Professional Coaches are not obliged to register with any Association in order to practise Coaching.

Coaches can however, without any obligation, register or set up Associations with the aim of:

Valorising the competences of associates, supervise the respect of deontological rules dictated by the Code of Ethics, facilitate the search for Coaches by Coachees, provide training and refresher courses (continuing education) for their Associates and promote cultural and dissemination initiatives in the field of Coaching.

So Associations have no value in themselves other than the value, honesty, professional preparation and experience of the women and men who make them up. It is not an Association that confers prestige on the Coach, but it must be the Coach who confers prestige on the Association.

An Italian Law of 2013 lays down rules for Unregulated Professions, among which is Coaching (see: Legge 14.01.2013 n°4 Statuto delle professioni non regolamentate).

A Coaching Course can be a combination of both, theoretical and practical, depending on the programme and the training objectives of the institution offering it. Here is a more detailed analysis:

1. Theoretical aspect: In this part of the course, students learn the fundamental concepts of Coaching, including guiding principles, basic coaching skills, theories of change and different Coaching models. This phase may involve lectures, assigned readings, group discussions and teaching materials.
2. Practical aspect: This part of the Course focuses on the practical application of Coaching skills. Students have the opportunity to practise their Coaching skills in simulated sessions or with real clients under the supervision of experienced Coaches. This may include role-plays, one-on-one Coaching exercises and peer feedback.
3. Case studies: Some courses include practical case studies to enable Students to apply the theoretical concepts learned to real coaching situations. Students may analyse previous Coaching cases, examine the challenges encountered and develop strategies to address them in the future.
4. Practical exercises: Students may be required to complete a number of hours of practical coaching with real Clients outside the classroom context. This provides them with the opportunity to apply their Coaching skills in real situations and receive real feedback to improve their skills.

In summary, a Coaching Course usually combines theoretical and practical elements to provide Students with a comprehensive and well-rounded training in the art of Coaching. The combination of theory and practice is essential to prepare Students to become competent and effective Coaches in real life.

In particular, CoachingShapes Courses have a very practical focus and prefer experience in the field to pure theory over a long period of time.
Every concept studied is immediately tested in practice, so as to foster in the Student the predisposition to action and not a "laborious consultation of texts"...
In fact, a human being can never correspond to any "written text", but is a dynamic compendium of differences and diversities that must be matched by a Coach who is attentive and prepared to act practically, in respect of the Coaching methodology.

No, it is not possible because at our Institute, studying Coaching requires regular attendance in the classroom.

Reflect on your goals: Before seeking a Coach, reflect on what you want to achieve from Coaching. Clearly define your goals, the challenges you face and the areas of your life you wish to improve.

Ask for recommendations: Ask for recommendations from family, friends or colleagues who have had positive experiences with coaching. Personal recommendations can be invaluable in finding a reliable and competent coach.

Review Coach profiles: Once you have identified some potential Coaches, review their online profiles or ask them for more information about their experiences, specialisations and coaching approaches.

Schedule an acquaintance session: Many Coaches offer acquaintance sessions for free or at a reduced rate to allow you to assess whether they are the right match for you. Use this opportunity to talk to the Coach, ask questions and assess your connection with them.

Assess your compatibility: During the get-to-know-you session, assess whether the Coach understands your needs, feels comfortable with them and whether you believe they can support you in achieving your goals.

Consider chemistry: Personal chemistry between you and the Coach is important for Coaching success. Choose a Coach with whom you feel comfortable and who inspires confidence and trust in their support.

Conclude an agreement: Once you have found the right Coach for you, discuss the details of the Coaching programme with them, including objectives, duration, cost and payment method. Conclude a clear and transparent agreement before starting the Coaching work.

By following these steps, you can find the right Coach who will help you reach your goals and maximise your potential.

The best way to start the journey to become a Coach depends on your needs, resources, and the goals you want to achieve in your coaching career. However, here are some general steps you may consider:

1. Research and Understanding: First and foremost, try to understand what it means to be a Coach, what skills are required, and whether this field aligns with your passions and abilities.

