Individual Lectures
Self-Guided | Virtual
Enhance your coaching expertise with our 1-hour individual lectures, designed to provide coaches with continuing education opportunities. These sessions cover a handful of highly specialized focus areas offering valuable insights for skill enhancement. Note that these lectures are great for improving your technique and adding to your credentials, but they are not part of a certification path. These lectures are pulled from our certification programs.
We’ve had the pleasure of training youth coaches for:





Course Options
Motivational Interviewing for Coaches
Coaches will be introduced to the four principles of MI, mandated agendas, ambivalence, how MI facilitates change, the DERS, OARS, and DARN-C models
- Includes lecture, PDF, handouts, discussion prompts, and a completion certificate
- Coaches may apply MI to enhance client motivation for positive change
This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Positive Psychology for Coaches
Coaches will be introduced to positive psychology theories including the PERMA model, the tipping point, positivity ratio, hedonic adaptation, the happiness set point, and coaching to enhance positive emotion
- Includes lecture, PDF, handouts, discussion prompts, and a completion certificate
- This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Parent Coaching
Coaches will be introduced to parenting education and coaching, understanding development differences for each life stage to tailor parenting approaches to those needs, learning and behavior, attachment and parenting styles, and positive discipline.
- Includes lecture, PDF, and a completion certificate (upon request)
- This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Desistance Coaching for Transitions Away from Crime or Delinquency
Coaches will be introduced to the criminal desistance research, the desistance process (how those who successfully transition away from crime or delinquency do so), the desistance and positive reform model (Founder, Dr. Leah B. Mazzola’s dissertation research), and strategies to coach clients through successful transitions.
- Includes lecture, PDF, and a completion certificate (upon request)
- This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Addiction & Recovery Coaching Considerations
Coaches will be introduced to the differences between substance use and addiction, current addiction statistics, the neurobiology of addiction and recovery, addiction and recovery theories and models, general guidelines, and health effects for common substances, and evidence-based strategies to support recovery.
- Includes lecture, PDF, and a completion certificate (upon request)
- This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Well-being at Work: Career Coaching Considerations
Coaches will be introduced to the science of work engagement, disengagement, burnout, and flourishing, and various evidence-based coaching solutions (e.g., job crafting, person-job/organization-fit, career discovery coaching) to foster well-being in their client’s work lives.
- Includes lecture, PDF, handouts, discussion prompts, and a completion certificate
Coaches may apply this content to support their client’s engagement and thriving at work. - This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Mindfulness Tools for Coaching
Coaches will be introduced to stress reactions and how mindfulness can be applied to begin developing self-management skills, an overview of what mindfulness is, benefits of mindfulness, and mindful practices and tools
- Includes lecture, PDF, discussion prompts, and a completion certificate
- This course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. It applies toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
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 Individual Lectures
Diverse Knowledge Expansion
As a coach or youth-serving individual, your learning journey never ends. Individual lectures cover a wide range of topics, allowing you to become an expert in certain topics and expand your skill set.
Convenience and Flexibility
Our lectures are completely virtual and self-guided, offering a convenient way to engage in continuing education for coaches. Deepen your skills and gain new insights over the course of only one hour.
Continuing Education Opportunity
These lectures are ideal for coaches looking to fulfill their continuing education requirements and stay updated in their field. This ensures you continue to grow and make the biggest impact on the lives of your clients.
Practical Application
Each lecture focuses on practical tools and approaches, enabling coaches and professionals to immediately apply new techniques in their coaching practice or relationships with youth.
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
Each course is self-paced, providing access to a pre-recorded lecture, PDF, discussion prompts, and a completion certificate.
Each course can count as 1 Hour of CE toward ICF and CCE BCC coach continuing education requirements for credential renewal. They apply toward the resource development hours for ICF continuing education.
Registration can be completed through our website. Simply browse our available lectures, press “enroll” for your chosen course, and easily checkout online.
The lectures are conducted by experienced coaches and experts in the respective fields covered in each session. We invite you to meet our faculty and staff to view the coaching professionals who are responsible for creating and organizing course materials and lectures.
We provide a completion certification after you’ve completed the lecture and study materials. This course contributes toward CE credit requirements, but it is not a coaching certification path.
Yes, these lectures will benefit your knowledge whether you are just beginning your coaching career or you have years of experience in the field. They are also suitable for youth-serving professionals who are not coaches but looking to improve their skills in specific areas.
The behavioral science knowledge you’ll gain is also generally applicable. You are practicing coaching peer trainees who are adults of all ages with various backgrounds, experiences, and cultures during your in-class training. This means that you’re learning to coach adults of all ages through this program.
Because your training with us is approved by the International Coaching Federation, you also qualify to obtain a higher credential through the ICF upon successful completion with us. The ICF’s designations are general professional coaching designations accepted in most coaching-related roles.
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.