#008 From Fashion to Foundations: My Journey Through Coaching Certification

My Coaching Certification Experience

A personal journey from fashion industry professional to certified Co-Active coach, exploring the transformative process of coaching certification and discovering the power of authentic personal development

This week marks the end of my certification journey, and wow - what a rollercoaster it's been from July 2024 until now! Between questioning if I was doing the right thing, wondering if I was good enough, and comparing myself to others, I've had plenty of visits from my inner saboteur (I call her Queenie) throwing shade from the corner. But this journey has brought so many discoveries about myself, my reactive behaviours, and my communication style. As I've learned, doing this deep personal work isn't just about becoming a better coach - it's essential for being able to authentically support my clients.

What's kept me going, even when Queenie was at her loudest? Watching my clients build strong foundations and begin their journeys toward the lives they want. Their transformations remind me why I pushed forward. I realised that I understand the possibility of change so deeply because I've lived it - not just in these past 15 months of certification, but in all the years leading up to starting my coaching journey.

Why I Chose Co-Active Coaching

With so many coaching institutes out there, choosing the right one is crucial. I selected Co-Active because their training methods and philosophy deeply resonated with me. Their approach looks at the whole picture of someone's life - their purpose, values, and dreams. They understand that while direct goals like getting a new job or losing weight matter, these objectives should support a bigger life purpose. In our busy world of constant doing, they emphasise the importance of slowing down to connect with ourselves.

Understanding the Co-Active Model

What sets Co-Active apart is their focus on the 'being' and 'doing' aspects of life. The 'Co' represents being - our internal world, our values, and who we are at our core. The 'Active' represents doing - taking action, making changes, and moving forward. This balance helped me understand why some of my clients might be highly successful in their careers (the 'Active') but still feel disconnected or unfulfilled (the 'Co').

Through my Co-Active training, I've learned powerful tools which help clients see different perspectives on their lives. The Co-Active model also emphasises that coaching isn't just about forward movement - sometimes it's about dancing with what's present, exploring the depths of an emotion or situation before moving to action. I've seen this work beautifully with clients who come seeking immediate solutions but discover that taking time to truly understand their patterns and values leads to more sustainable change.

Personal Transformations and Discoveries

This journey hasn't completely flipped my life 360 degrees, but it's been more like looking through a kaleidoscope - shifting and reshaping my perspective on all my important relationships. Some revelations have been truly surprising (who knew I was still carrying stuff from when I was nine years old?). The most powerful realisation has been understanding that all people are Naturally Creative, Resourceful, and Whole. I don't need to solve problems for my clients - they know themselves better than anyone else. When asked the right questions and given space, they discover their own answers.

Understanding values has been transformative for me. When we identify and connect with our values, we often realise why certain situations or behaviours trigger such strong reactions. This awareness allows us to build boundaries around our values, giving us clarity when they're challenged and helping us respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

Finding Your Coach

If you're considering working with a coach, here's what you should know:

- Check credentials - just as you would with a doctor. Look for ICF accreditation.

- Have multiple chemistry/discovery calls. Some people will connect with me instantly, others won't - and that's perfectly fine! You need someone you can trust and feel safe with.

- Don't automatically choose the easy option. Coaching should challenge you - it's deep work in service of creating the life you really want.

- Be clear about what you want from coaching and who you want to become.

What to Expect from Coaching Sessions

In our initial discovery session, we'll explore what brings you to coaching, your goals, and motivations. Subsequent sessions begin with reflecting on previous learnings before diving into your chosen topic. Sometimes there are immediate "aha" moments; other times, we work through perspectives gradually. Every session ends with accountability steps.

The real magic happens between sessions when you take these insights into your everyday life.

The Path to ICF Certification

I'm at 170 hours of coaching (where has that time gone?), with 30 more hours needed before taking my oral examination for Co-Active and ICF certification. It's an exhilarating start to what I know will be a lifelong journey.

Balancing this journey with my full-time fashion work hasn't been easy, but the revelations have been worth it. I've left a lot of baggage at left luggage (and anyone who knows me knows I usually travel with heavy cases of samples!). I'm incredibly proud of this achievement and ready for what's next.

To close with a favourite Jim Rohn quote: "Your life doesn't get better by chance, it gets better by change."

Book a Discovery Call, drop me a mail Karen@thefoundationstudio.co.uk to learn more about how coaching could transform your life.

Are you interested in starting your own coaching journey?  to learn more about my coaching programmes and how we could work together.