Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Coach to the Max.
What Is Coach to the Max?
What is Coach to the Max?
Coach to the Max is an AI-powered coaching practice tool. It's NOT an AI coach — it's the opposite. The AI plays the client or prospect, and YOU practice being the coach. Think of it like a flight simulator for coaching — you get realistic practice with detailed feedback, without the risk of a real session going wrong.
Is this an AI coach that will coach me?
No. Coach to the Max doesn't coach you — it lets you practice coaching. The AI plays a realistic client or prospect persona, and you practice your coaching or discovery call skills on them. After the call, you receive a rubric-based assessment of your performance.
Who is Coach to the Max for?
It's built for coaching students working toward certification (ICF, NBHWC, or any program), new coaches building confidence before working with real clients, and practicing coaches who want to sharpen specific skills, try new approaches, or prepare for a challenging upcoming session.
How is this different from practicing with a peer?
Three big differences: (1) It's available 24/7 — no scheduling, no cancellations, no time zone juggling. (2) There's no judgment — you can mess up, try again, experiment with different approaches without anyone watching. (3) You get scored, rubric-based feedback after every session — not just "good job, your turn."
How It Works
How does a practice session work?
You choose a persona (or build your own), select a rubric to be assessed on, and start the call. You talk right through your browser, connected with your AI persona for a real, unscripted voice conversation. It's not a chatbot or text-based roleplay — it's an actual conversation. After the call, you receive a detailed assessment via email.
Do I need to download an app?
No. Coach to the Max is entirely web-based. Go to coachtothemax.com, pick a persona, and talk right in your browser. No app download, no software installation.
How does the call work?
The call happens right in your browser — just click start, allow microphone access, and you're connected with the AI persona for a natural, unscripted conversation.
How long is a typical practice session?
That's up to you. Most sessions run 10-20 minutes, but you can go shorter or longer. The AI persona will respond naturally for as long as you want to practice.
What are the two modes — discovery call and coaching session?
Each persona has two sides. In Discovery Call mode, the persona plays a skeptical prospect — you practice converting them into a client. In Coaching Session mode, the same persona plays a client with real challenges — you practice coaching them through their issues. They're completely independent — you don't need to do a discovery call before coaching, or vice versa. Jump into whichever one interests you, or do both.
Do I get a recording of my practice session?
Yes! Every assessment email includes a "Play Recording" link near the top. Click it to listen to your session — on most computers it will download an audio file you can play in any media player, and on mobile devices it will typically play right in your browser. Listening back alongside your rubric-based feedback is one of the best ways to improve — most coaches are surprised by what they hear when they listen back.
What happens if I get stuck during a call?
Real-time support is built in. If you freeze up or lose your train of thought, you can get guidance during the call to help you recover and keep going — no need to hang up and start over.
Can I skip the intro and jump straight into the session?
Yes! Facilitator Fran greets you at the beginning of every call, but you can interrupt her at any point to begin your session. Just say something like "I want to begin coaching now" or "Let's start the session" and she'll hand you off to your persona right away.
What is the Transcript Assessor?
The Transcript Assessor lets you get a rubric-based assessment on any real coaching or discovery call — not just practice sessions. Paste your transcript or upload a .txt, .vtt, or .srt file, choose a rubric, and receive a detailed assessment via email with competency scores, key strengths, missed opportunities with suggested rewrites, and an overall score. Non-subscribers can try one free assessment. Subscribers get unlimited use.
Personas
Who are the preset personas?
There are four preset personas, each with a unique personality, backstory, and set of challenges: Maxanne (28, Project Coordinator) — skeptical prospect, dealing with weight management and high blood pressure. Maxette (30, Senior Analyst) — too busy, battling performance anxiety. Maximillian (35, Technical Manager) — wants ROI proof, struggling to transition to leadership. Maxine (34, Mid-level Manager) — not ready yet, dreaming of an AI agency but paralyzed by indecision.
Can I build my own persona?
Yes! You can create a custom AI client or prospect with specific personality traits, challenges, communication style, and goals. This is perfect for preparing for a real upcoming session, practicing with a difficult client type, or rehearsing for your specific coaching niche. Custom persona building is a member feature.
Can I practice with the same persona multiple times?
Absolutely. Each conversation is unique — the AI won't repeat the same script. You can practice with the same persona multiple times and get different responses, objections, and dynamics each time.
Rubrics & Assessments
What rubrics are available?
For discovery calls: S.P.I.N.-Aligned (consultative selling framework by Neil Rackham) and Sandler-Aligned (Pain, Budget, Decision framework). For coaching sessions: ICF-Aligned (International Coach Federation Core Competencies), G.R.O.W.-Aligned (Goal, Reality, Options, Will), NHS Health & Wellbeing-Aligned (NHS health coaching competency standards), and Functional Medicine Coaching-Aligned (NBHWC + Institute for Functional Medicine framework). You can also build your own custom rubric.