2. Education and Training: Consider the opportunity to attend training courses or accredited programs in Coaching. These can provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and coaching techniques. Choose a program that is recognized and offers comprehensive and in-depth training.

3. Practice and Personal Development: Start practicing your Coaching skills with friends, family, or volunteers. This practice will help you develop your communication skills, active listening, and session management. Additionally, continue your personal development to gain greater self-awareness and Coaching abilities.

4. Certification and Credentials: Evaluate the opportunity to obtain certification or credentials from recognized organizations in the Coaching field. While not mandatory, it can lend credibility and confidence to your future clients.

5. Supervised Coaching: Look for opportunities for supervised Coaching or mentoring from more experienced Coaches. This will help you receive feedback, improve your skills, and refine your Coaching style.

6. Starting Your Practice: Once you feel ready, start building your coaching practice. You can promote your services through your professional network, create a website, or use online platforms dedicated to Coaching.

7. Continuous Learning: The Coaching field is constantly evolving, so continue to educate yourself, attend workshops, read books, and take refresher courses to stay up to date with the latest trends and methodologies in the industry.

Remember that becoming a Coach takes time, commitment, and constant practice. Be patient with yourself and be open to learning opportunities along your journey.

Yes, if the Course allows it.

Coaching finds application in a wide range of sectors and contexts. Some of the most common areas of application include:

1. Business and leadership: Coaching for executives, managers, entrepreneurs and professionals to improve leadership skills, time management, development of managerial skills and achievement of business goals.
2. Career: Helping individuals identify career goals, develop action plans for career advancement, address career transitions and improve performance in the workplace.
3. Personal and Life: Coaching to improve quality of life, manage stress, improve interpersonal relationships, develop communication skills and find a balance between professional and personal life.
4. Health and Well-Being: Coaching to promote a healthy lifestyle, improve physical fitness, tackle harmful habits, weight loss, manage chronic diseases and improve general well-being.
5. Education and personal Development: Coaching for students, teachers and parents to improve academic performance, develop effective study skills, address educational challenges and support academic success.
6. Sports and Performance: Coaching for athletes and sports teams to improve performance, develop mental resilience, manage pressure and achieve sports goals.
7. Creativity and Artistic Development: Coaching for artists, writers, musicians and creators to stimulate creativity, overcome artistic blocks and reach their full potential in their field.
8. Relationships and Family: Coaching to improve personal relationships, deal with family conflicts, improve communication within the family and develop effective parenting skills.

These are just a few examples of the areas in which coaching can be applied. In general, coaching can be useful in any area where individuals wish to improve, grow and achieve their personal and professional goals.

Yes, each Student will be provided with all the necessary teaching materials for the Course attended.

Of course you can obtain full reimbursement for the hours not used, according to the duration in hours foreseen by that specific Course, minus the part pertaining to taxation (IVA).

Yes, it's always possible to interrupt a Coaching process.

Individuals have the right to terminate Coaching at any time if they feel it's not meeting their needs or if they decide not to continue for any personal reason.

A professional Coach should respect the Coachee's decision and work with them to conclude the process in an appropriate and respectful manner.

At the request of Members and Students, our Institute will provide the annual updates necessary for the renewal of the Certification, which is valid for one year from the date of attainment.

On request, our Institute can offer assistance and support during the first stages of the new Coach's start-up to the profession.

A Training Course for Coaches or Life Coaches is aimed at enthusiasts of interpersonal communication who intend to acquire the skills to become references for motivation in assisting people who pursue the realization of a specific Project. The qualities of patience, calmness, consistency, and perseverance are indispensable.

The qualities of patience, calmness, consistency, and perseverance are indispensable.

The Coach encourages the formation of new skills in the Coachee, along with the growth of self-esteem, self-motivation, and self-discipline.

The Coaching Course is aimed at anyone interested in developing skills in the field of Coaching, including professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, consultants, counselors, and those who wish to pursue a career in Coaching.

No: Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Coaching are not the same thing, although they can be related and used together in certain contexts.

NLP is a discipline that focuses on exploring how the mind and language influence a person's behavior and thought patterns. It is a set of techniques and methodologies designed to improve communication, facilitate personal change, and promote individual growth.

