What Is ICF Mentor Coaching — and Why Does It Matter?
Hey, it’s Cody. I’ve been thinking about you and your journey as a professional coach. Wondering how it’s going, what challenges you’re facing, and what you’re learning about yourself along the way. I remember being about two years into my own coaching practice, fresh off my initial training with CTA (Coach Training Alliance), and realizing that if I wanted to move from good to great, something had to shift.
That’s when I made a commitment that changed everything for me. It wasn’t about adding more tools to my coaching toolbox or finding a flashier niche. It was about going deeper, owning my craft, and deciding that I didn’t just want to coach—I wanted to master the art of it.
That’s when I discovered the power of mentor coaching.
What Is ICF Mentor Coaching?
Mentor coaching is a structured, feedback-rich process designed to help you grow in alignment with the International Coaching Federation’s Core Competencies. It’s required for coaches pursuing or renewing credentials (like the ACC), but it’s also one of the best-kept secrets for coaches who want to deepen their impact—regardless of where they are in their journey.
In practical terms, mentor coaching includes:
Observed coaching sessions
Constructive, specific feedback
Deep dives into core competencies like active listening, powerful questioning, and coaching presence
Reflection, dialogue, and often, transformation
The ICF requires 10 total hours:
7 hours of group mentor coaching (can also be done, individually 1:1)
3 hours of individual, one-on-one mentor coaching ...and the entire process must unfold over at least three months.
But let’s be clear: while those are the requirements, they’re not the reasons coaches keep saying yes to this work.
What Makes It Different from Other Coaching Development?
Most training helps you learn coaching. Mentor coaching helps you own it.
It’s not a classroom—it’s a mirror. It shows you what you’re doing well (because yes, you’re doing more right than you think). It highlights where you’re playing small or slipping into autopilot. It invites you into the next level of your coaching presence.
If you’ve ever felt like:
You’re coaching by instinct but want more structure
You doubt your sessions are “good enough” even when clients are satisfied
You’re ready for feedback but unsure where to get it in a supportive way…
Mentor coaching was made for you.
This Work Is About More Than Credentialing
Yes, mentor coaching satisfies a formal ICF requirement. But more than that, it re-centers your craft around intentionality, mastery, and integrity.
It’s the kind of process that doesn’t just make you a better coach. It reminds you why you became one in the first place.
What Comes Next
In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about why this work matters, who it’s for, and how it can stretch and strengthen your coaching in all the best ways.
If you’ve been curious—or quietly craving feedback, connection, and skill-building in a safe space—keep an eye on your inbox.
You don’t need to chase another certification. You don’t need to prove anything. But if you’re ready to refine your voice, sharpen your skill, and rise with integrity in your coaching…
It may be time to invest in the kind of feedback that moves you forward.
P.S. Stay tuned for more news… I'm offering Group ICF Mentor Coaching on Saturdays throughout June!