They claim they are a 'destinctly Christian' school, but they also teach occult practices. They also have a financial deal with an International Coaching Federation (ICF) complaints review board member.
The founder of PCCI (Christopher McCluskey) has a publishing company called Mount Tabor Media. The review board member (Michael Marx) of ICF has a conflict of interest, so how can a student file a complaint with the ICF and have a fair and just review given?
(See the very last email at the bottom of complaint for the email I sent to Michael Marx)
Michael Marx receives royalty checks from Mount Tabor Media and at first he denied having any dealings with McCluskey, but then admitted he gets checks.
If you question their practices and ask about the potential conflict of interest with the ICF, they first attempt to silence you, then they ban you and shun you and keep your money, even though you didn't get to finish the coaching credential path for their school. Thousands of dollars has been kept by this school that lied about their 'destinctly Christian' claim.
They started scrubbing their site of the occult teaching after I complained, but a lot of it is still there. I have asked for a refund but I've been given the silent treatment by all staff members. It's as if I don't exist to them.
This is not the behavior of a Christian school. It's the behavior of a cult.
It doesn't appear to matter how much you paid for your classes either, or that you are still a student. They ban you and ignore your complaints. This sounds more like a cult, not a Christian coaching school. So, let me explain what led up to this complaint being filed so I can warn others.
If you are considering getting coaching creditials, you need to be aware that the International Coaching Federation mixes their staff and volunteers among those whom they are suppose to review complaints against, should their be a need for a student to file a complaint.
It appears to be a good ole boy network of some sort, by people setting themselves up to monitor coaches even though the coaching industry is not regulated.
DETAILS:
The coaching industry is not a regulated one like counseling is. You can pretty much call yourself a coach for whatever you want your niche to be in, and there is no governing body that will oversee your coaching practice.
When I started my coaching journey, I would be teaming with a counselor to provide coaching services, and since counselors have a governing body that oversees their practice, I also wanted credentials.
There is a dominant, self-appointed credential standard entity called the International Coach Federation (ICF) that is commonly used by coaches to gain credentials and certifications. (https://coachingfederation.org/)
Their requirements for certification is that you obtain a certain number of hours from an ICF approved training program, plus you take an exam and pay the certification fee. You also have to keep up continuing education units, much like counselors have to.
In fact, it follows a lot of the requirements a counselor would have to follow, except that, like I said, certification is not required, and not regulated.
As a Christian, I wanted to choose a training program that is Bible-based, and so I chose the Professional Christian Coaching Institute (PCCI). (https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/)
They are an ICF approved school and they state this on their site:
"Every course at PCCI is aligned with ICF standards. All of our instructors are successful ICF-certified coaches. And all of our courses are pre-approved by the ICF as ACSTH: Approved Coach-Specific Training Hours.
Our CPLC credentials do double-duty, enabling you to exceed course requirements for the first level of ICF certification, the Associate Certified Coach (ACC).
Combining our four Core Courses with our business-development course (The Successful Coach) and any other single course of your choosing enables you to exceed the course requirements for the ICF’s advanced level of certification, the Professional Certified Coach (PCC)."
They require four core classes before you can get their first certification, for a total of 104 training hours. They also require 5 hours of 1:1 mentor coaching, plus 50 hours of compensated coaching experience.
The four courses include:
1. The Essentials of Life Coaching $2,000
2. Coaching Skills Development $1,250
3. Ethical Practice and Risk Management $500
4. Coaching Skills Mastery $1,250
The two elective classes I chose in order to get the PCC advanced certification are:
1. The Successful Coach $1,000
2. Developing Emotional Intelligence Through Coaching. $1000
By May 2nd, I had completed all but one class, which is the Coaching Skills Mastery class. I paid more than the posted fees because I chose the payment plan method. I had paid the deposit plus two payments and my last class would start May 26, 2022.
I lined up my mentor coach for the required 1:1 mentoring hours, and I was planning to further my education with PCCI for classes that would continue my education for years to come.
Recently, the ICF began rebranding itself to One ICF, and the detailed direction of their standards are not entirely posted yet. Some of the information will apparently be disclosed in the Fall of 2022. They have so many Web sites, and so many branches running in different directions that it's hard to tell what they're doing as they rebrand.
If you go look at some of the resources they mention, then you can find out 3rd party information, such as the UN 2030 agenda, and Paris agreement about climate change.
I wanted to do more research about where the ICF stands before I get creditials through them. They are not a Christian-based organization, so I started researching who they are.
