For anyone who feels that coaching skills are going to be beneficial to their (professional) lives.
It is for everyone wishing to learn beneficial skills and tools in order to effectively help others to better deal with their life challenges.
It’s introducing you to the basic theory, tools, and skills needed for a coach.
Whether you wish to use coaching skills in order to become a professional coach,
use it as an additional skill in your current career
or just use it with people who you care for, (or even just for your own personal development), this is the course you need.
At the end of this foundation phase, you’ll have a concrete knowledge of theory and practice on how to help people achieve more and help themselves.

Foundation for Coaching course is for you if:
- You are a “people person” who wants to gain skills of how to help other people better deal with their challenges in life
- You enjoy what we call a “hands-on” style of training, where we enjoy learning by practising and by doing alongside theory
- You wish to experience personal and professional growth
- You want to add coaching and communication tools to a current job (managers, educators, volunteers etc.)
- You want to add coaching and communication tools to use in your life (as a parent, a partner etc.)
- You value diversity and multiculturalism, and you appreciate a supportive and non-judgmental environment
- You want to start a career as a coach (this is indeed the perfect first step to creating a solid understanding and practice of the profession)
- You want to check if coaching people professionally is indeed the right path for yo
In this course, you learn the main tools and skills that coaches need to be able to bring the person who they’re supporting through a meaningful process to their desired place in their life.
Coaching is a practical profession, and therefore, are courses are very much ‘hands-on’, and based on observing the trainers and the right from the first day, practising a lot in class, getting the support from out staff and this way, advancing quickly with confidence.
We learn to empower other people and help them see their path in a clearer way, so they can take control over their lives and their decisions.
We do that through discussions, practising and documenting our journey.
Phase 1 consists of 2 modules:
Module A- Foundation for Coaching – Introduction
In which we learn tools and skills and basic theory which help us helping other people.
We’ll concentrate on:
- Active listening
- Adaptive listening
- Effective questioning
- Empathising
- Building trust
- Feedback giving
- Ethics
- Goal setting
- Working with healthy boundaries
- Empowering
All these tools and skills will be discussed in class and practiced in a safe and confidential environment, so you can feel calm and supported.
We’ll learn how to empower and help someone else to be proactive, take responsibility, and go through a meaningful (healing) process in their life: This can mean overcoming certain challenges or achieving certain desired goals.
We’ll use ‘The Skilled Helper’ model as our main instrument to learn how to assist another person in getting from point A to a more preferred point B in their lives.
The beauty of the coaching profession is that it relies not only on skills and tools but also on the personality and the ability of the coach to bring themselves into the coaching relationship. It is important that we also start exploring who we are, what are our strengths, what are our own abilities and what is important to us.
Assessments during and at the end of Module A:
- Via ongoing observation and constructive feedback throughout the course
- Ongoing recording of your journey via a “Written Reflection Document”
- Passing a Professional Knowledge Assessment at the end of Phase 1 Module A (done online, around 1 hour long).
- Optional: Passing an interview with the trainers (for those who’d like to proceed to Module B).
Module B – Foundation for Coaching – Practicum–
Students will start seeing people from outside the course in order to practise different coaching skills, and assist them with not too complicated issues.
This is done in order to gain confidence that you know how to offer effective help and that you’re doing it in a safe and meaningful way, leading to later becoming a coach.
Please pay attention that a short interview with the trainers is required before starting this module. We only accept students who have shown enough growth and seriousness during Module A and acted in a way that is expected from a (future) coach.
During this module you’ll need to:
- Give 50 hours of practising coaching skills with people from outside the course and as you gain confidence, give some basic coaching sessions to people with not too complicated issues (and with at least 4 different clients)
- Participate in a minimum of 4 intervision (=group supervision) sessions (2-3 hours each)
- Write 1 case study of 1000 words
- Get at least 3 coaching hours for yourself with a qualified coach
- Get at least 3 hours of outside supervision
Assessments during and at the end of Module B:
- Via assignments throughout the course
- Ongoing recording of your journey via a “Written Reflection Document” and other reflection methods
- Presenting forms filled and signed by the people you worked with, and outside coach and supervisor
- Submitting 1 case study
- Fill in the competencies 1-30 of the EMCC coaching competencies at Foundation level
Where?