Coaching, on the other hand, is an interactive and collaborative process in which a Coach works with an individual (the Coachee) to help them achieve their goals, develop their potential, and improve their performance in various areas of life, such as professional, personal, or sports. Coaching focuses on listening, empathy, encouragement, and accountability to help the Coachee discover solutions and make progress towards their goals.

While NLP can be used as one of many methodologies in coaching, not all coaches use NLP and vice versa. Both are distinct fields that have unique goals and approaches, although they may overlap in certain aspects.

For an NLP Practitioner, Master Practitioner or Trainer, the ideal path consists on the one hand in acquiring the typical tools of Coaching, and on the other hand in losing the habit of using NLP tools in large doses. The Coach Trainer will teach a correct integration between the two disciplines with a greater tendency to use the Coaching methodology.

Accreditation and Credentials: Ensure that the school is accredited and recognized by reputable Coaching organizations. Also, check the credentials of the instructors. Curriculum: Review the school's curriculum. Make sure it is comprehensive and covers the topics and skills you want to acquire. Teaching Methodology: Evaluate the school's teaching methodology. Look for interactive, practical approaches focused on experiential learning. Practice Opportunities: Verify if the school offers practical Coaching opportunities to practice your skills in a controlled environment. Post-Course Support: Ensure that the school offers ongoing support after the course, such as mentoring sessions or alumni networks. Value for Money: Consider the course cost compared to the value and benefits you will receive. Also, be sure to assess hidden costs.

Remember that there is no universal answer to which is the best Coaching school in Italy, but by carefully choosing based on your personal and professional needs, you can find the one that is right for you.

After attending a Coaching School, there are several opportunities and paths that can be pursued:

Becoming a Professional Coach: You can start your practice as a professional Coach, offering coaching services to individual or corporate clients.

Working in Corporations: Many companies seek internal Coaches or external consultants to provide Executive, Leadership, or Team Coaching to their employees.

Specializing in a Specific Field: You can choose to specialize in a specific field, such as Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Health and Wellness Coaching, Sports Coaching, Educational Coaching, etc.

Training Other Coaches: If you have gained extensive experience in the field of Coaching, you may decide to train other Coaches through training courses or Mentoring.

Integrating Coaching with Other Practices: You can integrate Coaching with other professional practices, such as Counseling, Consulting, Training, Mentoring, etc.

Writing and Speaking: You can write books, articles, or blogs on Coaching and related topics, and participate as a speaker or presenter at conferences, workshops, or events on Coaching.

Other: The possibilities are numerous and depend on your passions, skills, and personal interests. You may choose to combine Coaching with other activities or explore new opportunities in the field of Self-Development and Counseling.

A Coach in Italy most frequently works in the following contexts:

Business Sector: Provides Executive and Leadership Coaching to executives, managers, and teams within companies to improve performance, communication, and staff development.

Professional Sector: Offers Coaching to professionals in various fields, such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, and freelancers, to enhance their skills, productivity, and well-being at work.

Personal Sphere: Works with individuals on an individual basis to address personal challenges, improve motivation, develop self-awareness, and achieve personal goals.

Sports Sector: Provides Sports Coaching to athletes to enhance their performance, confidence, mental focus, and stress management during competition.

Educational Sphere: Works with students, teachers, and parents to improve study skills, manage academic stress, develop motivation, and enhance academic performance.

Wellness Sector: Offers Coaching in the wellness sector to help people achieve health and wellness goals, such as weight loss, stress management, healthy eating, and active lifestyle.

These are just some of the most common contexts in which a Coach works in Italy, but the possibilities are vast and depend on the specific needs and interests of the client.

Studying Coaching at a professional level, rather than amateur, requires time and personal commitment for several months, closely correlated with the type of course chosen. Typically, one should plan for a study time of no less than six months for the Coach Level and no more than 24 months for the Life Coach level.

Unfortunately there are commercial proposals that promise any type of certification in 10 days and 100 hours...

However, regardless of the fact that 10 hours of "serious" study per day for 10 days seems like an absurd proposal and will lead to a "funnel effect", it doesn't seem serious to us to deceive students into believing they can acquire deep and important skills in such a short time without the necessary practice to turn every learning into a reliable professional practice.

