Curious what it’s really like to become a certified coach? If you’ve been considering life coach training and want to understand what it actually feels like to be in the program, this is for you.
The Certified Professional Empower Coach (CPEC) program isn’t just another online certification—it’s an immersive, neuroscience-based experience designed to transform how you lead, listen, and coach.
From expert instructors and intimate cohort learning to real-world practice and deep personal growth, here’s what students say it’s really like behind the scenes of CPEC.
Tiffany Grimes is the visionary behind Empower Coaching and Training and a nationally recognized leader in brain-based coaching. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Tiffany brings over 20 years of experience in workforce development, organizational leadership, and behavior change rooted in neuroscience.
She holds a Master’s in Management with a focus on organizational development, is a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), a Specialty Master Trainer through Portland State University, and a published author. Through her roles as advocate, trainer, and consultant, Tiffany has helped transform service delivery systems, cultivate cultures of respect, and empower individuals and organizations to lead with emotional intelligence, clarity, and shared purpose.
Nancy Hauschildt is a certified Life Coach and former Registered Nurse who specializes in coaching introverts, shy individuals, and those with social anxiety. Her approach is grounded in eight years of study in brain science, leadership development, and emotional intelligence.
With additional training from The Life Coach School, Accomplishment Coaching, and The Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence, Nancy also holds an advanced certification in faith-based coaching. Currently pursuing a second degree in Behavioral Neuroscience at ASU, she supports high-achieving introverted women through her private practice, Haus of Coaching, LLC. Nancy is deeply committed to helping quiet leaders show up with presence, confidence, and purpose.
anor Ohanesian is a certified life and leadership coach who brings a holistic and deeply intuitive approach to coaching. She believes every individual has the capacity to unlock their fullest potential through awareness, empowerment, and action.
Nanor has trained across multiple methodologies and specializes in helping individuals and teams uncover root challenges that block their growth. Her calm presence, strong intuition, and active listening are often cited as her greatest strengths. A passionate lifelong learner, she also serves as a board member for the ICF Orange County chapter and is affiliated with Accomplishment Coaching.
At CPEC, your growth as a coach doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens in a community.
Our intentionally small cohorts ensure every student receives personalized support, meaningful connection, and in-depth feedback. Each participant works closely with experienced mentor coaches, participates in coaching circles, and receives individualized guidance from our faculty.
You’ll never feel like “just another student”—you’ll be seen, supported, and challenged to grow in real time.
Whether you're receiving one-on-one feedback on your coaching sessions, participating in peer coaching, or connecting during faculty office hours, you'll find the kind of attention that helps you refine your skills and develop confidence as a coach.
Our program is designed with both structure and flexibility to support learning at a pace that works for your life. The CPEC training flows through three distinct phases:
1. Foundations: Begins October 2025. Build your coaching mindset and skill set through live, interactive sessions covering coaching essentials. You’ll explore models, techniques, and foundational practices that anchor your growth.
2. Core Comp Intensive: Begins January 2026. Deepen your practice with intensive training on ICF Core Competencies. You’ll coach, be coached, and observe coaching at a high level—all while receiving support through Coaching Circles, Mindful Masterclasses, and partner practice.
3. Mentor Coaching & Practicum: Begins March 2026, Step into professional-level coaching with real clients, asynchronous learning, and personalized mentor coaching sessions that meet ICF requirements. Complete your practicum hours with confidence and leave ready for the ACC certification process.
This comprehensive flow ensures you not only learn the theory—but practice, reflect, and integrate it until it becomes second nature.
What sets CPEC apart?
Every element of our training is grounded in brain science. From how we approach stress and emotional regulation to how we facilitate behavior change, neuroscience is embedded in the way we teach, coach, and support transformation.
Through our neuroscience-based curriculum, you’ll learn:
● How coaching rewires thought patterns and behavior at the neurological level
● Practical tools to regulate the nervous system and increase resilience
● The science behind motivation, mindset, and emotional intelligence
The CPEC brain-based approach empowers you to coach with greater clarity, compassion, and confidence—and equips your clients with the tools they need to create lasting change.
What inspired you to enroll in the Certified Professional Empower Coach (CPEC) Academy, and how did the neuroscience-based curriculum impact your coaching journey?
I was inspired to join the CPEC program because I had been to many of Empower's trainings in the past, and I always got so much out of them, so I knew this was going to be a quality training program. I was also excited to join a program that had an emphasis on teaching the neuroscience of coaching since that is such a powerful approach to understanding clients and what helps them to create positive and long-lasting change in their lives.
How has completing your CPEC certification influenced your coaching practice or career opportunities?
I gained so much from completing my CPEC certification. Not only did I receive exceptional training and mentorship, which far exceeded the other coach certification experience I had had previously, but it also added so much weight to my coaching credentials since it enabled me to sit for the ICF exam and earn my ACC credential.
Having that credential next to my name gives potential clients so much more confidence because they know it means I have been through rigorous training and that I will be complying with best practices and having oversight.
What would you say to someone considering enrolling in a neuroscience-based coaching program like CPEC?
To someone considering joining the CPEC certification program, I would say absolutely do it. You'll receive training from some of the best coaches in the field, mentorship that will gently guide you to become the best coach you can be, and tools and strategies that will not only help change the lives of your clients but will change your life for the better too. Joining CPEC was one of the easiest and best choices I've made for my coaching career.
Whether you’re exploring a new career path or looking to deepen your impact as a leader, educator, or changemaker, the CPEC program is designed to meet you where you are—and walk with you as you grow.
You’ll leave with a globally respected ICF Level 1 certification, coaching tools backed by neuroscience, and a powerful sense of clarity about how to help others unlock their potential.
Ready to take the next step?
Explore the Certified Professional Coaching program and see how it fits your goals, lifestyle, and vision for your future.
We’ve also put together a free guide to help you explore your options and take the next step.
FREE KIT DOWNLOAD
The Life Coaching Career Starter Pack
Includes:
* How to Become a Certified Life Coach
* Checklist — 7 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Certification Program
* 5 Career Paths for Certified Coaches