Module A – Foundation for Coaching – Introduction – This part is given in class (real or virtual), in a small and supportive group.
Our face-to-face courses location:
In Zandvliet Lyceum, Bezuidenhoutseweg 40, 2594 AW Den Haag.
See map in contact: It is 5 minutes’ walk from Den Haag Centraal
There’s free street parking on evenings and weekends.
Our online courses are given in a virtual classroom, using Zoom.
The students and the trainers are all present together in the room at the same time (you’re not studying the lessons on your own), and the training is given as if we were meeting in a physical classroom.
When ‘hands-on’ exercises are given, the students are split into pairs or small groups, and the trainers and assistants can join the groups for participating and giving supportive feedback, so the feeling is not much different from our physical training.
When is the next Phase 1 starting?
The next intake of Phase 1 of the International Coaching Diploma Course:
Face-to-face intake in The Hague (Phase 1 Module A)
October 2023 – December 2023
Saturdays 10:00 to 17:00 CET (5 training days in total).
Course dates:
29 Oct. 2023
11 Nov. 2023
25 Nov. 2023
09 Dec. 2023
16 Dec. 2023
In addition to that, we accompany your studies for an extra month to support you in completing the course tasks.
When can I start Module B (Practicum)?
Phase 1, Module B – Foundation for Coaching – Practicum – This part of the course is done at your own pace (seeing people to practise with, getting coaching for yourself, and seeing a supervisor you do at your own time). You’ll also be meeting the trainers for intervision and other meetings during this part. The times for these meetings will be shared with those who are enrolled.
In Module B we support you online.
You’ll need to choose when to participate in online intervision sessions (these are offered periodically throughout the year. The dates will be shared with you when you start this part of the course).
You can start this part as soon as you’ve finished Phase 1 Module A (after the interview with the trainers to confirm suitability to do your practicum with The ICCI).
Please be aware that we do not accept you automatically to Module B. We need to see that you’ve demonstrated enough growth and that you’re ready to take your first steps with people outside the course as their helpers. Please don’t worry: most students pass on to Module B, however, some will not (and they’ll know about it enough in advance).
Entry requirements:
For entering Phase 1, Module A – Foundation for Coaching – Introduction: No special requirements. We do however ask you to take this questionnaire to make sure that you’re ready to start your journey in the world of coaching.
For entering Phase 1, Module B – Foundation for Coaching – Practicum: Completion of Phase 1, Module A, showing enough growth and development + an interview with the trainers.
The breakdown of the courses hours:
Module A – Foundation for Coaching – Introduction:
This module consists of:
- 30 hours of in-class or online training
- 10 hours of peer studying
- Participating in online Q+A sessions (when needed)
- 1-hour end-of-course exam
- Approx. 50 hours of:
Reading course materials
Filling in reflection forms
Preparation and planning
We believe that on top of the actual training days/evenings, you’ll have to dedicate 3-5 hours a week more, to ensure that you’re on top of all the course requirements, so please make sure that you have this time on your hands.
Module B – Foundation for Coaching – Practicum:
This module consists of:
- 50 hours of practising coaching skills, working with people from outside the course (and when ready, trying coaching real clients with not too complicated issues (with at least 5 different people)
- 4 intervision (=group supervision) sessions (2-3 hours each)
- Submitting 1 case study
- Getting at least 3 coaching hours for yourself
- Getting at least 4 hours of Outside supervision
- Filling in the competencies 1-30 (if not finished during the course)
- Approx. 50 hours of:
Filling in reflection forms
Preparation and planning - Filling in competencies 1-30 of the EMCC
Bibliography:
Materials that you’ll be receiving during the course, and will be sent to you as the course progresses.
Recognition of the Diploma:
We have prepared this document for you, with an explanation about the diploma:
ICCI’s Explanatory Note regarding the Diploma
Trainers:
Our trainers have been audited and registered with the Dutch CRKBO (The Central Register for Vocational Education) to assure the high quality of their work, and hold their quality mark:
See more about the trainers here
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
We’ve put together as many answers as possible to questions that people just like you asked us in the past. We hope this will shed as much light as possible on any question you might have:ICCI’s FAQ about the International Coaching Diploma Course
We’re always happy to answer in person too. There are no silly questions: if it bothers you. we prefer that you ask and we’ll answer for
Prices:
Phase 1 Module A: Foundation for Coaching – Introduction
Regular price: €1425
With the early registration discount: €1275 (up to 1 month before the course starts).