We train Coaching professionals, not seekers of useless and expensive "shortcuts".

The final exam of each Level consists of four parts: a discussion on a Coaching case studied during the Course, setting up a Coaching path (written and oral), questions on the topics developed in the training  and an important part on the Code of Ethics and its practical application during Coaching.

A Coach can encounter several obstacles in the relationship with the Coachee, including:

Lack of trust: The Coachee may have difficulty trusting the Coach, especially if there is not a solid relationship or if the Coachee has had negative experiences in the past.

Resistance to change: The Coachee may be reluctant or resistant to changing established behaviors or thought patterns, which can hinder the Coaching process.

Lack of commitment: If the Coachee is not fully committed to the Coaching process or does not see the value in investing time and energy into change, they may not be motivated to actively work with the Coach.

Lack of clarity on goals: If the Coachee does not have clear goals or if their goals are unrealistic or not well-defined, it can be difficult for the Coach to guide them towards success.

Frustration and impatience: The Coach may experience frustration or impatience if the Coachee is not making progress or if they are not following the agreements established during Coaching sessions.

Communication issues: Ineffective communication or a lack of rapport between Coach and Coachee can hinder the coaching process and compromise desired outcomes.

Internal Coach resistances: Lastly, the Coach's own biases, limiting beliefs, or lack of self-awareness can negatively influence the relationship with the Coachee and the effectiveness of Coaching.

Addressing these obstacles requires patience, empathy, active listening, and open collaboration between Coach and Coachee.

The choice between a Coach and a Psychologist depends on your specific needs and the nature of your personal growth objectives.

A Coach typically focuses on the future and helps you achieve specific goals, develop skills, and maximize your potential. They work with you to identify the goals you want to achieve, develop strategies to reach them, and maintain accountability in your personal growth journey. Coaches can address a wide range of challenges and objectives, such as improving your career, personal relationships, stress management, or personal development.

On the other hand, a Psychologist specializes in treating emotional, behavioral, and mental issues. If you are dealing with problems such as anxiety, depression, past traumas, mood disorders, or psychological disorders, a Psychologist can provide diagnosis, therapy, and support to address these challenges. Psychologists use research-based theories and techniques to understand and treat your mental and emotional issues.

In summary, if you are seeking support to achieve specific goals, develop skills, or improve certain aspects of your life, you may benefit from Coaching. If, however, you are struggling with emotional or mental issues that are preventing you from functioning fully in daily life, it may be more appropriate to seek out a Psychologist. You may also consider working with both if you believe that both can offer complementary benefits in your personal growth journey.

The main difference between Counseling and Coaching lies in their goals and approaches:

Counseling primarily focuses on treating existing emotional, psychological, or behavioral problems. The Counselor works with the Client to address past or present challenges, resolve inner conflicts, improve mental health, and promote emotional well-being.

Approach: Counseling often employs therapeutic and psychological techniques to explore the client's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, identify underlying causes of problems, and develop strategies to address them. It is based on established psychological and therapeutic theoretical models.

Coaching is centered on improving performance and achieving the Client's future goals. The Coach works with the Client to identify their desired objectives, develop concrete action plans, and guide the client through the process of personal and professional realization.

Approach: Coaching relies on active listening, encouragement, feedback, and accountability to help the client unlock their potential and achieve their goals.

It focuses on the present and future rather than the past and utilizes practical strategies to foster growth and change.

In summary, while Counseling focuses on treating existing emotional problems, Coaching focuses on improving performance and achieving future goals.

Both are valuable personal support approaches but differ in their goals, approaches, and methodologies.

Yes, a Coach has a duty of confidentiality regarding the information obtained during the collaboration with the Coachee.

Additionally, there is a Code of Ethics that every Coach must know and rigorously apply in the exercise of their profession.

Coaching can be used with children who have self-esteem issues, hyperactivity, or aggressiveness, but it's important to adapt the approach based on the specific needs of the child and their comprehension and communication abilities.

In these cases, Coaching might focus on helping the child develop social and emotional skills, manage impulsive behavior, and build a positive self-perception.