It is operated by a for profit entity, Associations International, Inc. (https://associationsinternational.com/people/). This firm has the authority to hire, fire, and set standards.
The ICF has already, or is in the process of adopting the Charter of the United Nations. Until they complete their site, the ICF is not being clear what this will mean for Christian coaches. Even their credentialing process is unclear, and under construction. They are transitioning to levels, and not all the levels are clear, yet.
I wanted to do more research on what this means to Christians before I alligned myself with the ICF standards for certification, due to their rebranding, and finding out that they are actually not one organization, but a conglomerate of entities. It appears control of them is in the hands of a for profit entity that manages a multitude of firms.
I withdrew from the Coaching Skills Mastery class for the May starting date so I can learn more about who I was aligning myself with. However, I continued to be a PCCI student, making regular monthly payments, participating in their PCCI Family Facebook group, and their PCCI main Facebook group. I also still have my class files and records in their student dashboard area.
I am specializing in emotional intelligence and brain profile assessments and was researching the various assessments. My main consideration is DiSC. I ruled out the Enneagram because of its cult roots. The Enneagram got its foundation from a mystic, and through divination practices.
As a Christian, I am Bible based and we are forbidden by God to be involved in divination and similar practices. (See Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
On May 13, 2022, I wrote to PCCI staff explaining I didn't want to be governed by the ICF, and that I wanted to be full on, 100%, leading people to discover about the good works God prepared beforehand for them to walk in.
PCCI students are encouraged by staff to ask questions and get feedback from staff and fellow students in their Facebook groups. I wanted to know where coaches and staff stood on their understanding of the Enneagram. I asked the following in the PCCI Family group.
"I have a question about coaching with the Enneagram.
Is it true this teaching was first started by an occultists who designed the logo without personalities in mind, and then it was passed on to another occultist, who add the 9 personality types, then adopted by Christians and changed to the Biblical meaning?
Much like Christmas and Easter begining in pagan rituals, then adopted by Christians and changed..."
This began a very civil and much needed discussion among staff and students. One staff member, Emily Eichstadt, ACC (Community Coordinator) sent me to a link on the Enneagram, published on the PCCI site. It had a podcast presented by:
Christopher McCluskey, founder of PCCI
Kim Avery, a PCCI instructor, and
Teresa McCloy, a PCCI staff
All three of them brought up the concerns about the enneagram, but then suggested we "live with it a while" and see that we can use it as a tool in our coaching.
This concerned me because this is supposed to be a Christian school. They even state on their site that they are a 'distinctly Christian' school, but this is deceptive if they are teaching us to "live with it" concerning the enneagram.
Because of my post in the Facebook group, other students of PCCI were bringing up the occult links to the enneagram, and their concerns. McCluskey interrupted our disccussion and attempted to silence us, not only within the group, but to silence us outside of PCCI.
This is not a tactict that shows evidence of a Christian caught in wrong doing, and wanting to make corrections. Instead, it shows how cult leaders, guilty people, and corrupt people behave to silence those who oppose what they are doing.
I wrote to McCluskey outside of the PCCI Family group, and explained my concerns after I started researching him and his network. I didn't understand why he wasn't denouncing the enneagram.
I began researching McCluskey and found out he has a financial link to an ICF complaint board member, who also was listed as an instructor for PCCI. I asked McCluskey about this link and the potential conflict of interest. He didn't respond back to me.
I asked why he shut down a much needed conversation about occult teachings within a Christian school, and the potential conflict of interest he has with ICF.
He tried to refund the deposit and some of the money for the last class I cancelled as a "gift" to me, but rather than discuss his and his staff's affiliation with the occult teaching, and potential conflict of interested with the ICF complaints board member, he hid behind his staff member, and she sent me the message about him giving me a gift for the ethics class I was still making payments on, by not requiring any more payments.
I responded back to Jessica Fall, the Dean of Admissions, the following:
---
"I don't need a financial blessing from Chris, Jessica. I need a response from a Christian leader, as about the occult rooted teachings going on in a Christian school I trusted would be Christian.
Instead of a response, he's sending you as the messenger? I still want a response.
What are PCCI plans going forward when you all know where the enneagram plan came from.
Again, please apply the balance to what I owe, and let me know how much I still owe on the ethics class. If you blind cc'd him in your response to me, thank you. I'll add him as well.
Where does PCCI stand on enneagram teachings? He said he was going to remove it from the site, but it's still there, in two podcasts.
