Does anyone know anything about the Coaching Academy free courses?

[clairedunphy]

I'm on maternity leave and thinking about career plans in the long term. I'm already in my forties and don't have the time or finances to go back to uni or retrain for 3+ years.

I've been thinking about life coaching, as I've got a background in training and have completed an intro level counseling course, both of which I enjoyed.

There's a company advertising online for a free 2 day coaching course, held in hotels / conference centres around the country on a regular basis. They're called the Coaching Academy.

As its free, my instinct is that it can't be that great, and that if you attend they'll do a hard sell on other courses, or basically get you there and then tell you that if you want a proper qualification then you'll need to follow the free course with another one at X cost.

So has anyone heard of them, or even better, attended one of the courses?

[Debbiefishercoaching]

I know of the course, didn't do it myself but know quite a few people who have. I think your instinct is partly right. From what I hears, you will get value out of those 2 days but there will be a hard sell for the full course. There are alternatives out there.

In 2011 I set up a coaching practice from scratch so have learned lots about what to do and what not to do so if I can help please let me know. Don't be fooled by promises of huge income for very little work!

[clairedunphy]

Thanks Debbie, that's really helpful. I think part of my problem is uncertainty about this being the right path for me, so I like the idea of a free course to give me a taster, with a view to following a more sensible alternative if I do want to continue (and not being persuaded by the hard sell!).

You mention that there are alternatives, is there anything you'd particularly recommend?

[venusandmars]

I trained with the Coaching academy years ago, and I thought that the skills I was taught and the support process was very good (don't know if it's still the same). And yes you will be encouraged to go on and complete other training. I also trained with an academic institution, which gave me a recognised academic qualification (post grad level) but was much more theoretical than practical.

My own experience has been that coaching is a great add-on to other business skills, but I don't know anyone who makes a living out of just coaching.

[sorrelrobertscoaching]

I did the free weekend course a few years ago and what it did for me was confirm my interest and that it was something I did want to pursue, so it was useful from that point of view. However, there was a real element of hard sell and I wasn't sure about the depth of the teaching so I did a lot of exploration of other training providers. In the end I did a course with Barefoot Coaching, who I think are absolutely brilliant and would highly recommend. Hope that helps.

[007bondlady]

I did the two day course and it left me revived and positive, however there is a 30 min hard sell session which you have the choice not to go to.... I got sucked in and ended up paying three grand out for a course i didn't complete. I got made redundant and could afford to go the the accelerator days based in London or Liverpool (one a month is suggested) when i tried to get my money back they wouldn't and just said its the terms and condition. They quality of the material is extremely poor, it is a poor camera man filming a presentation in an office room. I have no problem emailing you the course material and the dvd bit please save your money.

[Kirsty123us]

Hi bond lady
I am looking into this too and would love you to send me the material of you would
I went on the 2 day course taster also left me feeling amazing and ready to take the full course on

[Soulzfire]

Hi 007Bond lady,
Thanks a lot for offering the material on the internet.
Please send me the material on [email protected] or anyother way you may feel.
Best regards,
soulzfire

[clairedunphy]

Hi all, only just spotted that this thread has been revived. Thanks for the latest responses, really interesting to hear from those that have done the course. Non sleeping baby has put me off until now but I may be able to reconsider soon.

bondlady that's a really decent offer, if you genuinely don't mind sharing then I'd be very grateful of a copy of your notes etc, is that still OK?

[shellseeking]

I am a life coach and would not recommend the Coaching Academy. By all means do the free weekend but avoid the hard sell and do an ICF ACTP course with another provider.

The Coaching Academy is far better at marketing than it is coaching, and its qualification is meaningless in the greater scheme of things as it is not accredited by the organizations that count.

Plus I have come across some proper charlatans who have been trained by them :)

[SherryRB]

I trained with The Coaching Academy - I went to the two day event expecting a hard sell but before it got to that point, the free two days was full of valuable content. I enjoyed all the training I received through them. I looked at a few other courses at the time but opted to go with TCA. Yes they're good at marketing but personally I found their training to be worthwhile - more practical more than theoretical. I'm sure there are some charlatans out there - as in any industry. Doing the training and getting a qualification is not enough in itself to ensure a successful business.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[AmishAshish]

hello all. I have been to the 2 day seminar to explore. I however went with a clear view of wanting to have a certified training in NLP to use within and outside my existing company and clients.

i am attending their 1 day basic NLP course on 13 and 20 June to get more details.

