Far too often we hear from current students and recent graduates on their confidence levels of getting out there and starting to coach (hello imposter syndrome). The transition from student to professional Health and Wellness Coach can be daunting, however with the right level of support and mentorship in these early stages of your new profession, you can suppress these doubts in your abilities and really come into your own.
Our ‘Supported Client Practicum’ program has been developed specifically for the nearly graduated and recent graduated coaches who can benefit from receiving ongoing guidance and mentorship through their first individual coaching clients.
As with all new skill development, continuing to build on the knowledge gained with further practice is essential to grow and develop as a coach. This can be done by networking and peer coaching, but having an experienced coach as a mentor will reduce the risk of continuing with potentially questionable techniques, help to answer any questions you have and help you work out the best way to approach tricky situations or conversations!
How the program works
Over 3 months you will be privately coaching 2 or 3 clients, conducting 5 to 6 sessions with each client over this period. These will be ‘real’ clients (paid or pro-bono) which you can source through your own networks or we can facilitate finding these clients for you within our network.
Each month you will attend a small group mentoring session facilitated by WCA Founder, Fiona Cosgrove (4-6 coaches) who will be supporting you through your client coaching progress. You will bring to each group session updates on your clients and any challenges you encounter as a coach and share with the group. You will benefit from the wisdom and insights from Fiona as well as peer learning and support from your group.
Fiona thoroughly enjoys the engaging and interactive discussions and role plays that take place within the group mentoring sessions and helps you in overcoming any client challenges or your questions around the coaching framework and skills to use at various points in the client journey. This program truly is the next level of your training as it allows you to really build your confidence while under our mentorship.
Our next group commences on June 27 with an introduction session and you start coaching your clients in July. Click here to find out more
Here are some comments from recent coaches who participated in this program and how they benefited:
“The Supported Client Practicum has been such a confidence booster for me. Graduating 2 years ago It has giving me back my FLOW of coaching and confidence to start my Coaching business.
Connecting with coaches in similar situation to me and having the opportunity to work with Fiona Cosgrove and tap into her wealth of experience has been so helpful. I can highly recommend this course. “
Bettina Lynn
“Launching into the coaching world is a bit daunting. All the study , all the prep, then suddenly, time to make it work! It’s a graduating step of sorts, moving from the classroom to the workforce.
In a group support session (hosted by one of the wellness coaching guru’s in Australia) has been a brilliant way to extract knowledge and experience from other newbie coaches sharing the same journey. The few hours we spent in sessions has saved me literal days of effort and problem solving.
The old adage applies – if I am thinking it, experiencing it or struggling with it, chances are that someone else in the group is as well. The shared experience
Can’t recommend enough for anyone who has begun their coaching journey.”
Mark Luckey
“Thank you so much for your support throughout the practicum. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and found it so valuable in giving me the confidence to start coaching and have even landed my first paid client! You were so helpful in guiding me through my questions and challenges I had with particular situations within my coaching sessions. I highly recommend this practicum!”
Victoria Linke
Advantages of this kind of supported practicum program include:
- Boosts Coaching Effectiveness:
- Learning new skills and improving the ones you already have helps you use a variety of techniques. This means you can have more impactful coaching sessions and get better results for your clients.
- Builds Credibility and Professionalism:
- Coaches who keep learning and growing are often seen as more credible and dedicated. This can enhance your reputation and help you attract more clients looking for top-notch coaching.
- Keeps You Updated with Industry Changes:
- The coaching world changes over time. Learning what support is available ensures you remain relevant and effective in your practice.
- Fosters Personal and Professional Growth:
- Continuously developing your skills helps you grow both personally and professionally. It encourages a mindset of lifelong learning, making your job more satisfying and opening doors to new opportunities.
- Increases confidence
- One of the biggest challenges for a new coach is a lack of self belief. This program can help you trust that you have what it takes and that there is no one blueprint for a coaching conversation.
By keeping up with skill development, you can offer the best coaching possible while also advancing your career.
