Mentor Coaching for Coaches
For aspiring and practising coaches seeking to deepen their coaching practice, prepare for an ICF credential, or continue developing their coaching competence.
This page is for coaches. If you are a CXO or senior leader looking for a coach for yourself, see CXO Coaching.
Who is this for
I work with aspiring and practising coaches who want to strengthen their coaching practice through structured reflection, observation and developmental feedback.
My mentor coaching supports:
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Coaches applying for their first ICF ACC credential.
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ACC coaches preparing for their PCC credential.
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Coaches applying for PCC through the Portfolio Path.
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ACC coaches renewing their ICF credential.
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ACC and PCC coaches seeking mentor coaching as part of their continuing professional development.
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Learner coaches who want objective feedback on their coaching, whether or not they are currently pursuing an ICF credential.
Whether you are working towards a credential or simply want to become a more capable coach, the focus remains the same: developing your ability to demonstrate the ICF Core Competencies in practice.
What you leave with
Ten hours of mentor coaching including at least three hours of 1:1 mentoring.
Through mentor coaching, you will:
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Deepen your understanding and practical application of the ICF Core Competencies.
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Develop greater awareness of your coaching strengths, patterns and developmental areas.
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Receive specific, constructive and actionable feedback based on observed coaching sessions.
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Understand how your coaching behaviours influence the quality of the coaching conversation.
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Develop greater confidence in demonstrating coaching competencies at the level you are working towards.
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Build a clearer understanding of your continuing development as a coach.
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Completion and documentation of mentor coaching hours.
The objective is not simply to prepare for a credential assessment. It is to help you become a more thoughtful, capable and effective coach.
What is Mentor Coaching
Mentor coaching is a collaborative developmental process in which a coach receives feedback based on observed or recorded coaching sessions. The focus is on strengthening the coach's skills and developing their unique coaching style in alignment with the ICF Core Competencies.
A specialized mentor coach (MCS) listens to your recorded or observed coaching sessions and offers insights based on the ICF Core Competencies. This feedback helps you develop your skills, deepen your practice, and prepares you for credential-level coaching, thereby enabling you to serve your clients better.
Mentor coaching is distinct from coaching supervision, coach training and credential assessment. It focuses specifically on developing coaching skills through observation, reflection and competency-based feedback.
My Credentials
I hold the ICF PCC credential and the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization at both levels (MCS-ACC and MCS-PCC).
These qualifications enable me to provide mentor coaching for coaches pursuing ACC and PCC credentials.
They also meet ICF's new mentor coach eligibility requirements effective 1 January 2027, under which mentor coaching must be provided by a coach holding the appropriate ICF Mentor Coach Specialization.
My own coaching practice is with CXOs and senior leaders; you can read more about me on the About page.
How it works
Each mentoring session focuses on developing your coaching competence through observation, reflection and feedback.
Our conversations explore:
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What you demonstrated as a coach.
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The impact of your coaching behaviours on the client and the conversation.
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Opportunities you may have missed.
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Patterns and habits that strengthen or limit your coaching effectiveness.
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Alternative approaches and possibilities for developing your practice.
I offer specific feedback on what I observed, the effect it had, and what I would invite you to consider.
You will also have opportunities to observe other coaches, review coaching recordings and learn through shared reflection.
The Programme
The mentor coaching programme comprises ten hours delivered over seven sessions across a minimum period of three months.
The programme includes:
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Six sessions of 90 minutes each.
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One session of 60 minutes.
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At least three hours of individual one-to-one mentor coaching.
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The remaining hours through individual or group mentor coaching.
Group mentor coaching is limited to a maximum of five participants.
We work with the eight ICF Core Competencies, exploring how they are demonstrated in actual coaching conversations.
Throughout the programme, you will coach, reflect, receive feedback, practise and review your progress.
In addition to the ten hours of mentor coaching, allow up to three hours for independent learning activities, including reviewing recordings, reading relevant material and completing practice assignments.
Format and Fee
The sessions are conducted online and are offered in three formats
Individual - Ten hours of individual mentor coaching
Group - Ten hours combining individual and group mentoring
Developmental - Mentor coaching engagements outside the credential-related ten-hour structure
Fees depend on the mentoring format, duration and individual or group requirements. Please get in touch for a programme proposal and fee details.
Mentor Coaching and the New ICF Requirements
From 1 January 2027, ICF will require mentor coaching undertaken for credential applications and relevant renewals to be provided by a mentor coach holding the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) at the appropriate credential level.
I hold the MCS-ACC and MCS-PCC specializations. This enables me to provide mentor coaching for coaches pursuing or renewing their ACC and PCC credentials under the new requirements.
If you are planning your ICF credential application or renewal, we can discuss the appropriate mentoring pathway and programme structure.
Mentor coaching is offered by Subramani Balakrishnan in Individual capacity as a mentor. Mentoring programme is aligned with ICF's 2025 Code of Ethics specifically ensuring confidentiality, record management, technology and legal compliance.