I have yet to register for a full course. However I have been exploring other providers as well.

Bondlady - what a kind gesture! would you be able to share the material for me to be able to make a decision on the personal performance coaching?

[EssexMummy123]

I believe you can do academic courses in coaching as an alternative to the commercial ones e.g BTEC / undergraduate.

[AmishAshish]

Hello EssexMummy123 - thank you for your response. would you have more details?

[mrsmosquito]

I too am interested and am planning to try the 2 day course in June in London. I would love to find out if it is for me! I have been very interested to see all these helpful comments. Any other recommendations of good training providers would be appreciated!

[EssexMummy123]

Not for the BTEC but this has an introductory course completed entirely online www.ice.cam.ac.uk/component/courses/?view=results&q=coaching

[mrsmosquito]

Been doing an internet trawl.......Has anyone had any experience with 'Simply Changing' life coaching training?

[Mitti]

Hi Shellseeking or anyone else who knows,

I was very interested in hearing about the coaching academy, as I have just been on the dynamic training for the weekend and today had my interview over the phone but went over my allocated 30 mins as I asked so many questions.
Is the ICF and ACTP awarding bodies as the person was rather vague and kept directing me to the website for the content.
Is it better to go for an university accredited course?

Also can any recommend a good course?

Thank you very much

Mitti

[Mitti]

mrsmosquito, do attend the 2 day course but be aware for the hard sell. I have just had my interview, and none the wiser of the content, as directed to the website and can not see the information, perhaps I am looking in the wrong place.

[meboy]

Hi, hope you're managing a relaxed evening.

I saw on the one of the message boards, that you've had some experience of the coaching academy. I enjoyed the taster course, but I was a bit scared off by the sales techniques and whether the materials would live up to the pitch.

Thanks for any advice / feedback

Michelle

[Mitti]

Hi meboy, today I had the second part of my interview, but as soon as I said that I would find £3000 very difficult to pay for the course, she cut things short and advised me to try back another time. My friend had the same experience.

I have read mixed reviews about The Coaching Academy so none the wiser, but like you enjoyed the 2 day course but found the hard sale very off putting, and still could not find out the real content of the course.

[puppymad]

Bondlady, I wd also really appreciate a preview of material before handing money over. Pls email to [email protected] Attended the 2 day free course this week. Found it valuable but agree re hard sell. Am doing some more research before I commit. Grateful for your help and any other feedback from anyone who has done the corporate course. Thanks

[Neilm5000]

Hi everyone. It's great to see a current thread about this.
I'm also looking into the coaching academy having been to the free weekend a couple of years ago. I got a lot of value from the event and came away feeling enthused. My concern here is that it is being marketed as the biggest coach trainer around and quoting high levels of value yet to me it seems that there is not a huge amount of actual training. Other therapies I have trained in have had a progressive syllable yet the CA,s live training days seem to be rolling monthly as a bespoke events that can be taken in any order regardless of an individual's course learning so far.
It all looks fantastic on the website yet it's a lot of money to commit if it's not the right course.

Bondlady---- it seems your very kind gesture has become quite popular.
I wonder if you could possibly send me a sample of the course material too.
As the feel I get from this thread is that it's not all its made out to be.

Thanks to everyone for any feedback
[email protected]

[Maranello4]

Hi Neilm500 I contacted Bondlady too but haven't heard anything so not sure whether they are still active on this site. One thing I did so last week was to contact the Coaching Academy with a range of questions I had. The only thing they haven't come back on is around their alumni who specifically work as Executive Coaches. There are lots listed on their site but when you go into the specific detail (e.g. through their separate websites or LinkedIn profiles) they are Life Coaches. Will keep you posted as to when I hear anything back...

[Neilm5000]

Hi Maranello4Thanks for reply. I was looking at CA because I really enjoyed the experience of the free weekend. Felt very dynamic. My thoughts really are about whether to go for a more formal course/qualification with an eye on future proofing myself as one day coaching could become regulated in the same way other therapies have in recent years. Will also keep you post on anything I come across.

[restlessat50]

sherry RB - can you advise who you trained with as put off CA from all the bad press. I am a healthcare professional looking to add to my portfolio of skills and would prefer an acreditated qualification if possible