How do I choose a training provider? What is the difference between Paseda360, Animas, and Barefoot Coaching?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of coaching schools out there.

You’re not alone, I remember that feeling well

Before founding Paseda360, I explored several highly regarded providers. Each promised to help me become the best coach I could be. And at face value, they all sounded similar

So how do you choose when everything sounds the same?

I’m Angela Cox, founder of Paseda360. I’ve invested over £120,000 in coach training, explored countless methodologies, and seen first-hand the strengths, and the gaps, of different schools. My intention here isn’t to steer you in one direction. It’s to help you make an informed, empowered decision that’s right for you.

Let’s be honest, this is a big commitment. It costs money, time, and energy. So you deserve to understand what you’re really buying.

Let’s unpack it together.

Start by Reflecting

Before we get into comparisons, take a moment.

• Where are you in your career right now?
• What sort of impact do you want to have?
• Do you want a structured method or space to experiment?
• Are you more interested in working with individuals, teams, or within organisations?
• What kind of coach do you want to become?

These questions will help you align with the provider that best supports your goals.

Philosophies at a Glance

Every coaching school has a central philosophy. It shows up in what they teach, how they teach it, and how their coaches show up in the world.

I’ve chosen two reputable providers and will show how they compare with Paseda360:

🟩 Paseda360

 The “Whole Human” Disruptor

We’re not afraid to say it: coaching needs to change.

Paseda360’s philosophy is built on the belief that coaching isn’t just about powerful questions, following the GROW model, or setting SMART goals. It’s about working with the whole human, past, present and future.

That means going deeper. Understanding how trauma, patterns, and beliefs shape behaviour. Knowing how to regulate nervous systems, not just brainstorm strategies. Our method is neuroscience-backed with a strong focus on the psychology of human behaviour. It’s highly structured, and replicable with the focus on the coach as a practitioner. It’s designed for those who want to create real transformation, not just a short-term mindset shift.

🟦 Animas Centre for Coaching

 The Psychological Explorer

Animas positions itself as an integrative, transformative coaching school. They don’t teach a single method but instead expose students to a wide range of theories and models.

Think of it as a toolkit: humanistic theory, Cognitive-Behavioural principles, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, systemic approaches, and more.

The aim is to help you find “the coach within.” That works well for people who value intellectual flexibility, are comfortable with ambiguity, and want to build their own unique style.

 The Academic Gold Standard

🟨 Barefoot Coaching

With over 30 years in the game, Barefoot Coaching offers a well-established route into coaching, with the added credibility of an academic pathway.

Their training blends classic coaching models (like NLP and Transactional Analysis) with reflective practice, supervision, and university-level accreditation. If you’re looking for a formal Postgraduate Certificate alongside your coaching qualification, and you want that gravitas in sectors like corporate leadership or the public sector, this route may appeal.

📘 From Theory to Practice: What You’ll Actually Learn

Philosophy is one thing. But what does it look like when you’re in the (real or virtual) classroom?

Here’s how the training breaks down across the three providers.

✅ Paseda360: Learn a Replicable Method with Depth

Our flagship is the Advanced Practitioner in Transformational Coaching. It’s a rigorous programme designed to give you a full framework, not just snippets of theory. You’ll learn the proprietary PASEDA Method, a structured process designed to unlock deep personal change, rooted in neuroscience and behavioural psychology.

You’ll also be trained in:

• Havening for Coaches – a psychosensory method to regulate the nervous system, resolve trauma, and build resilience
• Limitless Light Technique – a neuroscience-informed approach to unblocking limiting beliefs by reframing their original formation
• Synopsis Inquiry – our diagnostic process for exploring the good, the bad, and the stuck in a client’s journey
• Tools for stabilising the trauma response, enhancing self-awareness, and rebuilding identity

Training is blended with online modules, virtual and in-person days.  Assessment is robust: observed coaching sessions, case studies based on real client work, team presentations, video demonstrations, and written submissions.

This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about ensuring you know what you’re doing, so you can confidently start coaching straight away.

It’s the pathway to the Master Practitioner Advanced Diploma.

✅ Animas: Build Your Own Coaching Style from a Broad Base

Animas’s Accredited Diploma in Transformative Coaching is designed to give you range and flexibility. You’ll explore six live virtual modules:

1. Core Coaching Skills
2. Thinking and Beliefs
3. Transformative Presence
4. Narrative Transformations
5. Transforming Paradigms
6. Ethics and Professional Practice

You’ll work in small groups of 12–15, with access to on-demand theory videos, ICF mentor coaching, supervision, and observed practice.

