Ruby Franke’s husband calls for more regulation on ‘life coaches’
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah lawmakers are considering a study that would see life coaches needed to register with the Division of Professional Licensing, creating regulations and what counts as “unprofessional” conduct when acting as a life coach.
S.B. 251, titled “Life Coaching Requirements,” was introduced as the Utah legislative body began wrapping up its 2024 General Session thanks to the collaborative effort of bill sponsor Sen. David Hinkins and Kevin Franke, the former husband of convicted child abuser Ruby Franke.
Ruby Franke was recently sentenced to serve no more than 30 years in Utah State Prison for her role in abusive parenting tactics under the “mentorship” of Jodi Hildebrandt, a formerly professionally licensed therapist and life coach. Hildebrandt was also sentenced to serve no more than 30 years.
In a letter written to the Business and Labor Committee of the Utah State Senate, Kevin Franke said his life had been turned upside down, his family destroyed and his children tortured under the guise of “life coaching.” He said many life coaches have created numerous titles to for self-proclaimed legitimacy and expertise, though none actually serve under any professional body or board.
He said they offer many of the same services as a professionally licensed mental health professional, though carry no responsibility should they act unethically or outside the law as Hildebrandt had.
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“Few receive any formal or accredited education for their training, and those who do routinely practice outside of that education,” said Franke. “None are bound by any formal or recognized standard of care or ethics, and none are accountable to any larger professional community or licensing board. These individuals are literally ‘ghosts’ that are free to sell their supposed ‘life expertise’ to anybody willing to purchase it.”
Both Jessica Black of the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association and Sarah Stroup of the Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy spoke during the committee meeting, strongly voicing their support for regulations. In separate statements, the two said their organizations believe there is a role for life coaches in Utah but that they need to be held to a level of accountability and responsibility for their actions.
“We want life coaches in the workforce assisting their clients and supporting consultation and motivation in reaching their goals,” said Black. “However, defining their scope and having public recourse in case harm is done is essential.”
“There is room for both therapists and life coaches here in the state of Utah to offer support but we feel that our residents are due recourse if harm is done and that currently doesn’t exist,” Stroup said.
The committee had very few issues with the bill in its current form, though did ask questions about which professions fell under the definition of “life coach” and what the process of registration and official certification would look like.
As the 2024 General Session is nearing its end, lawmakers recognized there would not be enough time to clean up the bill and answer the concerns. The committee then passed to recommend having the bill studied and fully fleshed out to potentially be considered for the General Session in 2025.
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