In these opening days, you will cultivate a strong coaching mindset through group activities, reflection and active practice, setting the stage for deeper development. Day 1 builds a foundation in listening, self-awareness, and navigating stress in coaching. Day 2 deepens your emotional understanding, strengthens your trauma-responsive skills, and emphasizes trust and safety in the coaching relationship.

In these virtual sessions, you will refine your coaching approach through practice, reflection, and feedback. You will explore key polarities in coaching, such as balancing structure and flexibility, presence and preparation, and support and challenge. Through discussion and real-world application, you will deepen your self-awareness and refine your ability to navigate client needs with confidence and ethical clarity.

In both a group setting and individually with your assigned Mentor Coach, you will explore and apply ICF Core Competencies to live coaching and receive feedback about how you are integrating those competencies and Lodestar’s trauma-restorative frameworks into your coaching style. Mentor coaching is also a place to practice developing coaching agreements, maintaining client confidentiality, and implementing structures that support your development as an ethical and trauma-responsive coach. 

Integrated throughout your remote sessions, you will complete individual self-guided learning in the form of reflective readings and pre-session prompts to deepen your knowledge of different coaching modalities.

In these small-group gatherings with your peers, you will discuss lessons, share accountability, and practice your coaching skills with one another. Learning Pods are a place to foster connection and active collaboration with your fellow coaches at the same time utilizing coaching frameworks learned in faculty-led sessions. 

These final in-person days integrate past learning through feedback, trauma-restorative practices, and advanced coaching techniques. You will explore metaphor and imagery, practice how to deepen trust with your client, and refine your ability to center and decenter as a coach. The program concludes with reflection on personal growth, ethical practice, and next steps, ensuring a thoughtful transition into professional coaching and ongoing development.

After completing True North Coach Training you will continue practicing your learned skills through 100 total hours of client coaching. Upon completion of your 100 hours, you will be eligible to apply for your ACC credential from the International Coaching Federation and sit for your knowledge assessment. Note that you can begin accumulating these hours as soon as you have begun the program (Day 1 of the Opening In-Person Session).