★ Can be paid in one single transaction or 3 monthly instalments of €475 / €425 with the early registration discount.
Phase 1 Module B: Foundation for Coaching – Practicum
€945
★ Can be paid in one single transaction or 3 monthly instalments of €315
Early registration discount:
Register no later than 1 calendar month before the start of Phase 1 Module A, to enjoy this discount.
For the next courses, it is April 20th, 2023 for the Online course starting May 20th, 2023.
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More important information:
- A one-time non-refundable registration fee of €50 will be added to each Module of the Phase 1 fees (unless you’re taking Module B back-to-back after Module A, then you don’t need to pay the registration fee again).
- Your place on the course will be secured only after we receive your payment. If paying in instalments, the first instalment will secure your place and must be paid before you start the course.
- Payment in even smaller instalments is possible: If you really need help with breaking down the payments even more, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Money should never be the barrier between you and your dreams, and we’ll look at a different payment plan for you.
- Payment can be done via bank transfer or via a link that will be sent to you with the invoice. International transfers are possible, please talk to us.
- The reading materials we send you are included in the price.
- Any examination is included in the price.
- The certificate and the diploma are included in the price.
- Prices do not include the fees for seeing an external independent coach or an external independent supervisor which you’ll need to see as part of your Module B Practicum training (but there are ways to get these coaching and supervision hours free of charge: we’ll explain during the course).
- Is your work paying for you? then please pay attention:
1. Any of the described discounts will not be applicable.
2. Companies need to pay for the course in one instalment (if your allowance from work is lower than the full fee/s, please talk to us for special arrangements).
For Phase 1, Module A – Foundation for Coaching – Introduction
- Send us an email to info@theicci.com explaining your motivation to join Module A.
- We’ll look at it, and then will send you The ICCI Welcome Pack which includes a few documents about the course, a registration form, and all the payment options to choose from.
- You send it back to us, and we’ll send you a confirmation and an invoice with your choice.
- Once you’ve paid, that’s it, you’re registered.
It’s that simple.
If there are still places on the course, you’ll receive a confirmation email followed by an invoice according to your choice of payment method.
Welcome to the ICCI.
★ Please pay attention that we operate a first-come-first served system.
For Phase 1, Module A – Foundation for Coaching – Practicum
This will be shared with students towards the end of Module A and after their interview to advance to this module.
Do you have any questions? Not sure if you’re the right person for the course?
We’re at the end of a phone call:
You can book a conversation session via this link: Book an intake conversation.
Or you can contact us to request an intake session using our email info@theicci.com or phone number 0650499646 to set a time.

More Explanation about this course:
Phase 1 has two separate modules
Phase 1, Module A – Foundation for Coaching – Introduction
Learn the basic skills of coaching
In module A:
- You learn in a group of like-minded people who want to learn coaching theory, tools, and helpful skills.
- You practise the tools step-by-step until you’re assured to use them.
It’s a ‘hands-on’ type of course, with ample demonstrations, practical exercises, peer work, and personal support. - We create a supportive and caring environment to allow as much development and growth.
You learn:
- How to help people effectively
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- The ability to guide people toward their goals
Module A outcomes:
- Being a confident skilled helper.
- Knowing how to take another person through a meaningful journey of growth and change.
- Being able to start practising your new skills with people from outside the course.
- At the end of Phase 1 Module A: Foundation, students who will successfully complete all course requirements will receive a Certificate of participation.
- Graduates will be granted access to our reputable Alumni community.

Phase 1, Module B – Foundation for Coaching – Practicum
Apply and practise coaching skills
In module B:
- You take the theory, tools and skills you gained in Module A into practice with actual people (from outside the course).
- You are being supported by the trainers and peers via dedicated periodical meetings and other means of communication.
- You offer simple coaching sessions. When ready, you may try to offer proper coaching sessions to real clients.
- You are starting to act like a real coach. This means that you’ll find yourself a supervisor and get some coaching for yourself to know what it is like to be coached.
