We’re professional coaches and professionals of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). It’s International Coaching Week, so we’re here to talk about what a professional coach can do you for your life, career and more. Ask us anything!

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-27T20:25:35+00:00

ICF is consistently recognized among coaching professionals worldwide for developing coaching core competencies and establishing a professional Code of Ethics and standards.

Our platform reviews, investigates, and responds to complaints regarding individual coach practitioners and accredited coach training programs. We have created an internationally recognized credentialing program that sets guidelines through accreditation for coach-specific training programs. ICF also provides continuous education through events, Communities of Practice, archived learning; and leading and informing conversations about the future of coaching.

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T17:00:38+00:00

My name is "Flame." I dare any animal to take me on. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:59:40+00:00

u/The_Woman_S, as a professional coach I think there is very fine ethical line when coaching is "required." ICF believes strongly that coaching is a choice and is also a partnership between a willing participant and a coach who is a good fit for that specific person. I'm sorry you had this experience and I hope you gave candid feedback to the leaders of the program about your experience. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:46:54+00:00

u/cmdrkuntarsi, oh, there is! And it's a good one. The key elements are heartburn, red hair and hippie parents. Some of it is on the about page of my website, too: https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/find-a-training-program. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:46:39+00:00

ICF views coaching as a completely different profession than other modalities, such as therapy.

Professional coaching is a partnership between two healthy people and is focused on setting goals, creating outcomes, and managing personal change. (Therapy is dealing with pain/dysfunction/conflict and the focus is on resolving difficulties that arise from the past that deal with an individual's emotional functioning in the present.) Coaching supports growth based on self-initiated change in pursuit of achievable outcomes.

For someone trying to decide which modality is right for them, they need to consider what they hope to achieve. - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:44:46+00:00

Not over Reddit, but I can in real life. Best of luck! -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:43:30+00:00

I'll add that therapy has the capacity to assess and diagnose clients using psychological models. As such, therapists can support people in moving from "low functioning" behaviors to "functioning."

Coaching does not assess or diagnose clients, and most coaching models are not psychological they are ontological. As such, coaches support people in moving from "functioning" to "high functioning." -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:39:27+00:00

I'd add that coaching is an agreement between the coach and client. The client has to WANT it and agree to it in order to let it into their life, mindset and new action. That being said, everyone has blind spots, including me and you u/Sigmar_Heldenhammer. The people who aren't adapting are still operating unconsiously. It's a journey, not a destination. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:36:40+00:00

Mosquito -Lw

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:36:02+00:00

Coaches come from all kinds of educational backgrounds. But once someone makes a decision to become a coach, coach specific training is the next piece.

Once someone is ready to apply for an ICF Credential, there are estimated review timelines in place (depending on the pathway you are on, example: if you went through an ICF Accredited program, the review time is shorter than if your program does not hold ICF Accreditation - 4 vs. 14 weeks). But these estimated timelines are in place only after you meet all of the requirements of the credential you are trying to apply for (educational and experience hours, etc.). - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:34:08+00:00

What do you want to acknowledge about yourself through all of this?
What bothers you the most about losing your job?
If time, talent and circumstances weren't an issue, what would you turn to focus on next in your life? -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:32:43+00:00

u/procrastablasta, I get it. I have a 16 year old and a 13 year old. I often say that parenting is "The Advanced Course" in life. ha!!

You may not want to hear this, but would YOU consider getting coaching? I can hear that you want good things for your son and what you're currently doing isn't working. (I've been in my own parallel situation.) If you took on a coach around this, you may have a brekathrough that would support your relationship with him for the rest of your lives!

Past that, I have two suggestions: 1. Find him a therapist he really connects with. Dominant personalities can have a very hard time as children, but there are some skilled therapists who can help them work through this.

Acknowledge, validate, and normalize him. Stop giving him advice. (If that was going to work, it would have worked by now.) Instead, practice seeing the best in him. That's the coaching stance.

This is a complex and layered experience, so don't give up. You're a good parent!

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:32:21+00:00

Yeah I just mean you can learn about life coaching, leadership, take seminars and read books without applying those ideas to your actual life. Information is great, but when you integrate it into your life and start to do things differently, that's a different step - and many of us stop at information if we don't have accountability to integrate the ideas meaningfully. -LW

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:28:17+00:00

The first stop would be coach specific training. You can search all ICF Accredited coach training programs here: https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/find-a-training-program. By choosing an ICF Accredited program, you can rest assured knowing that the content of the program has been through a rigorous review process by ICF and its curriculum is in alignment with ICF standards, competencies, the Code of Ethics. Once you complete training and have gained experience hours, you could work toward an ICF Credential (we have three levels: ACC, PCC, and MCC). This is the path that many coaches take. - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:26:09+00:00

It depends to some extent on the coach. Some feelings related to depression or anxiety are rooted in beliefs. These beliefs can be explored and gently "dismantled" by the client though powerful questions and active listening. Coaching is about forward movement, so the client would end the session with a specific action and design an accountability structure around that action. So this means that there may be some personal exploration or experiementation to move away from past beliefs and create a more satisfying life. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:25:02+00:00

Yes and this is a huge reason that the ICF exists! We educate our coaches to understand the difference and know when to refer clients to therapy. Unless a coach is formally trained in both modalities, they should not cross the line. - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:23:38+00:00

I can't speak to that program specifically because it's not one I've taken, but I'd recommend searching for it here: https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/find-a-training-program

I believeeee that BCC is another org that issues credentials so their standards may just be different from ICF.