This issue is not resolved right now. I paid you guys thousands of dollars with the integrity belief that you are Christian, but you dabble in darkness. That's a lot of money you received. You broke that trust and integrity.
I think it's fair that I hear it from him as to what standing you are going to take. Are you going to give up the enneagram teachings as a Christian school?"
---
She sent me another email asking me to confirm my correct address. I responded:
--
"Yes, you have the correct address.
I'm not done with this, though. If your school doesn't denounce the occult teaching, I will be requesting a full refund for all classes, or I will begin the official complaint process. This is very troubling, because I need to know where your leaders stand on this issue.
I was one class away from working on my PCCI certification, but the Bible is very clear about aligning ourselves with those who practice darkness. I can't even use the Trained by logo on my site, or have it as my credentials because ALL of us have to stand before God.
The reason I am having you put the money over to my ethics class is because I am fulfilling my obligation as a student. I am still considered a student, and a part of the PCCI family right now, pending the outcome of your decision to denounce the occult teachings.
I expect to be allowed to stay in the Facebook groups as well, until I hear back from Chris as to what he plans to do. Since this is a serious issue, I don't want it delayed because I need to know where we stand in choosing between God's kingdom, and the kingdom of Satan.
Have I wasted my money with your school? That's fine if you want to continue the direction you're going, but I will request a full refund so I can go after certification thought a Christian credential process.
I will also go public, because I feel like this is deception in the worst way, considering Chris, Kim, and Teresa knew the origin of the teaching, but told their students to live with it so they can see it as a tool for coaching.
I'm not going to pay money to a school that dabbles in darkness, and I will fight this unless Chris denounces it, removes it from the sites like he said he was going to do, and stops teaching it. You can't serve God and Satan. Pick one!"
---
Even though I was emailing staff privately, and not disclosing this in the Facebook groups, I was banned from both of the groups, and shunned.
The staff refused to address my concerns about the occult teachings, the appearance of an ICF conflict of interest, and my request for a refund since I couldn't finish my certification process.
Professional Christian Coaching Institute Reviews
They claim they are a 'destinctly Christian' school, but they also teach occult practices. They also have a financial deal with an International Coaching Federation (ICF) complaints review board member.
The founder of PCCI (Christopher McCluskey) has a publishing company called Mount Tabor Media. The review board member (Michael Marx) of ICF has a conflict of interest, so how can a student file a complaint with the ICF and have a fair and just review given?
(See the very last email at the bottom of complaint for the email I sent to Michael Marx)
Michael Marx receives royalty checks from Mount Tabor Media and at first he denied having any dealings with McCluskey, but then admitted he gets checks.
If you question their practices and ask about the potential conflict of interest with the ICF, they first attempt to silence you, then they ban you and shun you and keep your money, even though you didn't get to finish the coaching credential path for their school. Thousands of dollars has been kept by this school that lied about their 'destinctly Christian' claim.
They started scrubbing their site of the occult teaching after I complained, but a lot of it is still there. I have asked for a refund but I've been given the silent treatment by all staff members. It's as if I don't exist to them.
This is not the behavior of a Christian school. It's the behavior of a cult.
It doesn't appear to matter how much you paid for your classes either, or that you are still a student. They ban you and ignore your complaints. This sounds more like a cult, not a Christian coaching school. So, let me explain what led up to this complaint being filed so I can warn others.
If you are considering getting coaching creditials, you need to be aware that the International Coaching Federation mixes their staff and volunteers among those whom they are suppose to review complaints against, should their be a need for a student to file a complaint.
It appears to be a good ole boy network of some sort, by people setting themselves up to monitor coaches even though the coaching industry is not regulated.
DETAILS:
The coaching industry is not a regulated one like counseling is. You can pretty much call yourself a coach for whatever you want your niche to be in, and there is no governing body that will oversee your coaching practice.
When I started my coaching journey, I would be teaming with a counselor to provide coaching services, and since counselors have a governing body that oversees their practice, I also wanted credentials.
There is a dominant, self-appointed credential standard entity called the International Coach Federation (ICF) that is commonly used by coaches to gain credentials and certifications. (https://coachingfederation.org/)
Their requirements for certification is that you obtain a certain number of hours from an ICF approved training program, plus you take an exam and pay the certification fee. You also have to keep up continuing education units, much like counselors have to.
In fact, it follows a lot of the requirements a counselor would have to follow, except that, like I said, certification is not required, and not regulated.
