Advanced Coaching Skills – Learning Lab
Live Training Program | Virtual
Experience hands-on learning in our six-week program, designed for certified coaches ready to advance their skills through experiential learning. Engage in weekly 1-hour live sessions where you’ll coach emerging adult clients, emphasizing evidence-based techniques in a resilience coaching module. The format blends “knowledge drop” group learning segments with private 1:1 coaching sessions via Zoom. You will then have the opportunity to debrief each training session with peer coaches and the training supervisor. This approach provides practical coaching experience and the opportunity for valuable debriefing with peers and supervisors, fostering your professional growth in a supportive environment.
We’ve had the pleasure of training youth coaches for:





Class Schedule
Review our training calendar for upcoming Advanced Coaching Skills – Learning Lab classes. Find a variety of live, virtual sessions to fit your schedule.
coming Spring 2024
EXCELLENT Based on 49 reviews Tyshonna Delaney2025-05-13 My experience with The Youth Coaching Institute has been nothing short of life-changing. The training was thoughtfully designed, truly aligned with the development of coaches, and provides resources and community for coaches. The instructors were not only experts in the field, but also incredibly supportive and engaging throughout the process. I successfully and confidently completed YCI feeling fully equipped to support youth in meaningful, strengths-based ways. The community of fellow trainees was also inspiring—diverse, passionate, and deeply committed to making a difference. Whether you're new to coaching or looking to specialize in youth development, YCI is a great organization to support your goals. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about empowering the next generation. Shyla Mathews2025-04-08 I have just completed CYWC with Dr Leah and Team! Highly recommend this training if you are looking at starting your coaching journey. The pacing of the programme is well planned with all the materials prepared well and very informative. Learnt so much and Dr Leah is very responsive to all my questions. Анна Крбашян2025-03-09 I recently completed the coaching certification course, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience! Dr. Leah is an amazing instructor—professional, supportive, and incredibly knowledgeable. From the very first session, I could tell I was in good hands. The course was engaging, and I loved every minute of it, even though I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. The material was well-structured, and Dr. Leah’s teaching style made it easy to understand even complex concepts. I also appreciated the supportive learning environment, where all my questions were answered thoughtfully and thoroughly. I’m so glad I found this course and feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from Dr. Leah. I’m excited to start my coaching journey and would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to become a certified coach! Valerie Shaw-Gavel2025-01-23 I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from my experience with YCI. It took one class and I was completely invested. Dr. Leah is knowledgeable (due to academia and life experiences) and has a tremendous passion for coaching that trickles down through her students. I learned more about myself throughout this course than I did in 4 years of college. The way the classes are taught, through peer conversations, video coaching sessions, reflections and coaching practice the takeaways come very easy. She works hard to meet people where they are directly and kindly. I will continue my connection with YCI and Dr. Leah in the future because I truly feel I am part of a "coaching family" now. Darrin Olmscheid2024-11-28 Dr. Mazzola and team were wonderful. Approachable, communicative and provided instruction that was research based yet provided practical strategies and resources one could use the very next day! Grateful for this experience Mehroo Turel2024-10-09 Thank you, Dr. Leah B. Mazzola for creating this exceptional program. Your shared experiences, deep insight and understanding of young minds, backed by research and tools, made this program easy to learn and highly practical to use. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this field. Angela Giles Klocke2024-09-04 I’ve had my eye on this training for a long time, so when the opportunity came up, I jumped in. Working with the team at the Youth Coaching Institute (YCI) was invaluable. While I am not new to coaching, there are so many ways to be an effective and impactful coach, and the training with YCI highlighted other techniques that I was able to start putting into action right away. The education and content, as well as the buddy coaching and coaching demos, offered a well-rounded experience in a comfortable learning environment. When it’s time to add to my knowledge and experience again, I will definitely return to YCI to continue. Jordan Tsuruta2024-08-29 YCI has greatly exceeded my expectations in terms of content, peer support, technical instruction, and overall personal value. This program has genuinely been life-changing for me. As a professional tennis coach