About the Course
- Available Study Modes
Course Description
NSPC is at the forefront of the exciting emerging field of existential coaching which has already become an integral part of modern coaching psychology. NSPC is a proud contributor & sponsor of coaching & coaching psychology forums internationally. Our courses were launched in 2010 and are offered as blended learning, so you can complete theory elements online in the comfort of your own home and attend intensive skills sessions in person in our NW London campus.
Existential coaching is a uniquely philosophical and deeply relational way of examining the paradoxes and challenges of human existence so as to empower clients to move forward in an authentic and reflective way. Drawing on the application of existential philosophy and psychology in psychotherapy and coaching, we teach coaches to work trans-theoretically in a holistic way, engaging with the unique world of each client. Existential coaches encourage clients to look at issues such as meaning, authenticity, freedom, choice and responsibility, and how these come into play in their lives. They also frequently work integratively aiming for alignment between their use of self, existentially-informed coaching approaches and client needs.
Course Description
Theory, practice, self-development and research will be intertwined continuously throughout your programme of studies. You will learn how to handle psychological processes appropriately in the coaching relationship, including emotion and mental health. We will encourage you to go much further than applying typical tools towards exploring the entire bio-socio-psycho-spiritual model of working with clients. We will also support you in building up a portfolio towards accreditation with BPS, EMCC, ICF, AC, ISCP, CIPD and other coaching and coaching psychology professional bodies, as appropriate.
Year one assumes no prior knowledge or experience, building your skills from the ground up. You will develop your coaching skills over 3 terms: you will start with core competencies such as the art of empathic listening, continue towards a critical understanding of evidence-based coaching paradigms and, finally, master explicitly existential skills. Theoretical learning will include theories of personal change, a grounding in existential philosophy and research methods.
Year two provides you with an opportunity to start building private practice with support of coaching supervision. You will build on the learning from year two by looking at existential leadership, wellbeing & health and social & cultural issues in professional practice.
You will also complete a supervised research project on a topic of your choice which can take the form of a qualitative or a quantitative piece, with a potential to benefit from the NSPC expertise in phenomenological and existential research methods.
All of our modules are designed with the neurodiversity paradigm in mind, and we will help you develop as a neuro-inclusive practitioner. As a well-known centre of diversity & neurodiversity studies, we welcome applications from neurodivergent students and students with a disability or chronic health condition. For further information on possible learning adaptations, contact [email protected]. Prior learning can be granted for modules studied at Level 7 covering the same learning outcomes as the NSPC equivalent – this can be discussed at the interview stage.
The Course Leader is Xenia Angevin MBA FCIArb FCIPD, a highly credentialed existential coach and professional educator. Xenia comes with an extensive experience as a principal coaching psychologist, senior executive coach and a coaching supervisor. As a course leader, Xenia will provide developmental support necessary to establish sustainable and successful coaching practice aligned with the rigour of BPS aspirations for coaching psychology and EMCC’ encouragement towards a creative and inspired coaching practice.
This course follows the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations available here: https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/
Useful Links
Video: Exploring Existential Approaches to Coaching
Video: Existential Coaching - Working with Values, Imagery and Narratives
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Programme of Study
Year 1
- Theories of Personal Change
This module provides you with an opportunity to develop your own evidence-based theory of personal development. You will critically evaluate the modern concept of personality as an explanation for many Western theories of personal change.
- Existential Perspectives on Human Issues (online)
This module offers you an overview of the existential approach, developing your ability to help others confront their existential challenges through coaching. You will explore the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of human values, meaning and creative responses to anxiety.
- Overview of Research Methods (online)
This module will help you understand the contribution of research to the growth of knowledge about the effectiveness and efficiency of coaching psychology practice. It will also give you a grounding in research approaches, with particular attention to the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- Skills in Existential Coaching (3 terms face-to-face)
The module is run as week-long workshops over 3 terms, lasting for one full academic year. It will include the interpersonal coaching skills covered in the first term, examination of existential and humanist theoretical frameworks & key philosophers during the second term, and the application of existential coaching tools and their integration into other evidence-based coaching traditions in the final third term.
Your coaching skills will be reviewed each term with different emphasis, affording you the means to develop your proficiency. You will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback from both the tutors and your fellow students. While issues of confidentiality will be clarified at the initial class meeting, you will be asked to work with your own material in the course of these exercises, and the depth and nature of these disclosures will be your own individual responsibility.
Year 2
- Social, Cultural and Ethical Issues (online)
This module will develop your capability to make appropriate decisions about consent, confidentiality, discrimination, exploitation, fairness, duty of care, and other ethical and moral quandaries in professional practice. This module will also ask you to consider how you encounter difference which is essential in building awareness of unconscious bias and in developing cultural competence.
