Equity in Coaching Practitioner

The field of coaching, like many others, is grappling with critical questions about representation, accessibility, and the need to broaden its understanding and methodologies to serve diverse communities better.

The Equity in Coaching Practitioner Course is an eight-week program designed for coaches who want to strengthen their ability to work effectively across identity, culture, and context. This course takes a systems-based approach, including grappling with systems of oppression (race, gender, ability, sexuality, etc).

In an experiential and reflective learning environment, participants will develop transformative, innovative practices to enhance their competency in applying equity and systems perspectives to coaching.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand key EDIB (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) terminology, including the latest International Coaching Federation competencies.
• Identify strategies to practice emotional regulation when facing discomfort.
• Name your social/cultural identity within broader systems and contexts.
• Enhance your awareness of the role of social identity and different forms of power in human interactions.
• Recognize and understand how systems of oppression manifest in your life and the lives of those you serve.
• Examine the impact of socialization, privilege, and colonization on the coaching fields.
• Apply equity-informed strategies to build racial and equity literacy in your practice.
• Develop actionable strategies to incorporate an equity and race-informed perspective into your coaching.

Who is the course for?

This course will be beneficial to you if you are:

• An experienced coach: you have a credential from an accredited coach training school, coaches with an ICF credential, and coaches who have completed coach training, but do not have a professional credential.
• Ready to build and strengthen your capacity in applying an equity and systems perspective to your coaching.
• Prepared to challenge your biases, shift your understanding, and evolve your coaching practice.

Course outline

Throughout each week, participants will engage in multiple learning methods to support practical application and skill development. Each week participants will:

• Review content, articles, and videos in preparation for the live sessions
• Complete assignments as required, share learning reflections, and engage in peer conversations
• Attend a live group session through Zoom to learn new skills and connect with other learners and instructors in real time
• Work with a 'client' of their choosing, practicing and developing skills learned.

WEEK 1: Creating the Container

The first week sets the stage for the learning journey by emphasizing connection and community. Participants create a foundational container for their learning experience, engaging with key equity-related frameworks and terminology. The module also covers essential ICF coaching competencies.

WEEK 2: Belonging, Safety & Identity

Week 2 focuses on the collective need for belonging, safety, and identity, as well as the consequences of exclusion. Strategies are explored for fostering a sense of belonging in coaching conversations.

WEEK 3: Emotional Literacy for Equity-Centered Practice

Week 3 centers on developing emotional literacy for equity-centered coaching. Participants identify their social and cultural identities within larger systems, learn to recognize emotional discomfort from various perspectives, practice emotional regulation, and adopt equity-informed approaches to deepen racial and equity literacy.

WEEK 4: Socialization, Bias & Power

Week 4 invites participants to reflect on their personal socialization and its impact on coaching. Key themes include the influence of power, privilege, and colonization on interpersonal dynamics and decision-making, with a focus on how social identity shapes professional approaches.

WEEK 5: Taking Power Out of the Shadows

Week 5 offers an in-depth exploration of power, providing opportunities to name, examine, and shift power dynamics. Participants build power literacy at various levels - from individual interactions to systemic structures - and increase awareness of how power operates in professional and social contexts.

WEEK 6: Systems Thinking: Grappling with Whiteness

Week 6 highlights a system of power known as Whiteness. Participants examine how Whiteness manifests within individuals, coaching practices, and workplaces. White-identifying participants explore how privilege may influence their coaching, while Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour participants reflect on navigating and potentially perpetuating dominant cultural norms.

WEEK 7: DEQ Practice

Week 7 provides opportunities to integrate an equity and race-informed lens into coaching and leadership practices. Participants engage in coaching exercises, practice active listening, receive feedback, and reflect on growth areas to strengthen their skills.

WEEK 8: Reflections & Application: Moving Forward with Impact

Week 8 focuses on reflection and application. Participants share their Community Impact Projects (CIP) and articulate their plans for moving forward as coaches and leaders committed to equity-informed practices.

How am I assessed?

Your instructors assess your assignments and engagement throughout the program and your Community Impact Project (CIP) with a focus on:

• How you apply the learning as demonstrated in peer-to-peer discussions and assignments
• How you apply the learning from the program into action with clients
• A presentation on your CIP highlighting specific insights, frameworks and mindsets you used with clients
• A self-reflection demonstrating your transformation journey

Expected Effort

To be successful in this course, plan for five to six hours of work per week for eight weeks. This includes participating in live weekly 2-hour sessions, watching videos, reading, completing assignments, engaging in peer-to-peer discussions and client work.

Technology requirements

To take this course, you’ll need access to:

• an email account
• a computer, laptop or tablet under five years old using Windows or macOS with access to a video camera and microphone
• the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release) a reliable internet connection.

Course format

This course is 100% online and instructor supported with real-time classes. Live weekly online sessions are mandatory and held on Thursdays from 10am to 12pm Pacific Time.

Join these weekly live sessions with your instructors and fellow learners via video conference to engage in discussions, shared insights and participate in coaching triads. This is a valuable opportunity to practice new skills and receive real time feedback. You will also engage with your peers asynchronously between live sessions on Canvas to engage in peer-to-peer discussions and complete readings and assignments.

You can expect to experience embodied practices like Social Presencing Theatre and trauma-informed restorative and resourcing practices. To get the full benefit of these frameworks, we recommend you have your video camera on, and ensure you have a private space where you can easily move around.