Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching
Train as a life coach on our ICF accredited coaching course in London, Edinburgh or Berlin.
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Overview
Over a number of months, you will progress from a coaching novice to become a highly-effective coach, able to work with a range of coaching approaches across the spectrum of coaching contexts.
The course blends in-person training with experiential learning and mentoring, and a wealth of online resources, to ensure you gain exceptional skills as a coach.
Fully accredited by the world’s leading coaching bodies, the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, our coaching course will ensure you are able to coach professionally both in the UK and internationally.
To get to know our Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching in more detail, simply click the sections below to dive deeper in to the details of the course.
Course Structure
The Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching is delivered through five modules of in-person training along with experiential client practice, personal coach mentoring, a rich library of course materials and reflective learning.
Each in-person module takes place over two days from 9.30 until 5.30 and takes place on weekends or weekdays as you choose.
Module 1 : Foundations
Foundations is where your journey to become a coach starts. The module introduces you to the key principles of coaching, gets you practising your new skills and prepares you to start coaching clients outside of the training room.
On this module, you will learn how to:
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Build collaborative partnerships with your clients
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Develop deep listening
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Ask powerful questions
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Use clarification and reflection to deepen understanding
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Set the outcomes and goals of coaching
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Use the GROW Model to start coaching – this is your starter model
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Use TOOLKIT, the Animas core model
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Draw on the qualities of coaching from the Animas 6Cs of Coaching
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Establish the coaching relationship
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Find and work with clients to build practical experience
Module 2 : Cognition
Cognition explores the theory and practice of Cognitive Behavioural Coaching, to enable you to help the client understand and change the thinking patterns which may be driving how they behave and the results they are getting.
On this module, you will learn how to:
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The theory and principles of Cognitive Behavioural Coaching
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Coaching with the STAR model to change repeating patterns of ineffective behaviour
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Using the A-F model in coaching to explore and replace limiting beliefs
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Working with the SPACE model to help a client explore the full range of their experience
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Coaching around values and value clashes
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Using creative visualisation in coaching
Module 3 : Presence
Presence encourages you to slow down in coaching and become more aware and tuned into the quality of the relationship and space. Drawing from person-centred theory and practice, you will explore how to work more fully with what emerges in the coaching space.
On this module, you will learn how to:
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Developing and maintaining a deep presence
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Managing obstacles to presence
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Bringing your reflective self in coaching
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Working with the here and now experience
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Allowing and working with silence and space
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Remaining committed but unattached
Module 4 : Transactions
Transactions explores how individuals relate both to themselves and to others in ways which can both empower or disempower. Using concepts from Transactional Analysis, you will learn to apply these ideas and models to your coaching.
On this module, you will learn how to:
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Identifying and working with Ego States and Transaction Types
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Coaching through Life Scripts and Script Processes
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Identifying and changing Life Positions
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Noticing and challenge discounting behaviours that keep clients stuck
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Recognising Games and how to interrupt them
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Working with Karpman’s Drama Triangle
Module 5 : Paradigms
Paradigms is your final module and, as well as synthesising your learning to date, it introduces you to new ways to explore an individual’s personal paradigm through the stories, language and metaphors they use.
On this module, you will learn how to:
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Surfacing with the client’s paradigm
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Narrative coaching principles
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Re-authoring and Re-membering
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Multiple perspectives
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Reframing questions and approaches
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Clean Language
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Your next professional steps
Support
One of the reasons people enjoy the Animas course so much is the exceptional support we offer and the feeling that they are part of a caring community. It’s very easy to feel isolated when you’re studying and practising, so we’ve put in place several support mechanisms to help you along the way.
In addition to the live training modules, you will benefit from:
- A Personal Coach-Mentor to support your practice
- Weekly Online Group Coaching-Supervision around your client work
- Weekly Online Observed Coaching Practicums
- Study Pack with course-specific books and Learning Journal
- AnimasConnect – state-of-the-art online community for students and alumni
- An exclusive, private group online community

