I’ve been reading some dire predictions about the future of the coaching and wellness industry lately.
Not just from the doom-and-gloomers, but from people I respect.
“…within five years, much of the holistic and coaching industry will be wiped out.” – Tad Hargrave, Marketing For Hippies
“I’ve noticed some shifts in both my own work and the evolution of AI that mean traditional coaching may be, if not on its way out, due for a real change in the way people access it and make use of it.” – Michael Neill
“…business-as-usual fully broke down last year.
It crashed. It crumbled. It decayed.⠀⠀
At least for those of us who aren’t willing to bow down at the altar of Capitalism anymore.” – Amelia Hruby, Off the Grid
Dismal, right?
Or maybe not.
We can’t stop the rise of AI.
We cannot stop the generic slop of content flooding the internet.
We can’t stop people from asking ChatGPT for answers instead of a therapist or coach.
This is the reality of the landscape we live in.
I’ll add my 2026 prediction to this mix in regards to technology and its influence on coaches and holistic practitioners.
Changemaking, service-based entrepreneurs will lead the charge in returning technology to its truest purpose: serving humanity.
Instead of sucking up our attention and pulling us away from real life, these practitioners will use technology to deepen our experience of being human.
Technology will make us more human, not less.
It will force us to ask real questions. What makes us human? What makes life worth living?
This is already happening as the entrepreneurial types among us test the waters.
Coaches are creating GPTs to serve their clients.
Mission-based communities are developing chat bots to meet people in moments of crisis and connect them with real humans.
Innovators are creating tools not just to boost productivity, but to spark insight, presence and meaning.
Which brings me to something I’m excited to share.
My colleague Kristian Larsen is developing an AI-based conversation space for insight and transformation called Fresh Seeing.
I was skeptical at first. Nothing can replace real human presence and deep listening.
And yet, Fresh Seeing is damn good at catalyzing insight. More than once, my conversations with it have moved me to tears.
This is tech I can get behind. In fact, I have a personal interest in this project. I don’t see that as a drawback, but as evidence of how much I believe in what it offers.
Right now, you can still try Fresh Seeing for free.
If you do, I’d love to hear what you discover.
Yours in love and play,
Steph 🐲❤️🔥