You learn:
- Effective ways to help different types of people
- To use the right tools and skills at the right time
- How to conduct yourself as a coach
Module B outcomes:
- It will allow you to be an effective helper in all sorts of aspects in your life: At work, at home and with people you come in contact with
- Knowing enough theory, ethics and ways of working as a budding coach to be able to work in a safe and efficient manner (at Foundation level).
- Some people will be able to offer their services to real clients who bring simple challenges.
- At the end of Phase 1, Module B – Practicum, students who will successfully complete all course requirements will receive a Foundation for Coaching Diploma.
This module is for people who wish to step from what they have learnt in Module A, and make sure that the tools and skills become second nature to them, and part of the everyday ongoing support they’re able to offer.
We recommend taking this module immediately after Module A, especially for those who are intending to carry their studies to form a career path as coaches.
In fact, if becoming a professional qualified coach-practitioner is your goal, and in order to make this module as effective for you, we recommend that you start Phase 2 while still building up the hours of this Module. Those who do so, will be able to see real clients quicker, offer proper coaching sessions, and get better results for themselves and their clients quicker.
You’ll receive your Diploma at Foundation level from Module B during Phase 2, and then carry on to your higher diploma as a qualified coach practitioner at the end of Phase 2.
You can also take this module without advancing to Phase 2. It all depends on your wishes and goals, and how you see yourself using your coaching skills: whether as just for day-to-day use (applying coaching skills in your life or work), then this module, which concludes the full Phase 1 is enough, or as a professional coach, and then you advance to Phase 2.
We are offering this Phase 1 both face-to-face in The Hague or online.



FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Our face-to-face courses take place in The Hague, 5 minutes walk from Den Haag Centraal.
There’s free parking on weekends and evenings.
Our online courses are given in a virtual classroom (together as a class and trainers) via Zoom.
- Anyone who’s willing to gain the skills needed to use as a skilled helper, and possibly wish to become a professional coach.
- The students on the course tend to come from countries from all over the world and from different backgrounds, which makes this course ever so interesting.
- We had students who want to change careers and others who want to add coaching skills to an existing one.
- We had people who just wanted to know what coaching is and use it at home or to help themselves and their loved ones.
- We had people as young as in their early 20s to people who are 70+
- Anyone who is able to grasp the theory and participate in the practical group discussions/exercises and who is interested in learning can join.
No, no need for previous studies.
The course is built on existing talent and knowledge. Your life experience is a wonderful thing to start building on, combined with whatever education you have received.
Experience of previous studies will help you in studying the materials and getting organised.
As a main method, we’re focusing on the Person-Centred approach which is part of the humanistic approach. This approach strongly emphasises the believe that the client knows what is good for them, and our job as coaches is to empower them to discover their potential and act upon it.
We find this as the most effective way to help people.
To that we’re adding a large variety of tools and exercises from different working methods, so our students become all-rounded coaches who have the knowledge and skills to work with a diversity of clients.
This allows more choice, lets you become a more eclectic coach.
The average student reports dedicating 3-5 hours per week to their study (outside of the training days) for Phase I, and 5-8 hours per week for Phase 2 (outside of training days, but including seeing clients). This is of course very personal, but please make sure that you have this time available. It can be useful to already start with the literature required even before you start the course.
This course is a “hands on” course. It’s a very practical course.
This means that we mostly learn by doing and experiencing listening skills and coaching tools in order to become professional ourselves.
The theory, the exercises, the books, and other study materials are important as they support your knowledge and you can check if you can get a good understanding of it, but they’re to accompany your practical studies.
At the end of the day, coaching is not about chanting theory, but about doing and being present for someone else.
This is not something you learn from books!
The good thing is of course that if for whatever reason you’re really unable to read the theoretical books, gaining the theoretical knowledge can be done in other ways which we can advise you on if this is an issue (audiobooks or learning with peers, for example, are good ways).
Phase 1 prepares you to become a coach or a skilled helper (in case you don’t add the practicum). Phase 2 goes further to prepare you to become a practitioner: a professional coach. It involves much more practice, and you are actually officially working as a coach-in-training during Phase 2 (and even earning money).
There are many good reasons:
- Our course is tailor-made for internationals.