- Advanced Existential Coaching and Existential Leadership (face-to-face)
This module will provide you with a focused approach to existential thinking and practice, covering the ideas of existential thinkers who wrote extensively on the topics of management and leadership. The application of these ideas to your own leadership and coaching will also be addressed making this a strong foundation for executive and leadership coaching practice.
- Wellbeing and Health (online)
This module will offer you an opportunity to critically appraise the links between happiness, health and well-being within an overall strategy of improvement of quality of living. You will develop an understanding of the role of positive psychology and other theoretical approaches in this domain, which can be applied to your coaching work.
- Supervision of Practice (3 terms online)
During the second year of the programme you are required to commence seeing clients in private practice. You will be given support in establishing your practice and rigorous developmental assessment of your professional performance will be carried out. Supervision will be provided by the New School, where supervision groups will have no more than six students and will be staffed by experienced coaching supervisors. Coaching supervision at the New School will provide existential input to your practical work.
- Research Supervision and Final Project (15,000 words)
You will have an opportunity to undertake independent research towards your final project which is when you will research an aspect of existential coaching that is of personal and professional interest to you. Your NSPC research supervisor will support you in producing a well-written final project of 15,000 words to Masters’ standards which makes a contribution to the coaching psychology literature. You will be encouraged to present your research at the annual Research Students’ Summer Conference, BPS Coaching Psychology conferences and other fora.
Accreditation and Careers
This programme is quality assured by Middlesex University, and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion. You can view the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations here.
Successful completion of this 2-year programme leads to a sufficient number of hours of training and coaching practice for you to be able to apply for accreditation with the European Mentoring & Coaching Council, the International Coaching Federation and various other professional membership organisations via the portfolio route, which we will support you with.
Your skills would help you obtain the depth necessary for modern practice in executive, career, leadership development and neurodiversity coaching. We will also orient you towards the best practice in a variety of coaching formats, including group, team and existentially-oriented psychoeducational coaching interventions.
As our graduate, you are likely to be able to use your skills in a portfolio of roles. You may go into private practice, typically set up in year two of the programme. Else, you may choose to take up a role in coaching organisations, implement a coaching approach in your workplace, set up consultancy, or enter academic roles as an author and lecturer.
Fees 2025-26
Fees are subject to annual inflationary increases
Year of course | Units to be completed in year | Fee payable per year (if no units have to be repeated) |
1 | 6 units over 3 terms | £6840 |
2 | 9 units over 3 terms | £10260 |
Validated Courses Additional Charges
Application Fee | £50 non-refundable |
Acceptance Deposit | £100 which will be deducted from the initial invoice when you start the course. It is non-refundable if you do not start. |
APEL Fee is only applicable if your claim for prior learning is approved and will replace the tuition fee for that unit. | £200 per submission |
| Coaching, Mentoring and Therapy | At own expense |
Instalment Plan | £20 per Unit |
Late changes to Course Plan | £50 |
Professional registration | At own expense |
Books | At own expense |
Please note : Students on validated programmes are not eligible for Student Finance or DSA
Entry Requirements
- A Bachelors degree in any field, or a higher degree such as a PGDip (equivalent experience may be acceptable)
- Fluent English: IELTS level 7 or above in all categories (or equivalent)
- Personal suitability to be determined at interview
- Reliable internet connection
Supporting documents required for application:
- CV
- Personal statement (approx. 500 words where you could outline the philosophy, purpose and context of your practice and how these could be enhanced if you were to undertake one of our courses in existential coaching)
- Copies of qualifications
- Copy of your passport
- An enhanced DBS or equivalent
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How You Study
The course is delivered via blended learning. It consists of online theory modules via Moodle and weekly webinars, face-to-face skills modules in NW London, online research supervision and online coaching supervision of practice. With 25% of attendance carried out face-to-face, this course is easier to fit around a busy life, and is accessible to those living far from London or with caring commitments.
Theory modules are asynchronous except for a weekly one-hour webinar led by your tutor, with timing to be decided between your group members. You will work consistently through weekly materials online, posting and discussing in the forum with the group and tutor. A weekly quiz ensures that you are absorbing the materials.
Face-to-face skills modules take place over 5 consecutive days. There are 4 skills modules in total over the two years.
Coaching supervision is provided via group video chat on a weekly basis in year 2 of the programme.
Research supervision is provided from year 2, and can be done in a number of ways depending on what best suits both you and supervisor, but usually takes the form of email and video chat.
Students may take up to 4 years to complete should they need additional time.
It is possible to exit the programme early with either a PGCert or PGDip award, however, this may affect professional accreditation.
Application Deadlines:
- January Cohorts - application deadline is the 30th November
- September Cohorts - application deadline is the 1st August
Information on our open days can be found here: nspc.org.uk/course-directory/open-days