A Personal Coach-Mentor to support your practice
You’ll be given your own personal mentor who will offer three hours of direct one-to-one support on your learning journey, client work and qualification process. Each mentor has been through our programme and now has a successful private coaching practice.
Weekly online Group Coaching-Supervision around your client work
You’ll receive expert support on your live coaching-practice and other training related issues through online small-group mentoring. The sessions will help you unlock your true potential as a coach by increasing your skills, confidence and ability to reflect constructively on your coaching whilst learning from the experience of your fellow coaches. You also gain lifetime supervision so you know you always have a space to explore tricky issues in coaching or to just check in on your practice.
Weekly Online Observed Practicums
Although not compulsory, you’ll have access to fortnightly sessions in which you can call and coach, be coached or simply listen in to learn from others. The Observed Practicum is a safe space for our coaches to practise their skills in front of a supervisor for live feedback.
Study Pack with course-specific books and learning journal
On enrolling, you’ll be sent a beautiful box of course books within days. The Study Pack contains a book for each module written by Accredited Master Coach, and Animas founder, Nick Bolton along with a Learning Journal that is carefully structured around the course to support you in reflective practice.
Animas Connect
Animas Connect is our state of the art alumni platform for students and graduates of Animas combining an interactive map so you can see where your fellow coaches are, the ability to run your own groups, book events, search the Animas community for skilled professionals and so much more. We believe that we are the only private training school that has a facility like this and it is proving truly groundbreaking.
An exclusive, closed group online community
We run a wonderful online community using Facebook as the platform. This allows coaches to stay connected as much as they want and we find this has taken a life of its own with coaches celebrating successes, sharing ideas, offering practice clients and much more.
Accreditation and Qualification
The Diploma in Transformational Coaching has gone through two rigorous quality assurance procedures.
International Coaching Federation
It is recognised by the International Coach Federation, a global leader in the coaching profession, as providing 123 Approved Coach Specific Training Hours – more than twice the amount required to become credentialed with them. The video below explains the importance of ICF accreditation for any life coach training programme.
Association for Coaching ADCT
The course is also accredited by the Association for Coaching, the UK’s largest professional body, as an Accredited Diploma in Coach Training. This distinction makes it one of the very few in the world to hold this level of accreditation.
Qualification
Qualification is achieved through a mixture of learning, practice and reflection. We have designed the process to be rigorous but enjoyable and manageable with all your other daily demands of life.
Course Trainers
Our course trainers
All of our trainers are ICF credentialed and remain actively coaching with their own private practices. This ensures that they bring a rich depth of experience in their work which they can draw upon and share with you on your learning journey.
They are also each unique in their approach and bring their particular expertise to bear on the Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching, whether that’s in specific modes of psychological practice or their own style as a coach.
A common saying in coaching goes, who you are is how you coach. It’s true and that’s why we ensure you gain training from each of these exceptional coaches across the modules, so you receive a balance of approaches and ideas to help you grow as a coach.
Marcus Stone
Coach Trainer
Marcus is an ICF accredited coach who forms part of our brilliant training faculty. He also holds the Diploma in Coaching Supervision and his other passion, aside from training, is helping other coaches to reflect on their own practices to see how they address the challenges they have and continually...

Emily Johnston
Coach Trainer
One of the original Animas training team, Emily is a highly experienced trainer and an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the ICF. She qualified with Animas in 2012 and during her Animas journey since, Emily has set up an accredited Certificate in Mindfulness Coaching, which she continues to deliver twice...

Bronwyn Nash
Coach Trainer
Bronwyn is another of our fantastic coach trainers. She trains the Cognition, Transaction, Presence and Paradigms modules on the Diploma in Transformational Coaching, and also holds the Diploma in Coaching Supervision, meaning that she further supports qualified coaches through both individual and Group Supervision. Sharing her passion for personal growth...

Matteo Trevisan
Coach Trainer
As an ICF accredited coach Matteo has a wealth of coaching experience, and his background in teaching further adds to his ability to facilitate learning in the training space. With a Masters in Physics (Bath University), a further degree in education (King's College), and a coaching diploma with Animas, Matteo...