As a Christian, I wanted to choose a training program that is Bible-based, and so I chose the Professional Christian Coaching Institute (PCCI). (https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/)
They are an ICF approved school and they state this on their site:
"Every course at PCCI is aligned with ICF standards. All of our instructors are successful ICF-certified coaches. And all of our courses are pre-approved by the ICF as ACSTH: Approved Coach-Specific Training Hours.
Our CPLC credentials do double-duty, enabling you to exceed course requirements for the first level of ICF certification, the Associate Certified Coach (ACC).
Combining our four Core Courses with our business-development course (The Successful Coach) and any other single course of your choosing enables you to exceed the course requirements for the ICF’s advanced level of certification, the Professional Certified Coach (PCC)."
They require four core classes before you can get their first certification, for a total of 104 training hours. They also require 5 hours of 1:1 mentor coaching, plus 50 hours of compensated coaching experience.
The four courses include:
1. The Essentials of Life Coaching $2,000
2. Coaching Skills Development $1,250
3. Ethical Practice and Risk Management $500
4. Coaching Skills Mastery $1,250
The two elective classes I chose in order to get the PCC advanced certification are:
1. The Successful Coach $1,000
2. Developing Emotional Intelligence Through Coaching. $1000
By May 2nd, I had completed all but one class, which is the Coaching Skills Mastery class. I paid more than the posted fees because I chose the payment plan method. I had paid the deposit plus two payments and my last class would start May 26, 2022.
I lined up my mentor coach for the required 1:1 mentoring hours, and I was planning to further my education with PCCI for classes that would continue my education for years to come.
Recently, the ICF began rebranding itself to One ICF, and the detailed direction of their standards are not entirely posted yet. Some of the information will apparently be disclosed in the Fall of 2022. They have so many Web sites, and so many branches running in different directions that it's hard to tell what they're doing as they rebrand.
If you go look at some of the resources they mention, then you can find out 3rd party information, such as the UN 2030 agenda, and Paris agreement about climate change.
I wanted to do more research about where the ICF stands before I get creditials through them. They are not a Christian-based organization, so I started researching who they are.
It is operated by a for profit entity, Associations International, Inc. (https://associationsinternational.com/people/). This firm has the authority to hire, fire, and set standards.
The ICF has already, or is in the process of adopting the Charter of the United Nations. Until they complete their site, the ICF is not being clear what this will mean for Christian coaches. Even their credentialing process is unclear, and under construction. They are transitioning to levels, and not all the levels are clear, yet.
I wanted to do more research on what this means to Christians before I alligned myself with the ICF standards for certification, due to their rebranding, and finding out that they are actually not one organization, but a conglomerate of entities. It appears control of them is in the hands of a for profit entity that manages a multitude of firms.
I withdrew from the Coaching Skills Mastery class for the May starting date so I can learn more about who I was aligning myself with. However, I continued to be a PCCI student, making regular monthly payments, participating in their PCCI Family Facebook group, and their PCCI main Facebook group. I also still have my class files and records in their student dashboard area.
I am specializing in emotional intelligence and brain profile assessments and was researching the various assessments. My main consideration is DiSC. I ruled out the Enneagram because of its cult roots. The Enneagram got its foundation from a mystic, and through divination practices.
As a Christian, I am Bible based and we are forbidden by God to be involved in divination and similar practices. (See Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
On May 13, 2022, I wrote to PCCI staff explaining I didn't want to be governed by the ICF, and that I wanted to be full on, 100%, leading people to discover about the good works God prepared beforehand for them to walk in.
PCCI students are encouraged by staff to ask questions and get feedback from staff and fellow students in their Facebook groups. I wanted to know where coaches and staff stood on their understanding of the Enneagram. I asked the following in the PCCI Family group.
"I have a question about coaching with the Enneagram.
Is it true this teaching was first started by an occultists who designed the logo without personalities in mind, and then it was passed on to another occultist, who add the 9 personality types, then adopted by Christians and changed to the Biblical meaning?
Much like Christmas and Easter begining in pagan rituals, then adopted by Christians and changed..."
This began a very civil and much needed discussion among staff and students. One staff member, Emily Eichstadt, ACC (Community Coordinator) sent me to a link on the Enneagram, published on the PCCI site. It had a podcast presented by:
Christopher McCluskey, founder of PCCI
Kim Avery, a PCCI instructor, and
Teresa McCloy, a PCCI staff
All three of them brought up the concerns about the enneagram, but then suggested we "live with it a while" and see that we can use it as a tool in our coaching.
