How is Life Changes: The Academy's Accredited Life Coach and NLP Training Different?

Nina Madden | Life Changes: The Academy | April 2026

This outlines the full DNA of my programme. The philosophy, the frameworks, the credentials, all of it.

Philosophy of Soul-led, Self-led

My mission is to help as many people as possible to live a Soul-led, Self-led life of freedom and independence.

This means honouring the authority of your own heart, of listening to the voice within you, to live authentically, not the way society expects, or other people want — but according to your authentic truth.

Diverse Background

I, Nina Madden, am an NLP Master Coach, ICF (PCC) accredited, qualified EMDR therapist, and an internationally accredited trainer of NLP and Hypnosis (INLPTA / ANLP/ ABNLP) with twenty years' experience in private practice.

I've run retreats in India and Thailand, facilitated groups and worked with individuals from all walks of life for twenty years. I also have extensive experience working with survivors of domestic violence through the charity Refuge.

Life Changes: The Academy's Boutique Approach

At Life Changes: The Academy, I prioritise a personable, non-transactional relationship with my students, and maintain small groups to ensure continuous dialogue and personalised attention. My mission is to help you become a unique, powerful, and truly life-changing coach.

1. Global Accreditation and Professional Recognition

Life Changes: The Academy's programme emphasises high-calibre, internationally recognised training and credentials to give you a qualification that carries real leverage and meaning in the marketplace.

• ICF Accreditation: Life Changes: The Academy's training is ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited, often referred to as the "gold standard" of coaching globally.
• NLP Certifications: At Life Changes: The Academy, I offer accredited NLP Practitioner Certification and NLP Master Practitioner certification through the ABNLP and ANLP.
• Professional Standing: Graduates of Life Changes: The Academy are qualified to register with professional membership boards such as ABNLP, ANLP and ICF, obtain insurance, and practise legally worldwide.

2. Life Changes: The Academy's Boutique Training Methodology

A central theme in my approach is the contrast between this boutique style and our larger, corporatised competitors.

• Intimate Groups: Groups are intentionally kept small — capped at 8 students — to ensure I can give you personalised attention and feedback throughout. This is how you can truly develop as a coach.
• Sacred Space: Life Changes: The Academy's training uses structured Time to Think facilitation principles where I create a sacred space for my students to feel safe to bring their whole selves to the learning process. You need to feel safe, seen, and heard while exploring the deeper concepts of self, purpose, authenticity and change.
• Experiential Learning: My approach at Life Changes: The Academy is hands-on. My teaching focuses on experience, practice, reflection and dialogue in real-time.
• Expert Facilitation: I, Nina Madden, bring twenty years of real-world clinical experience in private practice, with thousands of client hours. This is very different from our main competitors, who run with trainers with only a few years' experience, sometimes none at all.
• Direct Access: Students work directly with me, and I maintain an active private practice in London, rather than being taught by a rotating cast of corporate trainers.

3. Life Changes: The Academy's Signature Frameworks and Depth of Methodology

Life Changes: The Academy Diploma goes beyond the standard surface-level coaching of most competitors. The training integrates advanced psychological tools that work with the unconscious mind to make profound and deep change.

• ICF Accredited Coach Training Level 1 ACC Hours and Level: Life Changes: The Academy's programme consists of 76 hours (whereas most programmes only offer 65) of ICF coach-specific training. It is accredited at the ACC level with the ICF.
• The Hero's Journey: What does it mean to live Self-led and Soul-led? Based on Joseph Campbell's work, this Life Changes: The Academy module helps you and your clients shift from a victim mindset into an empowered self-led hero of your own life. Find meaning in your darkest moments and notice who you are truly meant to become.
• Nancy Kline's Thinking Environment: Integrating the nine principles of the Thinking Environment you'll learn to create a Sacred Space for your clients to access their best resources, imagination and clarity to act on their future.
• Metaphors and Archetypes: Students learn to identify and change operational metaphors that influence identity and hidden drives.
• NLP Mastery: Focuses on shifting mental blueprints, providing the tools to work with the whole person rather than dividing them into boxes. This includes clearing limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome, anxiety, fears, and self-sabotage and more.
• Timeline Therapy: By using Timeline Re-Imprinting, students of Life Changes: The Academy can remove negative feelings like sadness, anger, guilt, and shame originating from childhood, including removing limiting beliefs and changing personal history.
• Transformational Storytelling: Life Changes: The Academy teaches Transformational Storytelling drawing on the techniques of Milton Erickson, metaphors, Archetypes and Hero's Journey — the course teaches how to use stories to provide insight and wisdom.

4. Comprehensive Support and Mentorship

Post-training support is an important part of Life Changes: The Academy's offering as it helps you transition into a successful career.

• ICF Coach Mentoring: Life Changes: The Academy includes three months of mentoring to help students with case studies, observed practice, and clinical questions.
• Business Mentoring: Offers guidance on setting up your business and getting clients.
• Community and Connection: Graduates of Life Changes: The Academy gain access to the Coach Cafe and Monthly Momentum Calls for networking and support. There are also in-person meetups in London.

5. Career Flexibility and Lifestyle Freedom

Life Changes: The Academy's ICF & ABNLP Accredited Diploma in Life Coaching and NLP is designed to help you create a life and career based on your unique aspirations, dreams and how you wish to live your life. A major part of the motivation behind this training is the professional freedom that comes with being a life coach.

• Lifestyle Flexibility: Graduates of Life Changes: The Academy have used the training to become independent, working from places like Thailand, from home, or as corporate coaches working in-house.
• Scheduling Control: As a coach trained by Life Changes: The Academy, you choose your own hours, whether you want to work a few days a week, work around children, work part-time or work full-time.
• Niche Flexibility: The whole person is the niche. The skills you learn in this training can be used to coach people in any area of their life, including executive, relationship, youth, and more.
• Earning Potential: Starting rates for coaches with NLP skills can range from £100 to £200 per hour, allowing for a significant weekly income even with a small client base.

I think this should give you a useful overview and understanding of exactly what you engage with when you come to study the dual-accredited Diploma in Life Coaching and NLP with me.

You will get certified with a professional qualification to build a fresh life and career — or shape the one you already have into something unique, beautiful and authentic to you.

If this has resonated with you, you are welcome to book a call with me and we can talk in person about your goals, vision, aspirations and the way forward. I am here to help.

Nina

What Graduates Say

"Nina is a truly inspirational trainer. I thoroughly enjoyed her course — not only was it hugely informative, enlightening and well-structured, but also full of joy. The 5 weeks flew by, and I was genuinely sad to finish the course. Recommend it to anyone who wants excellent quality life coaching and NLP training!"

Louise Bradshaw — Life Changes: The Academy graduate

GET THE FREE GUIDE

To learn more about the dual-accredited Diploma in Life Coaching and Advanced NLP (ICF and ABNLP) download the course guide below. You can also book a 30 minute zoom call with me to discuss your future as a coach.

Nina Madden is an EMDR Therapist, ICF PCC Coach, and Internationally Accredited Coach and NLP Trainer. Founder of Life Changes: The Academy. Twenty years in private practice, London and globally.

ICF-Accredited Diploma in Professional Coaching & NLP | Nina Madden — Life Changes | www.ninamadden.com/learn