Integrative Life-Coach Training Program
advancing personal well-being and its expression in the world
ThrivingTogether is a program sponsored by Thriving in Ministry at Catholic Theological Union. ThrivingTogether is an integrative life-coach training program, advancing personal well-being and its expression in the world. This 75- hour “whole-person” life-coach training and personal formation program is designed for ministry professionals and for those who work in contexts in which religious or spiritual issues are likely to surface.
Offered in English through The Catholic Theological Union (CTU), Chicago, and accredited as and ACSTH coaching program by the International Coach Federation’s (ICF). This program provides 1) a certificate of completion from CTU and 2) the possibility of pursuing ICF credentialing.
Mission: To bring whole-life-coaching into ministerial and religious contexts to catalyze the complete human flourishing of all who seek it.
Vision: To create mutually life-giving relationships that lead to the thriving of professional ministers and the environments in which they serve.
Meeting via Zoom on Tuesdays from 6:00-9:15 p.m., CST, Thriving Together will run 16 consecutive weeks, from February 8-May 31, 2022. The 60 hours of synchronous instruction will include presentations, discussion, demonstration, practice coaching, observation, feedback, and mentoring. The remaining 15 hours of course work will involve various instructor-assessed asynchronous assignments ranging from reading to practice coaching.
Together, we respond to God, our wise guides, our best selves in every moment to see ourselves and our lives more clearly, thereby walking into that self that we dream of being and that life that we dream of living.
- We honor the inherent dignity, particularity and wholeness of each human person and their ability to thrive.
- We believe that each of us can call forth growth, integration and expanded freedom for ourselves and each other.
- We live by the Golden Rule and love ourselves as we love our neighbors.
- We commit ourselves to authenticity and liberating justice on behalf of our own transformation and the transformation of the world.
- Professional background in ministry for at least three years
- Bachelor’s degree as a minimum; graduate work or certification in ministry preferred
- Application process including the completion of an online application and a conversational interview of up to 30 minutes with one of the faculty members from ThrivingTogether.
Applications will be by invitation only. If you have any questions on the program or if you would like to be considered for future cohorts please contact thrivinginministry@ctu.edu.
- To cultivate self-awareness through sacred story, life balance assessment, contemplative practice, and self-care.
- To build a coaching community while exploring what it means to have a “coaching mindset” and the relevance of Life Coaching to ministry.
- To distinguish the ways coaching differs from other forms of inner guidance.
- To understand the role of ethics, as defined by ICF, in every aspect of Life Coaching, from establishing the coaching agreement to the coach/client relationship.
- To develop the skills needed to lead clients beyond their current thinking and limiting situations into new possibilities.
- To deepen listening skills by exploring cultural differences, metaphorical language, archetypes, tone of voice, and body language.
- To examine stages of faith and their expression.
- To develop emotional intelligence in religious leaders.
- To learn the actual “dance” of a coaching session — its choreography from beginning to end.
- To practice how to coach and also how to assess the strengths and weaknesses of observed coaching sessions.
Please see the ThrivingTogether Syllabus for the list of modules and to explore session content.
Our ThrivingTogether program is certified by the International Coaching Federation. For more infirmation, click on the logo below:
Administrator:
Barbara Linek, MA-IC ’21
Barbara Linek, a graduate of Catholic Theological Union with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies and Ministry, began as Director of the Lilly Endowment Thriving in Ministry program at CTU in June 2021. Barbara comes to this position with many years of experience in Hispanic ministry, as well as ecumenical and interfaith settings. She is active in her parish and in the diocesan Cursillo Movement in both English and Spanish.
Barbara earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University and went on to serve as Director of the University of Illinois Extension Office in DuPage County, Illinois, shifting its focus to community education for refugees and immigrants. In 2015, she was selected to be a fellow in the Practitioners Leadership Institute, a national leadership program of The Center for Urban Families. For the past decade, she has served as Director of Advancement for Family Bridges, a Latina-led nonprofit. She has a passion for working with marginalized communities and multicultural churches.
Instructors:
Dr. Elizabeth-Anne Stewart, PhD.
is a board-certified life coach, author, and spiritual director with over thirty-five years experience offering inner guidance, retreats, and seminars. She trained as a spiritual director at the Claret Center, Chicago, holds the PCC from the International Coaching Federation, and is Board-Certified as a Life Coach through the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE).
Dr. Angela L. Swain, PhD.
is a business psychologist, executive coach, researcher, and author. As an expert in organizational behavior she believes in creating positive workplace cultures through leadership development professionally and personally. She earned her coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds a PCC from the International Coaching Federation.
Together, we respond to God, our wise guides, our best selves in every moment to see ourselves and our lives more clearly, thereby walking into that self that we dream of being and that life that we dream of living.
- We honor the inherent dignity, particularity and wholeness of each human person and their ability to thrive.
- We believe that each of us can call forth growth, integration and expanded freedom for ourselves and each other.
- We live by the Golden Rule and love ourselves as we love our neighbors.
- We commit ourselves to authenticity and liberating justice on behalf of our own transformation and the transformation of the world.
