Why Proper Accreditation Matters: My Journey to Becoming an ICF Coach
Why Proper Coaching Accreditation Matters: My Journey as an ICF ACC Coach
I’ve recently passed my ICF ACC (Associate Certified Coach) accreditation, and it’s a milestone I’m deeply proud of. But this isn’t just a personal achievement—it’s about something bigger. I’m passionate about coaching done the right way, and I want to share why I believe proper accreditation and training are so crucial, not just for coaches, but for the clients we serve.
The Coaching Industry: What’s Really Going On?
Coaching as an industry has exploded in recent years, and while that’s great in many ways, it’s also led to a rise in people calling themselves coaches without the necessary skillset. Yes, there are a lot of experts out there with valuable knowledge, but being a coach is more than just offering advice or sharing experiences. Coaching is about helping clients realise their own power, guiding them to find their own answers, and doing it all within ethical boundaries.
This is where accreditation like the ICF ACC comes into play. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) sets high standards for coaching, ensuring that accredited coaches are properly trained in essential skills such as listening, questioning, and supporting clients without imposing our own solutions. It’s about creating a space where clients can truly grow and develop confidence in their own choices.
Why Accreditation Matters
So why does accreditation matter so much? Well, coaching isn’t just about helping someone achieve a goal or solve a problem. It’s about empowering people to connect with their own intuition and wisdom so that, eventually, they don’t need us. That’s the difference between ethical coaching and just giving advice. I don’t want my clients to be reliant on me forever—I want them to experience true freedom, and that comes from self-knowledge and self-trust.
Accreditation through the ICF ensures that I’m equipped with the right tools to support clients in their journey without overstepping or creating a dynamic of dependency. The skills I’ve gained allow me to guide clients in a way that honours their autonomy, helping them bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be.
Freedom Through Coaching: What I Value Most
One of the things I value most in life—and in my coaching practice—is freedom. I believe true freedom comes from knowing yourself, trusting your intuition, and having the confidence to rely on your own decisions. That’s what I want for my clients, and that’s why I became a coach in the first place. We all need support from time to time, especially when we’re trying to evolve, grow, or reach big goals. But I’m not here to make people dependent on me.
When I work with clients, my aim is always to support them in tapping into their own inner strength, so that eventually, they trust themselves enough to move forward without me. That’s why proper accreditation is so important—it’s about giving you the tools and skills to empower others, not control them.
The Power of Ethical Coaching
In an industry that’s filled with self-proclaimed “experts,” it’s more important than ever to ensure that as coaches, we are properly trained and working within ethical guidelines. My ICF ACC accreditation isn’t just a badge I wear; it’s a commitment to my clients that I’m dedicated to practising coaching in a way that’s supportive, ethical, and truly empowering.
At the end of the day, my job isn’t to have all the answers—it’s to help you realise that you already have them. And that’s why this journey to becoming a certified coach means so much to me. It’s about honouring the process, respecting my clients’ autonomy, and always striving to offer the highest level of support.
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