Thank you for your interest in pursuing a credential with the International Christian Coaching Institute (ICCI). Please complete all requested information in all sections or mark "N/A" if not applicable. You may save your work and resume the process at a later time, but please note that uploads will not be saved.

ICCI will not disclose the confidential information given in this application to a third party without your express, written consent. Please allow 1-3 weeks for processing.

Demographics

This information will update your profile information.

Education/Training in Christian Life Coaching

• I Agree

I have received 33 hours of training from Certified Life Coach Institute. This training was done live over the course of three days. The course was called Coaching 101 led by Troy Tayor, PCC.

I have also relieved 30 hours of training from Christian Life Coaching Foundations I, Christian Life Coaching Foundations II, Christian Life Coaching Foundations III. This training was done at my own pace with session videos and then a quiz at the end of each video.

I have also received my Masters in Science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in School Counseling. This program was a 43 hour masters program that included a practicum and internship. I also completed additional hours towards counseling.

• Tamela-Smith-101-eCert.pdf
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Mentoring in Christian Life Coaching

• I Agree

Field Experience in Christian Life Coaching

• I Agree

I began seeing my first Christian Life Coaching client on June 7, 2024. Since then I have began working with four other clients with the christian life coaching framework. I am currently still seeing all five of my clients.
The nature of my coaching sessions have been around building self-awareness, resilience, and working toward my clients goals. We focus on what God has called them to do and how they can move forward with God's guidance. We focus on listening to the heart, the head and the holy spirit and making sure we are not becoming bitter but moving towards being better.
Three of my clients are going through grief/loss and want to find who they are now and what their future holds for them without their loved one. Another client is working on self-awareness because she is unhappy with how her life is going but is really stuck in a people-pleasing cycle. My other client is facing an uncertain future as she is stuck in a job she doesn't like and her family is shifting and changing. She is looking to set goals to work towards and working out of the reliance on her family to "fix" things for her.

Other Professional Credentialing or Certification

• Tamela-Smith-101-eCert1.pdf
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Spiritual Orientation and Practice

Please define/describe your thoughts and beliefs on the following questions.

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is the very example of how to strive to live my life. He bore the cross for our sins and rose again three days later. In doing so he conquered death and is now seated at the right hand of God.

A person becomes a christian by accepting Jesus as their savior and believing in him. They acknowledge their need for a relationship with God and commit to following him. A person then invites Jesus to come live in their heart and life through prayer and commit to following him and the teachings of the bible.

I believe the bible is the word of God and we should live according to it's teachings. The bible shows us how to live according to morals, values, how we treat others and how to make decisions. I believe the bible is relevant across the span of time and across all cultures. The bible also shows us who God is. Often times when I read the bible I ask myself what am I learning about, who God is, not just how can I apply this to my life. The bible centers around Jesus as his coming is accounted for and prepared for throughout the Old Testament and then his life, death, and resurrection and the church are the New Testament.

The holy spirit is God the comes and lives in believers from the moment they are saved. The Holy Spirit guides, comforts, and empowers us in our walk with God, convicts us and helps with discernment. When you are saved and the holy spirit lives in you he helps with the fruit of the spirits. In a world full of hurt, hardship and pain we can find joy, love, self-control and more because we have the Holy Spirit living in us and guiding us to a greater purpose that is not of this world.

I was saved when I was a seventh grader. I attended a church outing and listened to a man's story of encouragement and faith that brought him through some really hard times. At the end he welcomed anyone that wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts to come forward and I did. After that I began reading the bible more and taking church more serious. I realized I didn't like "fitting in with the world" and wanted to be a blessing to others in some way. Along the way my mom was very sick and I spent a lot of time taking care of her. After she passed my family became divided and I ended up with my own health struggles. Through all this the one thing that never failed was God. He was the way to my peace, my calm, and the one way to truly be comforted in all my hardship and struggles.
I have been a school counselor in the public school system for over 8 years and there are so many kids, staff members, and administrators struggling and feeling miserable. The one common theme was that they don't have God in their life. I felt God pulling me away from the public school and kept nudging me into life coaching. I resisted for a long time but he just kept opening doors I wasn't even looking for. Now I see the value in walking alongside others and helping them grow in their faith while finding direction in their own lives. I know this is God's ministry and not my own so I am very cautious each time I am with a client to invite the Lord into our presence and to listen to his guidance and not my own. The Lord is my peace, my guide, my joy and I learn and grow with him everyday.

