FSW 269 - Empowered Coaching Conversations

Course Description

Developed in partnership with Momentum (https://momentum.org/), Empowered Coaching Conversations: Lead Conversations That Build Capacity, Trust & Lasting Change equips professionals with practical, trauma-informed communication tools to navigate complex conversations with confidence, empathy, and clarity. 

This interactive program introduces a coach-approach – shifting from advising and problem-solving to fostering reflection, ownership, and capacity in others. Participants learn how to listen deeply, ask powerful questions, and guide individuals and teams toward their own insights and solutions. 

Grounded in human-centered and trauma-informed practice, this course helps professionals move beyond quick fixes to create stronger relationships, increase engagement, and more sustainable outcomes across teams and organizations.
 

Course Details

About the Course 
Conversations shape outcomes – yet many professionals are expected to navigate complex conversations without the tools to do so intentionally. 

This program is designed to help you build practical, real-world skills for leading conversations that foster trust, strengthen relationships, and support meaningful change. 

Through a coach approach, you'll learn how to move beyond advising and problem-solving to facilitate conversations that build insight, ownership, and capacity in others. 

Why This Matters 
Today's professionals are navigating increasing complexity, limited resources, and growing expectations for impact. 

Traditional approaches that rely on directing, advising, or solving problems often limit engagement and long-term change. A coach approach offers a different way forward – one that builds capacity, strengthens relationships, and supports more sustainable outcomes by empowering people to actively shape their own solutions. 

What You'll Learn 
- Coaching for Capacity & Ownership: Move from directing and advising to conversations that build autonomy, confidence, and self-efficacy. 
- Trauma-Informed Communication: Create psychologically safe, trust-based conversations grounded in empathy and choice. 
- Active Listening & Powerful Questions: Strengthen your ability to uncover insights, support reflection, and guide better decision making. 
- Navigating Complex Conversations: Respond to resistance, uncertainty, and emotionally charged situations with curiosity and confidence. 
- Sustainable Change Through Conversation: Support individuals and teams in identifying their own strengths, solutions, and next steps. 

What to Expect 
Learning in this course goes beyond theory – it's about practicing how to show up differently in your everyday conversations. 

Delivered in a highly interactive format, each session combines practical instruction with opportunities to apply what you're learning in real time. You'll engage in discussion, reflection, and guided exercises that help you build confidence using a coach approach in your own context. 

Across this program, you will: 
- Practice active listening and powerful questioning in realistic scenarios 
- Explore how coaching applies to your specific role, team, or client work 
- Work through complex and challenging conversations in a supportive environment 
- Learn alongside peers from across the social sector, gaining shared insight and perspective 

By the end of the course, you'll leave not just with new ideas – but with practical tools, language, and experience you can immediately integrate into your day-to-day work.  

Format & Structure 
- 16 hours of live instruction over 8 weeks 
- Delivered online (synchronous) 
- Interactive sessions combining instruction, discussion, and practice 

Who Should Attend 
This course is ideal for: 
- Supervisors, managers, and team leads 
- Social workers 
- Social service and nonprofit professionals 
- Emerging leaders building coaching and communication skills 
- Practitioners supporting clients, teams, or communities through change 

About the Instructor 
Selena Murillo is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with more than 25 years of experience supporting individuals, teams, and organizations to build confidence, clarity, and capacity through coaching. Drawing on trauma-informed and empowerment-based approaches, her work helps people navigate complexity and create meaningful, sustainable change. 
This program is designed as a high-impact, practice-based learning experience, combining expert facilitation with real-time application and peer learning. 

Your registration includes: 
- 16 hours of live, interactive instruction 
- Hands-on coaching practice and real-world scenarios 
- Access to tools and resources you can use immediately 
- A certificate of completion from the University of Calgary 

Small cohort size ensures meaningful interaction, personalized learning, and opportunities to practice and receive feedback. Early registration is recommended. 

Financial Assistance:

Prospective program participants can explore financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition through the Muttart Foundation and their training bursary programs: Bursaries | Muttart (https://www.muttart.org/training-and-funding/bursaries/)