A Coach might use playful techniques, visualization exercises, storytelling, and other appropriate tools to engage the child and facilitate the learning and growth process.

However, it's important to always consult with a qualified professional, such as a child psychologist or psychotherapist, to assess the child's situation and determine the best approach for their emotional and psychological well-being.

Three times a year, CoachingShapes organises a free individual familiarisation meeting with Coaching for teenagers.
The age range is from 11 to 17 years.
During the meeting the Coach Trainer will stimulate the teenager's attention on different topics of personal confrontation, verifying and promoting the desire to go beyond the actually perceived limits.

See our page: "Young Generation".

Yes, there are several research studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of coaching in various contexts.

For example, a study conducted by the International Coach Federation (ICF) found that 99% of Coaching participants reported satisfaction with the Coaching process, while 96% reported satisfaction with their Coach. Other studies have highlighted benefits of coaching such as improved job performance, greater professional satisfaction, better stress management, increased self-confidence, and greater achievement of personal and professional goals.

However, it's important to consider that the effectiveness of Coaching can vary depending on the context, the coach's experience, and the client's needs.

You might understand that you need a Coach when:

• You are facing challenges or difficult situations in your personal or professional life and seek support and guidance to overcome them.
• You have goals you want to achieve, but feel stuck in the process or struggle to find the motivation to pursue them.
• You want to improve your leadership, communication, stress management, or any other key skills for personal or professional success.
• You want to gain greater clarity on your values, goals, and priorities in life and need help developing an action plan to achieve them.
• You feel you have untapped potential and want to maximize your abilities and performance in personal or professional settings.
• You find it difficult to make important decisions or manage change in your life and want external support to address these challenges more effectively.
• You want to grow and develop as an individual, exploring new perspectives, gaining self-awareness, and opening up new opportunities for learning and personal growth.

If you experience one or more of these situations in your life, it may be time to consider working with a Coach to help you achieve your goals and maximize your potential.

Yes, at the end of each Course, according to the required quality standards, the Student will receive a Certification related to the attended Training.

Coaching and Mentoring are two similar yet distinct approaches to personal and professional development.

Coaching focuses on facilitating personal and professional change, encouraging the Coachee to find their own answers, solutions, and strategies to achieve their goals. The Coach uses powerful questioning, active listening, and feedback to guide the Coachee in the process of discovery and growth.

The primary focus is on the present and the future, with the aim of helping the Coachee develop skills, overcome challenges, and maximize their potential.

Mentoring, on the other hand, involves a more expert relationship between a more experienced individual (the Mentor) and a less experienced individual (the Mentee). The Mentor shares their own experience, knowledge, and expertise to guide and support the Mentee in achieving specific goals. Mentoring tends to be more oriented towards the transmission of knowledge and advice based on the Mentor's experience.

In summary, while Coaching focuses on facilitating change through questions, listening, and feedback, Mentoring focuses more on transferring knowledge and skills through the support and guidance of an expert.

Both can be valuable tools for personal and professional development, but they differ in their approaches and primary objectives.

The tools used in Coaching can vary depending on the Coach's style and the specific needs of the Coachee.

However, some common tools include:

Powerful questioning: The Coach uses targeted and incisive questions to help the Coachee explore their ideas, challenge limiting beliefs, and generate new perspectives.

Active listening: The Coach practices active listening to fully understand the needs, desires, and challenges of the Coachee, demonstrating empathy and creating an environment of trust and support.

Constructive feedback: The Coach provides constructive feedback to the Coachee to help them understand their strengths, areas for improvement, and specific actions to take to achieve their goals.

SMART goals: The Coach helps the Coachee define SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to ensure they are clear, realistic, and action-oriented.

Vision and visualization: The Coach supports the Coachee in visualizing their success, imagining achieved goals, and creating a clear vision of the desired future.

Assessment tools: Some Coaches use psychometric assessment tools or questionnaires to help the Coachee better understand themselves, their preferences, and their thinking styles.

Planning and monitoring: The Coach assists the Coachee in planning concrete actions and monitoring progress towards the goals established during the coaching process.

These are just some examples of tools used in Coaching, but there are many others that can be adapted based on the specific needs of each Coachee and the preferred methodologies of the Coach.

