COURSE FDNC

Foundations for Christian Coaches

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The first Christian Coaching course approved by the ICF, our Foundations Course for Christian Coaches provides students with the training to develop the skills they will need to enter the coaching profession, while incorporating Christian values and teachings in their practice. This forty-hour course (20 weeks) focuses on the essential knowledge and skills to launch a coaching career, while also incorporating prayer and Scripture.

The course requires twice-weekly teleclasses or video conferences and once-a-week Peer Coaching practice, as well as post-class assignments or fieldwork, with a total estimated time commitment per week of 4 to 5 hours. Students will need to have regular access to the internet and ILCT website. Students must attend at least 35 of the 40 teleclasses and complete a written exam with a score of 70% or better in order to successfully pass this course.

Tuition includes 3 hours of mentor coaching, to be conducted during 2 observed peer coaching sessions, providing you with an opportunity to receive individual feedback on your growth as a coach. Students must complete both mentor coaching exercises to receive the 3 hours of mentor credit; students who do not will receive an adjusted amount. All mentor coaching hours can be used to meet part of the requirements for ICF credentialing.

Course Modules

  • Module 1 – You as Coach (22 hours) covers the definition of coach, distinctions between counseling, therapy, and coaching, the ethics of coaching, and a strong focus on the development of the basic coaching skills or core competencies, including but not limited to creating rapport, reframing, open questions, and active listening. Learning is developed both through readings, in class experiential and observational learning, reinforced through weekly Peer Coaching fieldwork.
  • Module 2 - Business of Coaching (3 hours) introduces concepts of how to market your own coaching business, including identifying your business and your “ideal client” or niche, creating an elevator speech, and developing your marketing plan.
  • Module 3 – From the Inside Out (15 hours) focuses on life design and personal fulfillment. This is both a personal journey, with students using an assortment of common coaching assessments to advance their personal development, as well as being trained on how to use these with their clients. Some of the issues addressed include needs, values, beliefs; Life purpose; Life design; Integrity, standards, choices and boundaries; reserve and abundance; and self-care for coaches.

Learning Objectives

  • You will become familiar and comfortable with basic coaching skills and methods that will enable you to serve as a coach.
  • You will develop an understanding of models and theories on which the coaching profession is founded and how to best incorporate a Christian world view into your practice.
  • You will gain understanding of and learn to apply ethical standards to coaching.
  • You will become familiar with strategies for both personal coaching and ministry/business coaching.
  • You will learn to distinguish between therapy or counseling and coaching, being able to identify skills that transfer to coaching and skills that do not.
  • You will develop familiarity with the assessment tools used in coaching: How they can enhance your client’s awareness, strengths, and problem solving abilities.
  • You will learn to identify clients for whom coaching is most appropriate, and those for whom it is not.
  • You will be able to “design” your coaching practice as distinctly different from your counseling practice; and explore various coaching specialty niches you might enjoy.

Required Textbook
Becoming a Professional Life Coach: The Art and Science of a Whole-Person Approach
By Dr. Patrick Williams, MCC, BCC

Frequency: This course is offered twice a year.

Course Prerequisites

  • Bachelors degree, preferably in the social and behavioral sciences

OR

  • Experience in the helping professions
  • Strong communication skills

Register for this course

Select a class term from the list below.

Date June 25, 2024 - November 12, 2024

Time 5:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET

Day Tuesday, Thursday

Type Video Conference

Faculty Jonathan Armel, PCC

Testimonials

The Christian Foundations class helped define and deepen my "why", while solidifying my passion in being a coach. I am forever impacted.

- Jen

I felt the Foundations for Christian Coaches course was SO extremely well done. Jonathan and Brian were very supportive, informative and created environments for such confidence building and skill. The level of course material was also incredibly great. Very in depth and interesting. In addition, the support staff at ILCT were particularly wonderful as well. I have been beyond impressed with my relationship with the organization. Excellent service and products!

- Chazelle

Brian and Jonathan created a very comfortable learning environment and provided a safe place to develop our coaching skills. I felt that both instructors were interested in our lives and our coaching.

- K.B.