The Intentional Student Coach Training

Practical coaching skills for staff who support students every day

Staff are frequently approached by students with concerns about study, confidence, behaviour, decisions and direction.

These conversations are often informal and early-stage, but if handled poorly or left unaddressed, they can escalate into more serious wellbeing, academic or conduct issues.

The Intentional Student Coach program equips staff with practical, human behaviour-based coaching skills so they can support students confidently, early and within appropriate boundaries.

Why intentional coaching matters

Many staff want to help students, but lack:

• clear frameworks for early conversations

• confidence in how to respond without giving advice

• shared language for understanding behaviour

• tools that support students without taking on a counselling role

Without these tools, staff may:

• default to telling students what they should do

• focus on surface issues rather than root causes

• feel responsible for outcomes they cannot control

• carry emotional load beyond their role

Intentional coaching provides a structured, preventative way to support students while protecting staff wellbeing.

Where confidence fits

The Intentional Student Coach program is grounded in the Confidence Restoration Approach.

Rather than fixing students or telling them what to do, the approach:

• helps staff understand what drives student behaviour

• supports students to reflect and think for themselves

• strengthens confidence so students can make better choices

• maintains clear boundaries between support and counselling

This supports early intervention without stigma, diagnosis or escalation.

What staff learn

The Level 1 Intentional Student Coach program is delivered as two 2-hour sessions, live online or in person.

The program covers:

Human behaviour fundamentals

• core drivers of behaviour

• common confidence challenges students face

• why surface behaviour often masks deeper needs

Coaching skills for early support

• simple questioning techniques

• how to explore root causes without interrogating

• supporting students to identify their own next steps

• maintaining appropriate professional boundaries

Outcomes for staff and students

The program helps to:

• increase staff confidence in student conversations

• reduce stigma around seeking early support

• build trust and connection with students

• support earlier resolution of low-level issues

• reduce escalation to formal or clinical pathways

Suitable for education settings

The Intentional Student Coach program is suitable for:

• academic staff

• student support and wellbeing teams

• accommodation and frontline staff

• professional and administrative staff

• supervisors and program coordinators

It works alongside existing policies, referral pathways and support services.

Next steps

If staff are frequently supporting students but lack confidence, structure or shared language, this program can help.