This concerned me because this is supposed to be a Christian school. They even state on their site that they are a 'distinctly Christian' school, but this is deceptive if they are teaching us to "live with it" concerning the enneagram.
Because of my post in the Facebook group, other students of PCCI were bringing up the occult links to the enneagram, and their concerns. McCluskey interrupted our disccussion and attempted to silence us, not only within the group, but to silence us outside of PCCI.
This is not a tactict that shows evidence of a Christian caught in wrong doing, and wanting to make corrections. Instead, it shows how cult leaders, guilty people, and corrupt people behave to silence those who oppose what they are doing.
I wrote to McCluskey outside of the PCCI Family group, and explained my concerns after I started researching him and his network. I didn't understand why he wasn't denouncing the enneagram.
McCloy has this information for her staff bio:
"Teresa is Founder and CEO of the REALIFE Process®, LLC. She is a CPLC and ACC Credentialed Life and Leadership Coach through Professional Christian Coaching Institute, consultant, speaker, and trainer. Teresa is a certified Spiritual Director through Sustainable Faith and is also certified with ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul."
I began researching McCluskey and found out he has a financial link to an ICF complaint board member, who also was listed as an instructor for PCCI. I asked McCluskey about this link and the potential conflict of interest. He didn't respond back to me.
I asked why he shut down a much needed conversation about occult teachings within a Christian school, and the potential conflict of interest he has with ICF.
He tried to refund the deposit and some of the money for the last class I cancelled as a "gift" to me, but rather than discuss his and his staff's affiliation with the occult teaching, and potential conflict of interested with the ICF complaints board member, he hid behind his staff member, and she sent me the message about him giving me a gift for the ethics class I was still making payments on, by not requiring any more payments.
I responded back to Jessica Fall, the Dean of Admissions, the following:
---
"I don't need a financial blessing from Chris, Jessica. I need a response from a Christian leader, as about the occult rooted teachings going on in a Christian school I trusted would be Christian.
Instead of a response, he's sending you as the messenger? I still want a response.
What are PCCI plans going forward when you all know where the enneagram plan came from.
Again, please apply the balance to what I owe, and let me know how much I still owe on the ethics class. If you blind cc'd him in your response to me, thank you. I'll add him as well.
Where does PCCI stand on enneagram teachings? He said he was going to remove it from the site, but it's still there, in two podcasts.
This issue is not resolved right now. I paid you guys thousands of dollars with the integrity belief that you are Christian, but you dabble in darkness. That's a lot of money you received. You broke that trust and integrity.
I think it's fair that I hear it from him as to what standing you are going to take. Are you going to give up the enneagram teachings as a Christian school?"
---
She sent me another email asking me to confirm my correct address. I responded:
--
"Yes, you have the correct address.
I'm not done with this, though. If your school doesn't denounce the occult teaching, I will be requesting a full refund for all classes, or I will begin the official complaint process. This is very troubling, because I need to know where your leaders stand on this issue.
I was one class away from working on my PCCI certification, but the Bible is very clear about aligning ourselves with those who practice darkness. I can't even use the Trained by logo on my site, or have it as my credentials because ALL of us have to stand before God.
The reason I am having you put the money over to my ethics class is because I am fulfilling my obligation as a student. I am still considered a student, and a part of the PCCI family right now, pending the outcome of your decision to denounce the occult teachings.
I expect to be allowed to stay in the Facebook groups as well, until I hear back from Chris as to what he plans to do. Since this is a serious issue, I don't want it delayed because I need to know where we stand in choosing between God's kingdom, and the kingdom of Satan.
Have I wasted my money with your school? That's fine if you want to continue the direction you're going, but I will request a full refund so I can go after certification thought a Christian credential process.
I will also go public, because I feel like this is deception in the worst way, considering Chris, Kim, and Teresa knew the origin of the teaching, but told their students to live with it so they can see it as a tool for coaching.
I'm not going to pay money to a school that dabbles in darkness, and I will fight this unless Chris denounces it, removes it from the sites like he said he was going to do, and stops teaching it. You can't serve God and Satan. Pick one!"
---
Even though I was emailing staff privately, and not disclosing this in the Facebook groups, I was banned from both of the groups, and shunned.
The staff refused to address my concerns about the occult teachings, the appearance of an ICF conflict of interest, and my request for a refund since I couldn't finish my certification process.
I sent the following email to the staff:
---