Keep Your Skills Sharp with Coaching Skills Lab
New coaching skills can wane if neglected–this is the place to keep them polished.
Maintain Connection With Your Coaching Abilities
Coaching Skills Lab (CSL) provides no frills and no homework – but big learning in coaching skills training. This elective is designed specifically for those who have completed through at least Coaching Essentials, so that they can continue to work with a trainer to practice coaching skills and build coaching experience and self-assurance.
If you are continuing in the Foundation Training Program–or any training that will build on your coaching skills–this lab will provide a connection to coaching principles and methods between foundation courses. The CSL course is also a great place to gain the confidence to take your coaching beyond the classroom.
Although not required for certification, this course is highly recommended for students who have completed the Coaching Essentials training as a bridge to the next required course–Strengths-Based Coaching, or between any Foundation courses.
Foundation Training Curriculum
The training
What You’ll Learn in Coaching Skills Lab
In each class, at least one coaching session takes place with a student coach and client. The trainer and other participants serve as active observers. The trainer pauses the coaching session one or more times to realign the process – or ask each observer to offer a point of curiosity, powerful question, or possible direction. The client is often asked to comment on the most promising line of inquiry.
Real-Time Experience
Practice and observe actual coaching on authentic issues
Get Feedback
Receive feedback from your trainer and classmates, and learn about helpful ways to share observations
Be Coached
Core Competencies
Class-led discussion of specific ICF Core Coaching Competencies
Coaching Skills Lab
Class Details & Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more about the Coaching Skills Lab, explore scheduling information here along with responses to frequently asked questions below.
Class Format
Online, live sessions – no Skills Building Groups or homework
Time Commitment
4 weeks with 1 ¾ hours of class time per session.
Course Schedule
Winter 2026 dates: February 4 – 25, 2026
Time: 1:00 to 2:45 pm Eastern (except for February 11, 1:45 to 3:30 pm Eastern)
Register here by January 21, 2026
Continuing Education Hours
Number of credit hours earned by completing this course:
- Up to 7 Continuing Education Units (CEU); each class earns 1.75 CEUs
- Up to 7 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Hours or Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH)
Course Fee
$300
Class Schedules
2025-2026 Foundation Training Schedule
To complete the entire Foundation Training program, you must complete five sequential required courses. Elective courses are optional.
Coaching Essentials Calendar 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Coaching Essentials (CE) | Thursdays | Jan 22 - March 12, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | Closed | Get Started → |
| Wednesdays | April 15 - June 3, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | April 1, 2026 |
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| Wednesdays | Aug 19 - Oct 7, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | Aug 5, 2026 |
Coaching Essentials is the pre-requisite course for the four other courses that make up the Foundation Training program. It may also be taken as a stand-alone class as a comprehensive introduction and understanding of coaching skills and methodologies.
Register for this course individually or as part of the two-course intro training package.
Strengths-Based Coaching Schedule 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Strengths-Based Coaching (SBC) | Tuesdays | March 31 - April 28, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | March 17, 2026 | Register for Spring 2026 |
Tuesdays | July 28 - Aug 25, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | July 14, 2026 | Register for Summer 2026 |
Strengths-Based Coaching is the second of the five foundation courses. It reinforces and builds on the coaching skills taught in Coaching Essentials. Registration includes access to the SBC Coaches Learning Lab (on-line learning center for forums, trainer communication, access to training materials and participant profiles) and a copy of the e-book: The Processing Modalities Guide: Identify and Use Specific Strengths for Better Functioning.
Register for this course individually or as part of the four-course package.
Brain-Based Coaching Schedule 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | Brain-Based Coaching (BBC) | Tuesdays | Sept 2 - Oct 14, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30pm ET | Aug 19, 2025 | Register for Summer 2026 Register for Fall 2026 |
Mondays | June 1 - July 6, 2026 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET | May 18, 2026 |
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Tuesdays | Sept 15 - Oct 20, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | Sept 2, 2026 |
Brain-Based Coaching is the third of the five required foundation courses which must be taken in order. It builds on the coaching skills and strategies taught in Coaching Essentials and Strengths-Based Coaching. Registration includes access to the Brain-Based Coaches Learning Lab (on-line learning center for forums, trainer communications, access to training materials, and participant profiles).
Register for this course individually or as part of the three-course package.
Life & ADHD Coaching Schedule 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | Life & ADHD Coaching (LAC) | Thursdays | Jan 15 - Feb 19, 2026 | 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET | Jan 2, 2026 | Register for Winter 2026 |
Thursdays | Aug 27 - Oct 1, 2026 | 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET | Aug 13, 2026 | Register for Fall 2026 |
Life & ADHD Coaching is the fourth of the five foundation program courses. The pre-requisites are Coaching Essentials, Strengths-Based Coaching, and Brain-Based Coaching. Registration includes access to the LAC Coaches Learning Lab (on-line learning center for forums, trainer communications, access to training materials, and participant profiles), and the ebook, Curious Accountabtility by Cameron Gott, PCC, and Casey Moore, PCC, CPLC, CPO®.