My coaching practice is called Sincerely. Tami Transformational Life Coach. I am dedicated to helping Christian women navigate life’s transitions by fostering self-awareness, resilience, and get stronger relationships through a biblical lens. I also work with women going to transitions in life such as losing a loved one. My coaching practice is deeply rooted in the belief that true transformation comes from aligning one’s life with God’s purpose. I incorporate Scripture into our sessions, using it as a foundation for exploring themes like trust, forgiveness, and resilience. I guide clients in connecting their experiences with God’s truth, offering a spiritual perspective on their challenges and opportunities. We often reference bible verses and I have my clients explore some verses they would like to memorize to help them specifically through the current obstacles they are facing.

To deepen clients’ connection with God, I integrate various spiritual practices and disciplines into the coaching process, such as prayer, meditation on Scripture, worship, and solitude. I always begin each session with prayer before the client arrives or I start the telehealth meeting. If the clients want to incorporate prayer into our sessions I will end the session with prayer but only if that is what the client wants. I encourage practices like meditating on specific Bible verses, journaling gratitude, and engaging in moments of worship to shift focus toward God’s goodness. Solitude and reflection are emphasized to help clients quiet external noise and listen for God’s voice. Through these practices, my goal is to support clients in growing their faith and understanding of God’s unique plan for their lives while pursuing their personal and relational goals.

ICCI Applicant Attestation

Note: The following statements require your attestation (affirming each one to be true to the best of your knowledge). Please be sure to respond to each and every section regarding yourself and your Life Coaching practice or ministry.

The foundation to all work and identity as a Christian Life Coach is a living, vibrant, and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The following statements require your attestation (affirming each one to be true to the best of your knowledge). Please be sure to review each and every section that directly pertains to you and your professional life coaching, and/or ministerial work. The information it contains is important and will be referenced in the Application Form. Depending on your responses, additional information may be required in order to process your Application. 

SECTION A: Christian Personal Testimony

SECTION B: Christian Coaching Testimony (Required)

The practice of Christian Life Coaching genuinely incorporates scriptural truths, biblical principles and guidance, and a Christian value system into one’s coaching/ministerial practice, theoretical orientation, and professional life. ICCI is dedicated to credentialing Christian Life Coaches, not simply people and lay helpers who happen to be Christian, but do not incorporate their faith into practice. Please respond to the following items by checking the appropriate box: (Required)

SECTION C: Ethical Integrity (Required)

Each applicant must demonstrate and maintain ethical integrity in all Life Coaching, ministerial, and professionally related activities. Please note that a Yes answer to any of the following questions will not necessarily disqualify you for the credential you are seeking. If the case has been properly remedied and/or disposed of, and you are under no current ethical complaint or investigation, then the application process can proceed. Please respond to the following items by checking the appropriate box:

• I Agree

ICCI Applicant Agreement

CERTIFICATION

Applicants certify all information in the Application Packet is true and complete, and understand they have the burden of producing all information necessary for ICCI to fairly and fully evaluate their qualifications, background, ethics, and Christian character in order to be considered for one of the ICCI credentials. They agree to inform ICCI of any changes in this information. Misstatements or omissions from the Application may be cause for denial of appointment or reappointment of the credential. Applicants further agree that any subsequent adverse information about them and/or their practice may be cause for disciplinary action – including the possibility of having the credential suspended or revoked.

AUTHORIZATION

Applicants authorize and give the ICCI consent to contact and, without restriction, discuss any issues pertaining to their character and qualifications with individuals submitting recommendation forms or providing mentoring services. Consent is given for the release of all information, records, and documents, by whatever means the ICCI chooses to collect this data, and to assist them in the good-faith evaluation of their Application. If a question arises in the future about their character and qualifications to the credential, they agree to assist the ICCI in its efforts to resolve any questions it may have.