with over a decade of experience and an active competitive athlete, I’ve gained invaluable insights into helping others—and myself—manage stress, identify unhelpful patterns, and create actionable plans for significant goals. While the education provided is both comprehensive and straightforward, applying the principles can be challenging. Fortunately, YCI offers an incredible mentorship system with ICF-certified coaches and guidance from Dr. Leah, providing essential feedback and support along the way. If you think you may be interested in learning what this program has to offer, I strongly recommend taking the leap of faith like I have and signing up! Becca Golden2024-08-28 There aren't enough words to fully express how incredible Dr. Leah's coaching programs are. My expectations were exceeded from the very first week of class and remained high throughout the entire course. I enrolled in the Youth Well-being Coach certification program to better support young people in discovering their strengths, potential, and goals. What I didn't expect was how much I would discover about my own. The experience was life-changing, empowering, and so much more. I am forever a grateful student and lifelong learner with Dr. Leah and YCI. Kathryn Armstrong2024-08-27 I highly recommend the Youth Resiliency Coaching Certification offered by the Youth Coaching Institute. As a Pediatric Cardiologist in Canada, I enrolled in this program to better support the youth and adolescents in my practice, many of whom have underlying heart disease. Through this certification, I gained valuable insights on how to support and facilitate young people to navigate the challenges of puberty, education, sports, and maintaining social connections. This experience was truly transformative for me, as I learned the importance of creating a safe and non-judgmental space for teenagers to express themselves and make their own choices. I am excited to integrate these learnings into my daily practice and empower teenagers and young adults to build resilience and strive towards their best selves, regardless of any underlying medical conditions they may have. I highly recommend this resource for any adult who works with young people. It will provide valuable support to help them succeed in life. Dr Kathryn (Katey) Armstrong Pediatric Cardiologist
The Core Benefits of the Advanced Coaching Skills Learning Lab
Experiential Learning Approach
The program offers hands-on, practical coaching experience, allowing you to apply and refine your skills in real-world scenarios, which is essential for deepening your understanding and effectiveness as a coach.
Focused Skill Enhancement
Each week, you’ll engage in live sessions emphasizing evidence-based techniques in resilience coaching, providing you with specialized skills that are highly relevant and applicable to coaching emerging adult clients.
Collaborative and Individualized Training
The unique blend of group “knowledge drop” segments and private 1:1 coaching sessions facilitates both collaborative learning and individualized attention, catering to a broad range of learning styles and needs.
Valuable Feedback and Debriefing
Post-session debriefings with peer coaches and supervisors offer critical insights and feedback. This reflective practice is a key component of professional development, helping you to continuously improve and evolve your coaching methods.
Have Questions? Schedule a Q&A With Us.
Whether you have some coaching experience under your belt, want to better serve youth in your profession, or are exploring a profitable and fulfilling career choice, we’re here to guide you on the best path forward. Fill out our contact form or schedule a live 20-minute Q&A to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this program, you’ll learn advanced coaching techniques, with a focus on evidence-based resilience coaching methods tailored for emerging adult clients.
Yes, while it focuses on resilience coaching for emerging adults, the skills learned are applicable across various coaching specialties, enhancing your overall coaching practice.
Each live session includes a “knowledge drop” group learning segment followed by private 1:1 coaching sessions, all conducted via Zoom, offering a mix of theoretical learning and practical application.
Yes, after each 1:1 coaching session, there’s an opportunity to debrief with peer coaches and a supervisor, providing valuable feedback and assessment of your coaching techniques.
Participants need a stable internet connection and access to Zoom for the live sessions. Familiarity with basic virtual communication tools is also recommended for an optimal learning experience.
Reach Out to Us to Learn More
Have questions or want to speak with a member of our team? Schedule a meeting or reach out to us directly, and we’ll be happy to assist you on your coaching journey.
Youth Coaching Expert Insights
Discover a library of free expert resources exploring the youth coaching landscape, the experiences of adolescents today, and opportunities to strengthen your approach.
Elevate Your Impact and Start Coaching Today
Make a positive and measurable impact with the Youth Coaching Institute. Develop your coaching skillset and begin the journey to becoming a certified youth life coach today.