Life Coaching is aimed at individuals who want to improve various aspects of their personal lives.

This could include areas such as career, relationships, health, personal development, goal-setting, time management, and overall well-being. Life Coaching Clients may be seeking guidance, support, accountability, and strategies to help them achieve their goals, overcome obstacles, and lead a more fulfilling and balanced life.

The duration of a life Coaching engagement can vary significantly depending on the needs and goals of the Client, as well as the working methods of the Coach. Some Clients may achieve their goals in a few sessions, while others may require a longer period of support.

Typically, a life Coaching program can last from a few weeks to several months, with regular sessions held weekly or bi-weekly.

The total number of sessions will depend on the complexity of the Client's goals and the speed at which they wish to progress.

No, currently there is no specific law in Italy that recognizes or regulates the activity of Coaching. However, there are professional Associations and Organizations that provide guidelines, ethical standards, and certifications for professionals in the field.

In Italy a Coaching Course of over 100 hours has an approximate cost ranging from 2000 to 3000 euros, for a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 12 participants.

Individual Coaching lessons are possible and normally cost between 50 and 300 euros per hour, depending on the experience and reputation of the Coach.

Coaching sessions between Coach and Coachee have an hourly cost ranging from 50 to 300 euros per hour, depending on the experience and reputation of the Coach.

Recognising a good Life Coach from an improvised one can take some research and evaluation. Here are some tips to help you make the distinction:

1. Training and experience: Check the Coach's credentials. A good Coach will have completed accredited professional training and may have recognised certifications in the coaching industry. Also check his or her experience in the field, including years of practice and testimonials from satisfied clients.
2. Professional ethics: A good Coach will respect the ethical and professional standards of the industry. Look for Coaches who adhere to a recognised code of ethics and demonstrate. confidentiality, integrity and professionalism in their practices.
3. Personalised approach: A good Coach adopts a personalised approach to each Client. Look for Coaches who take the time to understand your individual needs, create an environment of trust and support, and tailor their approach to your specific needs.
4. Proven results: Ask the Coach what results he/she has achieved with previous clients. A good Coach will be able to give you concrete examples of his or her Clients' successes and how it has contributed to their personal and professional development.
5. Personal chemistry: Personal chemistry is important. Look for a Coach with whom you feel comfortable, who inspires you with confidence and with whom you feel you can work effectively.
6. Advice and recommendations: Ask for recommendations from family, friends or colleagues who have had positive experiences with coaching. Personal recommendations can be invaluable in identifying a reliable and competent Coach.
7. Knowledge session: Many Coaches offer knowledge sessions for free or at reduced rates. Use this opportunity to assess whether the Coach is the right match for you by asking questions and evaluating your connection with them.

Carefully evaluating these factors can help you distinguish a good Life Coach from an improvised one and choose the professional best suited to your needs and goals.

No, no special qualifications are required except for a good knowledge of the Italian language and preferably also English, to participate in our Courses. Communication, in fact, also consist of words and phrases that must be presented to the interlocutor with the elasticity and language propriety suitable for referring to any type of Coachee, regardless of their social or cultural background.

To join CoachingShapes as Members, it is necessary to have completed our Training Courses at least up to the Coach Level, or to have attended trainings or received accreditations from nationally or internationally recognized Coaching Schools approved by CoachingShapes.

If you want to become a Member of CoachingShapes, you need to send an email with a detailed Curriculum Vitae and the subject of your request.

The term "Approved" (or "Accredited"),indicates that the Coaching School has obtained formal recognition from a relevant Authority or Organization in the Coaching field.

This recognition implies that the School meets certain standards of quality, competence, and professionalism in offering Coaching training programs.

Accredited Schools may be evaluated by industry associations, certification organizations, or regulatory bodies to ensure that their courses and programs meet the required standards and that their graduates are adequately prepared to practice as professional Coaches.

CoachingShapes applies strict evaluation criteria that comply with the world's highest quality standards.

Of course collaboration is possible if you have the accreditations recognised by CoachingShapes.
CoachingShapes recognises its certified Coach and professionals accredited by AC (Association for Coaching), EMCC and ICF.