Adler Graduate Professional School
Toronto-based graduate professional school offering Canada's first ICF-accredited coach training program, rooted in Alfred Adler's individual psychology since 1998.
- Type
- Coach Training Organization
- Founded
- 1998
- Headquarters
- Canada
- Website
- adler.ca (opens in new tab)
About
Adler Graduate Professional School (ADLER) was founded in Toronto, Ontario, in 1998 by Dr. Linda Page, a psychologist who sought to bring Alfred Adler's principles of individual psychology into the practice of professional coaching. The coaching program was the first in Canada to be accredited by the ICF, achieving that recognition in 2002. Today ADLER operates from its downtown Toronto campus at 890 Yonge Street, with international affiliates in Europe, the United States, and Turkey, and delivers programs in English and Turkish to students across the globe.
ADLER is part of a loose network of independent Adlerian institutions that share a philosophical lineage but are institutionally separate: Adler University in Chicago (founded 1952, now a fully accredited university) and Adler Graduate School in Minnetonka, Minnesota (founded 1969 as the Alfred Adler Institute of Minnesota) are peer organizations, not affiliates. ADLER in Toronto is the coaching-specialist arm of this tradition. It began explicitly as a coach training organization, while the others primarily focus on counseling and psychology degrees.
For a coach trained at ADLER, the credential signals a psychologically serious education. The school teaches techniques alongside an underlying theory of human motivation that gives those techniques coherent grounding.
The Adlerian Approach
Alfred Adler (1870–1937) broke from Freudian psychology to argue that human beings are primarily social creatures driven by a striving for significance, and that well-being depends not on resolving inner conflicts in isolation, but on developing social interest: the capacity to cooperate, contribute, and belong. Three concepts sit at the heart of the Adlerian coaching model:
Social interest (Gemeinschaftsgefühl): the idea that a person's development is measured not only by individual achievement but by their contribution to others. Coaching aims to expand this capacity, going beyond performance optimization.
Encouragement: Adler identified discouragement (the belief that one cannot contribute or belong) as the root of most psychological difficulty. The coach's primary role is to help clients reconnect with their sense of capability and purpose.
Holistic understanding: the individual is treated as an integrated whole, not a collection of symptoms or behaviors. Past experiences, beliefs, and interpersonal patterns are explored as a system, not in isolation.
This framework shapes both what ADLER coaches ask and how they listen. Sessions tend to explore meaning, purpose, and the client's relationship with their social context, not only goals and action plans.
The Professional Coaching Certificate Program
ADLER's core offering is a six-part Professional Coaching Certificate Program, structured to meet ICF requirements for both coach education hours and mentor coaching. The program is delivered via a combination of live virtual classroom sessions and independent study, with in-person options available.
Part 1: Foundations of Professional Coaching
32 hours of coach education (21 virtual classroom + 11 independent). Introduces the Adlerian coaching model, ICF Core Competencies, and the foundational mindset of the coaching practitioner. Priced at CDN $1,995 + HST.
Part 2: Transformational Coaching — Applications to Client Context
30 hours of coach education (18 virtual classroom + 12 independent). Develops skill in applying coaching within professional and organizational contexts, building on the competency base established in Part 1. CDN $1,995 + HST.
Part 3: Deep Coaching — The Coach's Signature Presence
30 hours of coach education (20 virtual classroom + 10 independent). Focuses on advanced presence, style, and the development of the coach's own authentic approach. CDN $1,995 + HST.
Part 4: Practicum
46 hours (24 monthly virtual classroom + 22 independent). Supervised practice at the center of the program. Students coach real clients under structured feedback conditions. CDN $2,900 + HST.
Part 5: Mentor Coaching
10 hours of mentor coaching (6 virtual + 4 independent). Direct mentoring from senior practitioners on live coaching performance, aligned with ICF mentor coaching requirements. CDN $2,500 + HST.
Part 6: Adler Certified Associate Coach (ACAC) Exam
A performance evaluation (10 hours, including case recording submission and transcript review). Coaches who pass this exam earn the ACAC designation. Combined with the required number of independent coaching hours, graduates are eligible to apply directly to the ICF for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential.
ICF Relationship
ADLER's Professional Coaching Certificate Program holds ICF accreditation and has held it continuously since 2002, making it one of the longest-running ICF-accredited programs in the world and the first ever accredited in Canada. The program is structured to align with current ICF Core Competencies and the requirements for ICF Level 1 education (formerly ACTP). Graduates who complete the full program plus their independent coaching hours meet the educational prerequisites for the ICF ACC credential without additional coursework.
ADLER maintains an active relationship with the ICF research and standards communities. Founding president Linda Page served on the ICF Research and Development Committee and helped organize early ICF Research Symposia.
What This Means for You
A coach trained at ADLER brings a psychologically grounded perspective to the work. The Adlerian framework gives them a coherent theory of motivation rather than just a set of questioning techniques, which tends to make coaching conversations more probing and more attuned to patterns that run beneath the surface of a stated goal. The ICF accreditation confirms that the program meets independent standards for coach education hours, mentor coaching, and competency coverage.
That said, program quality and individual coach skill always vary. The ACAC designation is ADLER's own credential; what matters more for client confidence is whether the coach has subsequently earned an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC). Ask any ADLER-trained coach which ICF level they hold, how many coaching hours they have logged, and whether they have worked with clients in situations similar to yours.
The goal is the development of social interest: the capacity to cooperate, contribute, and act in ways that are good for others and, through that, good for oneself. Coaching, practised this way, is a relationship in service of something larger.
Adler Graduate Professional School coaches on Dream Coach Match
I help senior-level leaders who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unfulfilled to rediscover who they are now, clarify what they want next, and confidently navigate their next chapter of career with purpose and authenticity.