Their goal? To help you find your own unique coaching presence by exploring a variety of psychological frameworks and practices. It’s especially appealing if you like to learn through doing, reflecting, and adjusting.

✅ Barefoot: Academic Coaching with Classic Models

Barefoot’s core programme is the Postgraduate Certificate in Business and Personal Coaching. It includes 28 half-day online sessions split into three modules:

1. Foundations of Transformational Coaching
2. Expanding Insight & Deepening Practice
3. Integration, Ethics & Mastery

You’ll explore classic models like NLP, Transactional Analysis, and systemic coaching. There’s strong emphasis on reflective practice and integration of learning.

The programme can stand alone as an ICF-accredited Level 2 route, but you can also choose to complete additional academic assignments to earn a Postgraduate Certificate from the University of Chester.

This dual track makes it especially appealing for those aiming to work in sectors where academic recognition carries weight—like leadership, health, education, or OD.

📜 Accreditation: What Letters Actually Mean

Let’s decode the coaching alphabet soup.

Provider	Main Accreditations	Notes
Paseda360	Association for Coaching (foundation to master), ILM Assured, ACCPH	Multi Accredited. Direct route to AC accreditation at various levels.
Animas	ICF Level 2, EMCC, AC	Triple-accredited; direct route to ICF PCC credential
Barefoot	ICF Level 2, PG Cert (Chester University)	Academic + professional; good for public/corporate/academic clients

ILM carries weight in corporate settings, especially UK-based.

PG Cert opens doors in sectors where formal qualifications matter, and lays the foundation for a full Master’s if you want one later.

📅 Duration and Delivery

All three schools offer flexible formats. Here’s how they compare:

Provider	Format
Paseda360	Blended: Online modules, live virtual  and in-person
Animas	Fully online: Live virtual sessions in small groups
Barefoot	Fully online: 28 half-day Zoom sessions

Each has pros and cons. Some students love the immersive Paseda360 in-person week. Others prefer the slower, steady rhythm of Animas’s year-long approach. Barefoot offers a more intensive route with the option of an academic upgrade.

💸 Investment: What You’ll Actually Pay

This is where it often gets confusing, so we’ve stripped it back.

Provider	Base Cost	Add-ons
Paseda360	£4,500 + VAT	+£500 for AC pathway; +£99/year licence
Animas	£5,995	None required
Barefoot	£6,950 (incl. VAT)	+£1,905 for PG Cert; +£300 for academic support

None of these are “budget” options, and that’s a good thing. You’re building the foundation of your coaching career. The real question is what you gain in return.

🪜 Pathways After Qualification: What’s Possible and Where It Leads

Once you’ve qualified, what then?

A coaching qualification isn’t just a certificate, it’s a passport. But not every passport takes you to the same places. Whether you want to coach privately, join a global coaching platform, work inside organisations, or pursue further study, the pathway your provider sets you on matters.

Let’s look at the typical destinations each school supports—and how clearly that path is laid out.

✅ Paseda360: Structured Progression with Business in Mind

We take our coaches on a clear journey, with defined stages and optional progression routes. Our pathway looks like this:

1. Coaching Readiness – A preparatory course for those brand new to coaching
2. Advanced Practitioner Certificate – The full Paseda360 Method for coaching individuals with depth. Includes Havening for Coaches & Limitless Light Level One Certificate.
3. Master Practitioner Advanced Diploma – Advanced-level work with complex client presentations and leadership application. Includes Gc index accreditation and Havening for Coaches Level Two Certificate.
4. Start Your Coaching Business Accelerator – Practical guidance on pricing, marketing, and building a coaching business
5. Coach Club – Ongoing CPD, community, and supervision
6. Specialist Certifications – Including Human-Centric Team Coaching, Positive Psychology Coaching, and The Leader as a Coach.
7. The National Coaching Conference & Awards – a whole day dedicated to the future of the coaching and celebrating excellence in coaching.

We’re not just focused on getting you qualified. We want you to succeed, ethically, financially, and emotionally. And we don’t leave you to figure it all out alone.

You’ll leave knowing how to:

• Work with trauma, beliefs, identity, and emotion
• Design and deliver full coaching programmes for clients
• Charge confidently and position your offer with clarity
• Avoid burnout and hold boundaries as a practitioner

✅ Animas: Global Recognition and Flexible Career Paths

Animas graduates are well-equipped to explore a wide range of coaching directions. The structure is less about internal progression and more about building your own journey using their global accreditation framework.

