About the Institute

The Institute for Life Coach Training, (formerly Therapist University), is the first-of-its-kind training institute that specializes in training psychotherapists, psychologists, counselors and helping professionals in building a successful coaching practice. Prompted by the ever-increasing number of therapists wanting to offer coaching services to their clients, Dr. Patrick Williams, psychologist and Master Certified Coach (MCC), founded the Institute in late 1998 after completing his own advanced training at Coach University and other notables in the field.

As a successful psychologist-turned-coach, Dr. Williams recognized that therapists and helping professionals are the most well-positioned professionals to transition to the world of coaching. Because therapists and helping professionals already have the requisite skills for effective coaching, he developed a training program that emphasizes the important distinctions between therapy and coaching — and builds upon therapists’ existing skills so that they can quickly translate those skills to coaching in as little as 40 hours of teleclasses.

Since its inception, the Institute has graduated hundreds of students across the US, Canada, Asia, Australia, and Europe. The program has expanded to include Advanced Coach Training and offers a Certified Life Coach designation. The curriculum for the Foundational Coach Training is continually re-evaluated to ensure that state-of-the-art training is provided. It is approved by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as an Accredited Coach Training Program.

For the exclusive benefit of our students and graduates, the Institute has established an online Student Center, full of valuable resources that are crucial for coaching success. Graduates of our programs also have the option of participating in once-a-month "Pat's Coaching Forum."

The Foundational Coach Training is designed to facilitate/assist those therapists desiring to transition from a therapy practice to coaching in the shortest amount of time -- or who want to add coaching to their therapy practice.

The Foundational Coach Training for Christian Counselors is designed to facilitate/assist people with a people-helping background to transition from a professional, pastoral or lay counseling practice to coaching in the shortest amount of time.

Advanced Coach Training Courses are available to anyone who has completed 30 hours of basic coach training.

** If you have questions or would like to know more about any of our classes, go to frequently asked questions, give us a call toll-free at 888-267-1206, or email us.