The Co-Active Institute — the leading coach training organization known for its experiential, human-centered approach to coaching — recently made a significant change to its coach certification program: coaches are no longer required to hire their own coach during certification. Previously, coaches were required to complete six coaching sessions with a certified Co-Active coach during the six months of the program.
At first glance, this change can feel surprising. Having your own coach has always been such a core part of the Co-Active experience. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to believe this shift is actually a positive one.
Even without a requirement in place, I still believe coaches should hire their own coach. It remains one of the most valuable investments a coach can make—both personally and professionally. Working with your own coach deepens your understanding of the Co-Active model, supports your growth, and helps you embody the very principles you bring to your clients. And I think most coaches in training will still want to work with a coach themselves.
What this change really does is open the door for new possibilities—ones that give coaches more autonomy, more spaciousness, and more alignment with how they want to learn.
Why this change is beneficial
1. It creates more flexibility and reduces overwhelm.
Under the previous requirement, coaches had to complete at least one session per month during certification—usually two—which meant that any work you did with your coach before the program didn’t count toward the six required sessions. For coaches budgeting for a six-session package, this often meant delaying the start of their coaching relationship until certification began.
But the start of certification is already a time of massive transition: pod calls, supervision, homework, coaching your own five clients… adding the beginning of your own coaching relationship on top of all that can feel like a lot.
In reality, the months leading up to certification are when having a coach can be especially helpful—you’re finding clients, rearranging your schedule, preparing emotionally and mentally for what’s ahead. Lifting the requirement gives coaches the freedom to start their coaching relationship earlier and in a way that fits their budget and their lives.
2. It allows a more natural blend of coaching and mentoring.
Previously, the six required sessions had to be purely Co-Active coaching, without mixing in mentoring. Of course, some mentoring naturally happened, but the expectation was to limit it. Coaches got creative: moving mentoring questions to email, designating one of the two monthly sessions for mentoring, or simply doing what made sense for them.
The challenge was that coaches in certification often have mentoring questions—lots of them. Questions about pricing, structuring a first session, finding clients, or navigating situations that come up in their practice. Their own coach is one of the best people to ask.
Now, with the requirement removed, coaches and their coaches have more freedom to design a relationship that meets their real needs. They can let the blend of coaching and mentoring unfold in a way that best supports learning and growth.
3. It places more trust in coaches themselves.
This shift signals something important: trust. Trust that coaches will do what’s right for their learning, development, and professionalism. And that trust is deeply aligned with one of the core Co-Active cornerstones—people are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole.
If you’re preparing for CTI’s co-active certification program—or you’re a coach who wants to grow your skills and deepen your work—I’d love to support you. Let’s book a time to connect and talk about where you want to go next.
