last 6 years we've seen other providers continue to focus on transactional models and my intuition has appeared right in that these will start to become obsolete over the next few years. 

The art of coaching is transformational and when you work with a skilled coach you can have powerful internal and external shifts. My personal experience is that this is transformational and there is a strong and growing body of research evidence which supports this which equally talks about the importance of flexibility, emotional intelligence, intuition and relationships to be important factors in determining how successful the intervention is.

So, how is a whole person, holistic approach more beneficial than using AI: 

Human Connection, Empathy and Nuance 
Holistic coaching involves a human coach who brings empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence. Qualities AI still cannot truly replicate and that will be more in demand. When clients feel valued and acknowledged it can help build deeper levels of trust which can support more transformational sessions. 
A human coach can understand subtleties of tone, body language, cultural context, and life history that AI may miss or misinterpret. Equally, they're able to notice what isn't being said as well as what is exploring silence, patterns and themes. 
By having whole person framework the integration of insights from different domains can support a whole person picture including intuitive and energetic responses which are not able to be picked up by AI

Trust and Accountability
Building trust with a human coach often increases accountability. Clients are more likely to follow through on goals when they have a trusted relationship and know that person is on their side. 
AI might provide helpful prompts, but it doesn’t generate the same relational motivation.

 Integration of Intuition and Inner Wisdom
Holistic coaching often supports clients in tapping into their own intuition, inner values, and sense of purpose, something AI can guide toward, but not truly facilitate.
Coaches often sense things that aren't explicitly said and can ask questions AI wouldn’t think to ask about those smaller shifts or know when it seems there is more to an answer or more going on beneath the surface. 

Depth and Meaning
Holistic coaching often includes multiple different domains exploring congruence on a much deeper level and supporting clients to look at themselves and their situation through multiple lens. 
AI tends to stay at a more cognitive or behavioural level, missing opportunities for profound insight and healing and is unable to integrate tools such as breathwork or visualisation which can be incredibly powerful. 

When AI Coaching Might Be Useful:
Accessibility: It’s available 24/7 and can support basic habit formation or self-reflection this is often an add on to existing coaching programs and can support at a basic lvel. 
Affordability: It’s often free or low-cost.
Consistency: It can track data and provide structured feedback.

Final Thought:
AI coaching can be a useful supplement, but whole person holistic coaching offers human depth, emotional resonance, and transformational potential that AI cannot yet match. If you're seeking true transformation, healing, or self-actualization, human holistic coaching is typically the better choice and if you're looking to train this really is the only choice given the current coaching environment.