Register for this course individually (or previously as part of the three-course package or the four-course package).
Coach Integration Schedule 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | Coach Integration (CI) | Thursdays | March 26 - April 23, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | March 12, 2026 | Register for Spring 2026 |
| Thursdays | Oct 29 - Nov 19, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | Oct 15, 2026 | Register for Fall 2026 |
Coach Integration is the fifth and last required foundation course. The pre-requisites are Coaching Essentials, Strengths-Based Coaching, Brain-Based Coaching, and Life & ADHD Coaching. Registration includes access to the Coach Integration Coaches Learning Lab (on-line learning center for forums, trainer communication, access to training materials and participant profiles).
You may register for this course individually or after Strenths-Based Coaching as part of the three-course foundation package.
Foundation Training Electives Schedule 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elective | Coaching Skills Lab (CSL) | |||||
| Cultivating Coaching Courage (CCC) | Mondays | Sept 8 - Oct 13, 2025 | 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ET | Aug 25, 2025 | Register for Winter 2026 Fall 2026 coming soon |
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| Tuesdays | Feb 3 - March 10, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | Jan 20, 2026 |
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| Tuesdays | Aug 25 - Sept 29, 2026 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET | Aug 11, 2026 | |||
| Client Enrollment: Best Practices (CEBP) | Wednesdays | July 29, Aug 12 & 26, 2026 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm ET | July 14, 2026 | Register for Summer 2006 |
Full Schedule of Foundation Training Courses 2026
| # | Course Name | Weekday | Dates | Time | Register By | Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Coaching Essentials (CE) | Thursdays | Jan 22 - March 12, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | Closed | Get Started → |
| Wednesdays | April 15 - June 3, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | April 1, 2026 |
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| Wednesdays | Aug 19 - Oct 7, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | Aug 5, 2026 | |||
| 02 | Strengths-Based Coaching (SBC) | Tuesdays | March 31 - April 28, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | March 17, 2026 | Register for Spring 2026 Register for Summer 2026 |
| Tuesdays | July 28 - Aug 25, 2026 | 1:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | July 14, 2026 | |||
| 03 | Brain-Based Coaching (BBC) | Tuesdays | Sept 2 - Oct 14, 2025 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | Aug 19, 2025 | Register for Summer 2026 Register for Fall 2026 |
| Mondays | June 1 - July 6, 2026 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET | May 18, 2026 | |||
| Tuesdays | Sept 15 - Oct 20, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | Sept 2, 2026 | |||
| 04 | Life & ADHD Coaching (LAC) | Thursdays | Jan 15 - Feb 19, 2026 | 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET | Jan 2, 2026 | Register for Winter 2026 |
| Thursdays | Aug 27 - Oct 1, 2026 | 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET | Aug 13, 2026 | Register for Fall 2026 | ||
| 05 | Coach Integration (CI) | Thursdays | March 26 - April 23, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | March 12, 2026 | Register for Spring 2026 |
| Thursdays | Oct 29 - Nov 19, 2026 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET | Oct 15, 2026 | Register for Fall 2026 |
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| Elective | Coaching Skills Lab (CSL) | |||||
| Elective | Cultivating Coaching Courage (CCC) | Mondays | Sept 8 - Oct 13, 2025 | 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ET | Aug 25, 2025 | Register for Winter 2026 Fall 2026 coming soon |
| Tuesdays | Feb 3 - March 10, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET | Jan 20, 2026 |
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| Tuesdays | Aug 25 - Sept 29, 2026 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET | Aug 11, 2026 | |||
| Elective | Client Enrollment: Best Practices (CEBP) | Wednesdays | July 29, Aug 12 & 26, 2026 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm ET | July 14, 2026 | Register for Summer 2006 |
Learn From the Best in the Field
Our instructors bring proven experience and expertise in coaching, productivity, and understanding neurodiversity, ensuring that you receive industry best training. Your Coaching Skills Lab trainer is committed to teaching the skills that set our students apart; ensuring that every lesson is grounded in practical, real-world insights; and providing unwavering support to help you build a fulfilling coaching career.
Sara Skillen, PCC, COLC, CNC
Director of Education
Sara Skillen
Sara is the owner and Director of Education for Coach Approach Training Institute. She earned her Certified Organizer Life Coach credential in 2022, her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with ICF in 2023, and her Certified Neurodiversity Coach credential in 2024.
Trainers & Staff
Our Team
Our instructors are not only seasoned coaches, but also authors, content creators, award-winners, and trailblazers in their respective fields. They balance leading with a deep commitment to and knowledge of our rigorous curriculum with supportive and inclusive learning environments.
Testimonials
Success Stories from Our Students
Hear from students who’ve transformed their careers and clients’ lives through Coach Approach Training Institute’s Coaching Skills Lab classes.
