Philosophy, Approach, Methodology, ICF certification

Philosophy: The “Coaching Caravan” ensures diversity of experiences

Nova Terra applies the “Coaching Caravan” principle established by the leaders of the European ICF Chapters, including Sylviane and Viviane, in 2004. The “Coaching Caravan” involves the sharing of knowledge and the exchange of coaching practices, speakers and workshop and seminar facilitators between countries.

Nova Terra trainers move from one campus to another to share their experiences, enabling participants to benefit from the discovery of different approaches to coaching in other environments. The exchanges are inter-continental. For the first level of training, there are at least two coaches of different nationalities, increased to three or four nationalities by Level 3.

Approach: an ongoing process

All course participants receive a complete package that includes:

• Group supervision and coaching practice  – several days where you can practice “in an aquarium” under the supervision of Master Coaches and bring cases from your professional practice;
• Ongoing support – each participant benefits from an individual learning coach;  specific issues are addressed by e-mail or telephone;
• A intervision by your peers – between each module you will practice the suggested exercises with at least two other participants in the program to ensure full understanding of the subjects taught – your learning coach accompanies you during the whole process
• An individual personal and professional development plan – the culmination of your journey in this program, which will be followed up by a Master Coach

Methodology

‘Learning by doing’ is the educational method implemented by Nova Terra. The classes are experiential, punctuated by numerous demonstrations by Master Coaches allowing modelling and immediate practical exercises.
The modules are largely structured as follows:

• Demonstration
• Debriefing of the demonstration to learn how to observe and conceptualize
• Immediate practice in groups of two (coach-coachee) or three (coach-coachee-observer).
• The trainers are assisted by coaches who monitor the practical work to ensure that sub-groups feel fully supported during classes.

In addition, all programs are punctuated with supervised practice. Participants are constantly ‘drilled’ on how to coach the “ICF way” in order to facilitate achievement of certification, followed by feedback on their coaching and suggested coaching strategies by an MCC or a PCC.

ICF Certification

The ICF offers three levels of certification:

ACC – Associated Certified Coach, which accustoms the coach to the certification system. To pass, the coach must show 60 hours of coaching-specific training, 10 hours of supervision, 100 hours of practice and pass an oral examination (20-30-minute coaching with an official ICF Assessor).
PCC – Professional Certified Coach, the coach becomes a professional, demonstrating 125 hours of coaching specific training, 10 hours of supervision and 750 hours of practice.
MCC – Master Certified Coach, the coach reaches master level, having completed 200 hours of training, 10 hours supervision and 2500 hours of practice.

Nova Terra prepares coaches for the first two levels of ICF certification:

ACC with the Level 1 course – upon completion, the coach is ready to pass the ICF certification at ACC level, although 100 hours of practice must be achieved before receiving official certification from the ICF.
PCC with the Level 2 course – this course is completed by a written examination, submission of a short thesis and a real-life coaching session that leads to certification Level 2 – The Practice of Coaching.

Following this course, the coach is ICF competence-certified at PCC level. When 100 hours of practice are reached, he automatically receives ACC certification and when he completes 750 hours of client practice, he then automatically receives the ICF certification at PCC level (for details, see the website www.coachfederation.org).

The “Executive & Team Coaching” program is a series of Master Classes offered to coaches who have pursued at least 100 hours of coaching education and who work as Executive coaches. Accredited as ACTP, this program also leads to the ICF certification at PCC  level.