Nishe Patel
Coach Trainer
During a decade of working in HR within corporate environments, Nishe was dedicated to supporting recent graduates and school leavers as they began their careers. Although she loved working with these individuals, particularly as they transitioned to new environments and different ways of operating, she recognised that it wasn't enough for her...

Emma Dempsey
Coach Trainer
Emma is an ICF accredited Coach with a background in social development, focusing on empowering individuals and communities. Her work has included coordinating community projects, leading behaviour change programmes, guest lecturing at university and influencing policy. Emma loves writing and has contributed to academic articles, blogs (men’s wellbeing) and bestselling books....

Nick Thorpe
Coach Trainer
Nick Thorpe is an award-winning writer, speaker, coach & Animas trainer. A prolific journalist for more than 20 years, he is the author of three books of travel/self-discovery ranging from an expedition to Easter Island by experimental reed raft - Eight Men and a Duck - to his boat-hitching odyssey...

Marta Abramska
Coach Trainer
Prior to qualifying with Animas and setting up her own leadership and career coaching practice in 2018, Marta spent 15 years in the City, including working in a Big Four consultancy where she led projects for dozens of financial services firms around the globe, working for and closely with C-suit...

Lilian Flynn
Coach Trainer
Lilian is one of the newest additions to our training and mentoring teams at Animas. An ICF accredited coach, Lilian comes to coaching from a teaching background. She spent almost a decade in the education and the training field, teaching both primary and secondary school students in a teaching career...

Todd Roache
Coach Trainer
Todd is an ICF Certified Coach (ACC), with a rich background in music, mental health, teaching and leadership development. Prior to coaching Todd spent the early part of his career in the music industry as an award winning singer/songwriter and producer. Eventually realising that what he had defined as success...

Nisha Vyas
Coach Trainer
Nisha is an ICF certified coach, trainer and mentor, she is passionate about helping coaches and leaders with high aspirations to step up to their full potential. As a member of the Animas training team, she delivers the Foundations and Cognitions modules – and is currently working towards her EMCC accredited...

Natasha Harris
Business Trainer
Natasha trained and qualified with Animas in 2012. At the time she was also running a small, local organic veg box business, but at the end of 2015 Natasha decided to dedicate her time to running her practice full time. A huge step, that has proven to be an exciting...

Megumi Haeussler
Coach Trainer
Megumi is a passionate life and leadership coach (ICF PCC Certified), working with a wide range of clients including business owners, business managers, expats and solo entrepreneurs or those wanting to become one, to be aligned with themselves and live their life authentically. She also works for clients who wish...

Gina Paigen
Coach Trainer
Gina Paigen, PCC, CPCC, CNTC, is a professional coach, consultant, and facilitator; passionate about guiding individuals, teams, and organizations to a deeper sense of purpose, and to higher levels of creativity, engagement, and inspired action. She brings a wealth of diverse knowledge and experience in executive coaching, leadership, mindfulness, diversity,...

Locations and Dates
London
We’ve delivered coach training in London for over 10 years and with more than 1500 people having trained at the school here, it offers an active and lively alumni. All training is delivered centrally to ensure convenient travel even if you’re coming from afar.
Edinburgh
Animas Edinburgh meets the ever-increasing demand for coach training in Scotland and with a growing community of coaches here, you’ll never be short of support and camaraderie.
Berlin
Also launched in 2018, Animas Berlin acts as our hub for coach training for Germany and eastern Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
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FREE INTRODUCTORY DAY
Looking for the right coaching course? Discover Animas at a free Introduction to Transformational Coaching in London, Edinburgh or Berlin. Book your spot to learn how you can become a coach and whether our life coach training is right for you.

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How to enrol
4 Steps to Enrolling:
- 1. Complete the online application form.
- 2. Book a call with a Course Consultant.
- 3. Enrol by paying the course deposit.
- 4. Receive enrolment details, online membership and Study Pack.
We look forward to speaking with you soon if you decide to apply.
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