Julie Dupont is a dynamic leadership and executive coach dedicated to transforming lives through curious courageous conversations. With a contagious enthusiasm for personal growth, Julie collaborates with business leaders to enhance communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Julie’s approach focuses on creating a positive impact by leveraging strengths to drive meaningful results.
I like to take a transformational approach by supporting my clients in exploring their values, strengths, and purpose in order for them to shift their perspective and live as their authentic self. I also believe all people to be whole, resourceful, and creative. Therefore, they possess the inner power to drive change by leveraging their strengths to achieve their goals.
Are you ready to take your career to the next level? I'm Tony Masella, an ACC certified coach dedicated to helping professionals like you achieve their career goals. With a collaborative and solution-focused approach, I provide a supportive environment where you can explore your potential, identify obstacles, and develop actionable strategies for success.
Recent writing from Adler Graduate Professional School coaches
Questions about Adler Graduate Professional School
Q.01What is Adler Graduate Professional School?
What is Adler Graduate Professional School?
Adler Graduate Professional School (ADLER) is a Toronto-based graduate institution founded in 1998 that offers coaching certificate programs and psychology degrees. Its coaching program is grounded in Alfred Adler's individual psychology and was the first in Canada to receive ICF accreditation, earning that recognition in 2002.
Q.02Where is ADLER located?
Where is ADLER located?
ADLER is headquartered at 890 Yonge Street, 9th floor, in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It also has international affiliates in Europe, the United States (New York), and Turkey, and offers online delivery to students globally.
Q.03Is ADLER's coaching program ICF-accredited?
Is ADLER's coaching program ICF-accredited?
Yes. The Professional Coaching Certificate Program has held ICF accreditation continuously since 2002, the first program in Canada to earn that designation. The program meets ICF Level 1 education requirements (formerly ACTP), and graduates are eligible to apply for the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential after completing the required coaching hours.
Q.04How long does the ADLER coaching certificate program take?
How long does the ADLER coaching certificate program take?
The full six-part program typically takes around 12 months to complete. It includes three coursework modules (roughly 92 hours of coach education), a practicum (46 hours), mentor coaching (10 hours), and a final performance evaluation. Parts can be taken sequentially at the student's pace.
Q.05How much does the program cost?
How much does the program cost?
The three core coursework modules are each CDN $1,995 + HST. The practicum is CDN $2,900 + HST and mentor coaching CDN $2,500 + HST. The full certificate program therefore runs approximately CDN $11,385 + HST before any additional fees. Prices reflect the current public schedule; custom organizational deliveries are priced separately.
Q.06What is the ACAC designation?
What is the ACAC designation?
The Adler Certified Associate Coach (ACAC) is ADLER's own credential, earned by passing Part 6 of the certificate program, a performance evaluation involving recorded coaching sessions and transcripts. It is ADLER's internal benchmark for graduate readiness, distinct from ICF credentials. Graduates who also complete the required independent coaching hours can then apply to the ICF for the ACC credential.
Q.07What does 'Adlerian coaching' mean in practice?
What does 'Adlerian coaching' mean in practice?
Adlerian coaching draws on Alfred Adler's individual psychology, emphasizing three principles: social interest (the belief that well-being requires contribution to others, not just personal achievement), encouragement (reconnecting clients with their sense of capability), and holistic understanding (treating the person as an integrated whole rather than a bundle of behaviors). In practice, sessions tend to explore patterns of meaning and motivation alongside more conventional goal-setting.
Q.08How is ADLER different from Adler University or Adler Graduate School in Minnesota?
How is ADLER different from Adler University or Adler Graduate School in Minnesota?
Despite sharing a name and Adlerian lineage, these three institutions are entirely independent of one another. Adler University (Chicago) and Adler Graduate School (Minnetonka, MN) focus primarily on counseling and psychology degrees. ADLER in Toronto began explicitly as a coach training organization in 1998 and remains the coaching-specialist school in the Adlerian tradition.
Q.09Does ADLER offer coaching training in languages other than English?
Does ADLER offer coaching training in languages other than English?
Yes. The certificate program is currently offered in both English and Turkish, reflecting ADLER's partnership with Adler Central Europe. International affiliates in Turkey and across Europe run their own cohorts in local languages, all using the same ICF-accredited curriculum.
Q.10What should I ask an ADLER-trained coach before hiring them?
What should I ask an ADLER-trained coach before hiring them?
Ask which ICF credential level they hold (ACC, PCC, or MCC). The ACAC is ADLER's internal designation, whereas ICF credentials are independently verified. Also ask how many total coaching hours they have logged, what client populations they have worked with most, and how they describe their coaching approach. The Adlerian framework tends toward depth and pattern-exploration, so if you prefer a more structured or goal-focused style, clarify that upfront.
Q.11What does an ADLER coaching certificate tell me about a coach?
What does an ADLER coaching certificate tell me about a coach?
An ADLER-trained coach has completed a psychologically grounded, ICF-accredited program that goes considerably deeper into theory than most coach training schools. The Adlerian framework of social interest, encouragement, and holistic understanding shapes both how they listen and what they pursue in a coaching conversation. The ICF accreditation confirms that the program met independently reviewed standards for training hours, mentor coaching, and competency coverage. The ACAC is ADLER's own internal credential; the more meaningful signal of independently assessed competence is whether the coach subsequently earned an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC). One important scope note: coaching is not therapy. ADLER-trained coaches work within a non-clinical scope, helping clients with goals, transitions, and development rather than treating psychological conditions. When a client's needs require clinical support, a well-trained coach recognizes those limits and refers appropriately.