- Our course focuses on practice, and a lot of it. You work with people (other students) right from the first training day and gradually move on to work by yourself once you’re confident to do so. This is done with our guidance. We combine the theory with practical work;
- We invest in our students and provide a positive and supportive environment for your growth. We have a high ratio of trainers to students (typically 3 members of staff for every group of around 18 students) so you get a lot of ongoing support;
- Our course has a person-centred, humanistic framework and orientation that includes freedom and responsibility;
- Our course offers much attention to personal safety and boundaries, as well as to intellectual stimulation and challenge.
- The skills and insights one can gain in this course, can be immediately useful in daily work/ life and provide a solid basis for further professional development;
- Our trainers are registered and audited by the Dutch CRKBO and all have years of experience both as practitioners and in training adults in various training or academic settings.
For several reasons combined:
- It’s tailor-made for the International community in The Netherlands. After years of teaching internationals, our trainers really understand the unique needs of this community, and have created a course which is focusing on the way this community learns best and cover their needs as coaches who’ll potentially also work elsewhere as coaches;
- We focus on the International community as our target audience: This community has its specific needs, its particular challenges (very often different from the local ones), and we particularly address and highlight this in the course. We learn to work and support this community.
Some issues which are discussed in the International courses we developed are unique to our course and might not even be raised in other courses aimed at Dutch audience; - We use materials and literature which is used in similar courses around the world.
- our trainers come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds and they have experienced themselves being “international” and “multicultural”. They also all work with the international community in the Netherlands and can provide a good example to people who see this community as their target audience once they work;
- Being such an interactive course, the students are playing a vital key in the formation of the course and its outcome;
- Our students are international and therefore the whole process becomes so from the nature of the participants and what they bring to the course.
Our approach, combined with English as the tuition language and the highly international character of the course – which is tailored-made to expats.
The students on the course come from countries from all over the world and from different backgrounds, which makes this course ever so interesting.
The ratio of students to the number of members of staff involved:
We aim for 3 members of staff on each course, so this really is a “boutique” course, with lots of ongoing support.
There is no need for previous studies. The course is built on existing talent and knowledge. Your life experience is a wonderful thing to start building on, combined with whatever education you have received. Experience of previous studies will help you in studying the materials and getting organised.
Admission to the practicum part of Phase 1 (part 2) is conditioned on showing enough growth and suitability to become a coach during part 1 of Phase 1.
Admission to Phase 2 requires completion of Part 1 of Phase 1, and ideally completion of the practicum part too, but you can start it even if you’re still working towards completing the whole of Phase 1.
Technically, at any time because you don’t even need training to call yourself a coach in The NL.
But you chose to train and to gain the needed professional skills, and we congratulate you on this decision. By doing so you already demonstrate your understanding that working ethically and professionally is an important part of being a professional helper (such as coach), and that you’re ready to place yourself on a high standard level as a professional. Well done.
In the course we recommend completing Phase 1 Part 1 before you start seeing real clients.
During that phase you study and practice the most important coaching skills, you learn about the working boundaries, and you gain experience with coaching methods and tools so you’ll be ready and sure of yourself when you see real clients.
Once you have entered Phase1 Part 1 (Practicum), we encourage you to start seeing real clients, (and even charge for the help you provide when you feel ready). In fact, because you have to coach for 50 sessions during the practicum of Phase 1, and 100 sessions more during the practicum of Phase 2, it’s good to start early so we can be there to support you and guide you (and you’ll also need a supervisor).
Our advice is to start with coaching work that concerns clients with relatively simple issues. Don’t worry, we’ll guide you on how to approach such clients – this is part of what we teach.
Because this is free professions, you don’t even need a diploma or any other certificate, or anyone’s permission to work as a coach.
The reality of the market is, however, that people not only train to work as coaches, but they choose to train well in serious courses which include meaningful training combined with many practice hours. It is up to the individual to choose how much and in what way they train themselves before they are confident to see and present themselves as skilled helpers or professional coaches and provide (paid) services.
It’s also important to note that private clients and companies (to which you might be able to offer your services) tend to look for people with knowledge, experience, professional qualifications, and an association with professional bodies/organisations.
Students who took courses with us in the past tell their stories:






