If you’ve never worked with an ICF-certified coach before, it’s natural to wonder what actually happens during a session. Will you be put on the spot? Do you need to have a problem ready to solve? Is it like therapy?
The short answer is: none of the above. An ICF coaching session is a structured conversation designed entirely around you — your goals, your thinking, and your next steps. Here’s what you can expect.
The Structure of a Session #
Most ICF coaching sessions follow a similar flow, even if the content varies every time.
Check-in. The session usually opens with a brief check-in. How are you doing? What’s present for you this week? This isn’t small talk — it helps you shift gears from the busyness of your day into a more reflective space. It also gives your coach a sense of where you’re at emotionally and energetically.
Setting the agenda. You bring the topic. Your coach doesn’t arrive with a curriculum or a lesson plan. Instead, they’ll ask what you want to focus on today. This might be something you’ve been working through over several sessions, or something that came up since you last spoke. There’s no wrong answer.
Exploration and discovery. This is the heart of the session. Your coach will ask questions — often deep, sometimes unexpected ones — designed to help you see your situation from a new angle. You might notice patterns you hadn’t spotted before, challenge assumptions you’ve been carrying, or simply clarify what you actually want versus what you think you should want. A good coach doesn’t give advice or tell you what to do. Their job is to help you access your own wisdom.
Commitment and closing. Sessions typically end with you identifying a clear next step or intention. This isn’t about accountability in a punishing sense — it’s about helping you translate insight into action. You’ll leave with something concrete, even if it’s small.
The Coach’s Role #
An ICF-trained coach operates from a specific philosophy: you are the expert on your own life. The coach’s role is to create a space where you can think more clearly, question your assumptions, and make decisions that are genuinely aligned with who you are.
That means your coach won’t give you a to-do list, tell you what career to choose, or advise you on whether to leave a relationship. They’ll help you figure out what you actually think and want — which, for most people, turns out to be more useful than any advice could be.
How It Differs from Therapy #
People sometimes confuse coaching with therapy. The key difference is focus: therapy often explores the past to understand and heal present struggles. Coaching is present- and future-focused. It starts from the assumption that you are a capable, resourceful person, and asks: where do you want to go from here?
If you’re dealing with clinical mental health issues, a therapist is the right fit. If you’re ready to move forward but feel stuck, coaching is often the better choice.
What Martin’s Sessions Look Like #
In Martin’s ICF coaching sessions, you can expect a warm, unhurried space. Sessions are typically held online, giving you the flexibility to work from wherever you’re most comfortable. Martin draws on ICF core competencies alongside his background in NLP and hypnotherapy — not to lead you in any particular direction, but to help you access deeper levels of self-awareness more quickly.
Most clients come in with a specific challenge and leave with a clearer sense of what they want and why. The shift often happens not through big revelations, but through the quiet power of being genuinely listened to.
If you’re curious about working together, you’re welcome to book a free clarity call.