Most commonly, their coaches go on to:

• Set up private practices as life, relationship, or wellbeing coaches
• Work as internal coaches within organisations
• Join global platforms like BetterUp and CoachHub (where ICF credentials are a must)
• Pursue further credentials via the ICF PCC pathway
• Join the Animas community for peer coaching, events, and CPD

They also offer a business-focused community, “Coaches Uncaged,” to help new coaches find their feet commercially.

Animas is best suited to you if you want:

• Global mobility and international opportunities
• The credibility of an ICF credential (particularly PCC)
• Freedom to define your own niche and voice over time

✅ Barefoot: Dual Track with Strong Organisational Appeal

Barefoot’s pathway is unique. Their structure appeals most to those who:

• Want a formal academic qualification (via the University of Chester)
• Intend to work inside corporate L&D, academia, or the public sector
• May wish to progress to a Master’s in coaching later on
• Value CPD and specialist credentials (e.g. grief coaching, supervision, team coaching)
• Want to attend a coaching conference with peers every year and stay part of a rich professional network

Barefoot graduates often:

•  Secure roles as internal coaches in larger organisations
•  Work as consultants in L&D and talent development
•  Pursue academic teaching or supervision roles
•  Take their PG Cert forward into a full MA in Coaching

If you’re someone who sees coaching as part of a bigger leadership or OD journey, this is a well-aligned path.

🧩 Systems, Toolkits, or Frameworks?

Let’s sum up the essence of how each school teaches coaching—because it’s where the biggest differences lie.

School	Pedagogical Approach	Best for those who…
Paseda360	A proprietary, structured system	Want a method to master and replicate with clients
Animas	An integrative psychological toolkit	Prefer freedom to craft a coaching approach
Barefoot	An academic framework	Want a university-backed approach with classic models

🧠 Return on Investment (ROI): What Are You Really Buying?

Training as a coach isn’t cheap. But it can absolutely change your life—and your income.

So when we talk about cost, we have to look at value.

Here’s how the ROI plays out across the three:

Paseda360

•  Lower base cost than others, but includes a complete coaching method and business accelerator path
•  Strong return if you want a “done-for-you” structure to launch with
•  Credible accreditations and an active support pathway post training.
•  Graduates regularly charge £150–£200 per session or £1,000+ for half-day packages soon after qualifying

Animas

•  Mid-range price with high global credibility
•  Direct route to ICF PCC opens doors to international coaching platforms
•  Free lifetime group supervision is a huge long-term benefit
•  Strong value if your end goal is ICF recognition or corporate partnerships

Barefoot

• Highest overall investment, but also the only one with university recognition
• The PG Cert can be leveraged for internal promotions, academic positions, or Master’s progression
• Ideal if you’re in a sector where credentials are currency
• Strong long-term ROI for coaches working inside institutions or regulated professions

📌 Summary: What Fits Who?

Best Fit For You If…	Choose Paseda360	Choose Animas	Choose Barefoot
You want a method you can use straight away	✅	❌	❌
You’re drawn to neuroscience, trauma work, and root-cause transformation	✅	❌	❌
You want a flexible toolkit and space to experiment	❌	✅	❌
You want global ICF recognition and a clear PCC route	❌	✅	✅
You want formal academic credit (PG Cert / MA)	❌	❌	✅
You value immersive in-person learning	✅	❌	❌
You prefer virtual learning in small groups	❌	✅	✅
You want a CPD-rich community post-graduation	✅	✅	✅
You want a route to Master Coach Level with AC	✅	❌	❌

💬 Final Thoughts – The School You Choose Shapes the Coach You Become

There’s no perfect provider. But there is a perfect fit for you.

Whether you’re drawn to the structured depth of Paseda360, the theoretical breadth of Animas, or the academic rigour of Barefoot, what matters is that you align with a school that feels right for your goals, your values, and your voice.

Don’t rush it. This decision shapes how you coach, who you serve, and how you show up in the world.

I’d suggest your first step is to speak to previous students and read the google reviews of all three providers. Then book a call with each one. You’ll feel a connection to the right one.

🎓 Want to Explore the Paseda360 Pathway?

If you’re curious about our neuroscience-backed, whole-human approach to transformational coaching, here’s what you can do next:

               •             ✅ Watch our free webinar

               •             💬 Chat with our team on WhatsApp

               •             📅 Book a no-pressure discovery call

We’ll help you decide whether Paseda360 is the right fit—and if it’s not, we’ll happily point you to someone who is.

Because it’s not about pushing you into a programme.

It’s about helping you become the coach you were meant to be.