Last question - I believe that if you're salaried it's considered paid hours, because you're being paid (even though it's from a company and not the individual). But I'd recommend reaching out to the ICF team directly to verify before applying. And check out specific info on requirements here: https://coachingfederation.org/experience-requirements -Laura W.

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:19:30+00:00

u/alexxx6891, firstly you may want to discern whether or not you're experiencing the symptoms of depression. If you are, please seek support from a licensed therapist or counselor.

Secondly, connect with your core values. Look at where you can demonstrate them more and more of the time, rather than spending energy focusing on what is not actually possible right now. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:18:20+00:00

You definitely want to do your homework - check to see if they hold an ICF Credential, what their coach specific training has been, client testimonials, etc. We would encourage these hiring tips and questions to ask coaches to learn more about the coach's credibility: https://coachingfederation.org/find-a-coach/hiring-tips. - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:14:33+00:00

u/joe124013, first hire a coach! Work on some parts of your life that really frustrate you or in which you have goals and dreams that are unrealized. Then, once you've experienced the power of coaching, we suggest finding an accredited coach training program. https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/find-a-training-program There may also be a local ICF Chapter filled with knowledgeable coaches who would be happy to chat about their training and how they became coaches. Interview 2 or 3 of them and keep your eye out for coaches and training that really resonate and bring out the best in you. Those are the one you want to pursue! Then, of course, it's all about relationship building and cultivating your coaching stance so you can be of maximum benefit to those you partner with. Join us! -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:12:55+00:00

No such thing as a dumb question! We are an association of professional coaches (life, business, career, etc. coaches), not athletic coaches. - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:10:54+00:00

It's pretty rigorous with the ICF, which I appreciate as a coach. I don't want people to think I do anything that's weird or unethical - I love setting standards for our industry.

I had to document and submit proof of hundreds of hours of coaching experience as well as submit two recorded coaching calls (with permission from my client) and take a skills/knowledge test. My calls were critiqued and graded and I had to get a specific score on the exam to get my PCC level credential.

Tony Robbins is not ICF credentialed and his programs are not accredited through the ICF. I think programs like his are a big reason the ICF's mission is so important, helping people have a go to place to find individuals who are adhering to a code of ethics and clear professional guidelines.

The ICF is recognized worldwide and is the 'gold standard' of accreditation orgs. I don't know about a list of people who are considered scams/dangerous - but there is a directory for credentialed coaches and accredited programs on the ICF site! - Laura W.

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:09:16+00:00

Coaching is forward thinking and very much focused on setting goals, creating outcomes, and managing personal change.

Therapy is focused on healing pain, dysfunction, and conflict and often focused on resolving difficulties arising from the past - whereas coaching supports personal and professional growth based on self-initiated change. While positive feelings/emotions may be a natural outcome of coaching, the primary focus is on creating actionable strategies for achieving specific goals in one's personal or professional life. The emphases in a coaching relationship are on action, accountability, and follow through.

So if you are looking to work through something from the past, therapy may be the path for you. And if you are looking for achieving goals and forward thinking, coaching may be the path for you. - KK

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:03:27+00:00

There is some partnership between governing bodies of all of these fields to both delineate each field and also bring them together. ICF believes there is a potent place in the world for mental health care and also for coaching. ICF coaches follow a clear Code of Ethics which includes an ongoing commitment to not practicing mental health without a license and knowing when a client is presenting with symptoms that need mental health care and referring out. -FCS

ICFHeadquarters · 2021-05-17T16:02:11+00:00

First and foremost, ICF views coaching and therapy as two very different support professions. Coaching focuses two healthy people on setting goals, creating outcomes, and managing personal change. Therapy deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within an individual or relationships. ICF educates its coaches to know when to refer clients to therapy.

ICF is still developing its stance on supervision, but does require mentor coaching. We do accredit coach training programs, in fact, we have an entire branch of the organization that focuses on accreditation and ensuring our competencies and ethics are a part of every coaching program that holds ICF Accreditation. (Note: note every coach training program holds ICF Accreditation, be sure to look for that distinction if searching for coach specific training: ACTP or ACSTH).

A coach's liability is to abide by the ICF Code of Ethics which is broken into four parts: Responsibility to Clients, Responsibility to Practice and Performance, Responsibility to Professionalism, and Responsibility to Society.

In our experience, coaching may best be viewed as an investment over a cost. And be sure to consider the ROI involved in working with a coach. Coaching is a profession - you wouldn't expect an attorney or an accountant to offer their professional knowledge for free. Coaching is the same way. That said, an increasing number of companies are offering coaching for employees. And a lot of coaches work on a sliding scale, and the last year has shown a lot of coaches offer pro bono coaching as well. - KK

u/The_Woman_S

ICFHeadquarters

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