Can I create my own rubric?
Yes. You can build a custom assessment rubric using your coaching program's specific criteria — whether that's ICF competencies, a GROW variation, your school's proprietary framework, or anything else. This is especially valuable for coaching practicum prep. Custom rubric building is a member feature.
How does the assessment work?
After every practice call, you receive a detailed assessment via email along with a recording of your session. Each competency in your chosen rubric is scored on a 1-5 scale (Needs Significant Development to Exemplary) with specific evidence drawn from your actual conversation transcript. You'll see exactly what you did well and where to improve, with specific examples from the call. Listen back to your recording alongside the feedback for the full picture.
Which rubric should I use?
If you're preparing for your coaching practicum, use the rubric that matches your program (ICF-Aligned for ICF programs, etc.) or build a custom one with your program's exact criteria. If you're just practicing general skills, ICF-Aligned is a solid default for coaching sessions, and SPIN-Aligned works well for discovery calls. You can try different rubrics on the same persona to see how your approach scores across frameworks.
Can I use this to prepare for my coaching practicum?
Yes — this is one of the most powerful use cases. Build a custom client that matches your practicum scenario, select the rubric that aligns with your program's criteria (or build a custom one), and practice until you're confident. It's the closest thing to a dress rehearsal.
I want to build a custom rubric but I'm not sure what to include. Any tips?
Start by browsing our built-in rubrics — they're great examples of well-structured frameworks. A good custom rubric has clear competency names (like "Active Listening" or "Establishing Trust"), a brief description of what each one means, and enough categories to cover the skills you care about (typically 4-8). If you're preparing for your coaching practicum, use your program's official competency list. You don't need to overthink it — even a simple rubric will give you useful feedback, and you can always refine it after seeing your first assessment.
What happens if my custom rubric isn't very detailed?
You'll still get an assessment, but the feedback will be more general. The more specific your competencies and descriptions are, the more targeted and actionable the feedback will be. If your first assessment feels too vague, try adding more detail to your rubric descriptions or switch to one of our built-in frameworks as a starting point.
How is a Transcript Assessor assessment different from a practice session assessment?
The Transcript Assessor gives a more detailed analysis than practice session assessments. It quotes your exact words from the transcript, provides 4-6 sentences per competency with specific enhancement suggestions, highlights 3-5 key strengths and 3-5 missed opportunities with suggested rewrites, and includes a practice exercise tailored to your biggest growth areas. It's designed for deeper review of real conversations.
Pricing
How much does it cost?
$29/month, cancel anytime. Your first practice call is free — you get the full scored assessment before you pay anything.
What do I get with the free call?
One full practice call in your browser with an AI client, plus the same detailed, rubric-based assessment subscribers get. No credit card.
Do I need a credit card to try it?
Not for your free call — just an email address. A card is only needed when you subscribe.
What's included in the $29/month?
Everything. All personas, both modes (discovery call and coaching session), all built-in rubrics, custom persona building, custom rubric building, session recordings, an emailed assessment after every call, and unlimited Transcript Assessor submissions.
Can I create custom personas and rubrics?
Yes, with a subscription. They're saved to your account, so anything you build stays where you left it.
What if I subscribe and change my mind?
Cancel anytime from your account, or email support@coachtothemax.com.
Technical & Account
What countries is this available in?
Browser-based calls work worldwide — practice from anywhere with an internet connection.
I'm outside the US — will this work for me?
Yes! Browser-based calls work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
How do I log in?
Click "Log In" on the site and enter the email address you used when you signed up. Your email is verified against your Stripe subscription.
I subscribed but it says I don't have access. What do I do?
Make sure you're logging in with the same email you used to sign up. If you're still having trouble, email support@coachtothemax.com and we'll sort it out quickly.
How do I contact support?
Email support@coachtothemax.com. You can also reply directly to any email you receive from Coach to the Max.
Can I book a demo or walkthrough?
Yes! Lisa (the founder) offers free 15-minute tours. Book one at cal.com/lisamariegrace/15-min-coach-to-the-max-tour
About
Who built Coach to the Max?
Coach to the Max was built by Lisa Grace, an ICF ACC Coach and NBHWC Functional Medicine Coach. Lisa went through two coaching certification programs and never had enough meaningful practice before working with real clients — peer sessions were scheduled weeks out, friends gave nice but unhelpful feedback, and discovery calls? She was expected to just figure it out. She built Coach to the Max to be the practice tool she wished she'd had.
Is my practice session data private?
Yes. Your call recordings and assessments are private to your account. We don't share your practice data with anyone.
Does this count as practice hours for coaching programs?
Currently, most programs are only counting hours with real people, but if you find it valuable, we'd love you to share this with your instructor and/or program leads and ask them to consider counting it towards unpaid coaching hours. And it's sure more reliable than keeping a manual log. We'd be happy to provide you with your hours tallies.