INDEMNIFICATION

Applicants release from any and all liability ICCI, Hope Together Network, LLC, Hope for the Heart, JAWS, LLC, and any individual officers, directors, employees, or agents of these organizations for any and all acts done in good faith and without malice or intent to harm in connection with the evaluation of their Application for an ICCI credential.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

If a dispute arises between the applicant and ICCI regarding the application or any future matter, applicants agree to engage in dispute resolution that (1) first attempts direct negotiation; (2) then attempts mediation with a mediator acceptable to both parties; (3) then uses arbitration and binding arbitration to resolve the matter, which mediation/arbitration shall take place in Dallas, Texas.

CREDENTIAL RESOLUTION

Applicants resolve to support the mission and goals of the ICCI and further agree to abide by and fully adhere to the ICCI Doctrinal Statement. They have not hidden, nor omitted any necessary information related to receiving the credential. If they qualify, they will hold their ICCI credential in the highest regard, honor the calling of God in Christian Life Coaching, and maintain both excellence and an ethical stance as a servant-leader in the field. Furthermore, they will strive to avoid all behavior that compromises the name of Christ, the cause of Christian Life Coaching, and the purposes of the ICCI.

Applicants acknowledge they have read, discussed as needed, and fully understand this Agreement. They acknowledge that by signing the formal Application Form, they do hereby agree with all consent and authorization statements that are described herein.

• I Agree

Credential Requirements

Basic Requirements

Continuing Education Requirements

All ICCI credential holders are required to obtain 15 CONTACT HOURS of Continuing Education on an annual basis and these hours must incorporate biblical principles and coaching skills with theory, knowledge, and practice.

Continuing Education is a term that applies to obtaining contact hours across a broad range of post-secondary (beyond high school) learning activities and programs. Some examples include degree credit courses, non-degree career training, self-directed learning, experiential learning, seminars, symposiums, workshops, conference presentations, and classroom lectures. The method and format of delivery may be face-to-face, distance/online learning, printed texts/workbooks, the use of videotaped materials, etc.

ICCI approved Continuing Education and competency activities can occur in the following categories:

Category #1: Continuing Education activities that the credential holder ENGAGES in as a RECIPIENT

NOTE: A minimum of ten (10) contact hours of the required total number of hours must be from Category #1

• Formally organized learning (college/university courses, workshops, seminars, professional or ministerial conferences, presentations, home study, etc.). The delivery of content may be either face-to-face or electronic (e.g., CD, DVD, computer, Web-based, etc.)
• Training experiences at churches or other Christian organizations that resulted in a certificate of completion or other verifiable documentation of participation
• Publications (e.g., journals, magazines, etc.) that have a CE component and a process providing verification of completion
• Coaching supervision and/or consultation that is received and documented

Category #2: Continuing Education activities that the credential holder PROVIDES as a FACILITATOR

• Facilitating, training or presenting at an organized conference/seminar/class that incorporates biblical principles and life coaching skills with theory, knowledge, and practice (the same presentation may only be used once in a renewal period)
• Teaching a post-secondary class that incorporates biblical principles and life coaching skills with theory, knowledge, and practice (the same course may only be used once in a renewal period)
• Producing new training materials and/or curriculum that incorporates biblical principles and coaching skills with theory, knowledge, and practice
• Publishing (a book, book chapter, journal/magazine article, etc.)

Acceptable Forms of Documentation for Continuing Education activities:

• Certificates of Completion
• CE letters or other forms documenting participation
• Official transcripts and/or diplomas
• Reprints of published articles, book chapters, training materials, etc.
• Proof of presentations that were given and/or courses that were taught
• Formal letters from supervisors and/or consultants

• I Agree

References

Processing your application begins when all references are received. Please alert your references to watch for emails from ICCI requesting their reference for your credential approval. White-listing our email address ([email protected]) will ensure emails arrive in inboxes rather than spam/junk folders

Sign and Send

• I Agree

I affirm and attest by my electronic signature below that I have answered all questions in this Application truthfully and have done so to the best of my knowledge and with full disclosure. I further authorize ICCI to verify this information and understand that in the process of verification, these facts might become known to third parties. I expressively waive any claim to confidentiality of the material enclosed in this Application except where otherwise noted.