Last updated on February 13, 2024
Do you have an innate passion for integrative life coaching? Is helping others create a more balanced and fulfilling life your calling? If you’re nodding in agreement, it might be time to consider becoming a certified integrative life coach.
The first step to embarking on this new career path is getting certified. To make the best decision for your personal development and your career, we’ll help you navigate the multitude of certification choices. Let’s review the best integrative life coach certification programs.
- Integrative Wellness Academy – Best for Beginners
- Natural Wellness Academy – Best for Life and Health Coaching
- School of Positive Transformation – Best for Learning Diverse Coaching Styles
- International Association of Counselors & Therapists – Best for Accelerated Learning
- The Institute for Integrative Intelligence – Best for Tiered Learning
Table of Contents
What Is Integrative Life Coaching?
Integrative life coaching is a type of life coaching that embraces a holistic approach. The goal is to help individuals achieve personal and emotional growth by combining various techniques and strategies from different areas of life, such as personal development, emotional intelligence, and goal setting. Integrative life coaches guide clients to lead more balanced, fulfilling lives by addressing different aspects of their well-being, including mental, emotional, and physical health.
Integrative Life Coaching vs. Traditional Life Coaching
Integrative life coaching transcends traditional life coaching by encompassing both personal development and emotional healing. While traditional coaches focus on setting and achieving goals, integrative life coaches employ a broader toolkit, integrating mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness. They help clients break free from the past, overcome harmful habits, and create lasting, meaningful change.
How To Become an Integrative Life Coach
Becoming an integrative life coach involves education, practical experience, ongoing learning, specialization, and building a client base. The easiest path toward achieving all these goals and building expertise in integrative life coaching is through certification programs.
Integrative coaching certification isn’t a strict requirement for being a life coach, but it provides structured guidance and in-depth knowledge that accelerates your development and proficiency in integrative life coaching. Niche training and certification also lend credibility and build trust with clients as it assures them of your competence and commitment to their well-being.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Life Coach Integrative Certification Training
Curriculum and program offerings aren’t the only influential factors that will shape your decision. The cost of the program, its duration and format, and accreditation also play a vital role.
Program Cost
When selecting an integrative life coaching certification program, one significant factor to consider is the cost. The pricing of programs is quite diverse, so it can be a good idea to establish a budget upfront and use it as a guide when you’re searching for the most suitable program.
Course Length
The duration of the certification program is another crucial factor to consider. Some programs offer self-paced learning so you can tailor the schedule to your needs and commitments. This flexibility can be an advantage if you have a busy lifestyle or other responsibilities like a full-time job.
Accreditation
Accreditation is a key consideration when choosing a certification program, but ultimately it depends on your personal preference. Programs that are accredited by reputable coaching organizations ensure that the curriculum and training meet industry standards. Accreditation is advantageous as it validates the quality of your training and enhances your credibility as a coach. The most prestigious accreditation in the coaching industry is the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Best Integrative Life Coach Certifications
Best for Beginners: Integrative Wellness Academy
The Integrative Life Coaching Certification course from Integrative Wellness Academy is a robust program that blends training in coaching skills, integrative life coaching, and business development. It’s a great fit for those with no prior experience.
The course begins with the foundational competencies of life coaching, like questioning, active listening, coaching agreements, and creating awareness. Then, it progresses to integrative coaching and equips you with a unique holistic life model, combining inside-out and outside-in coaching techniques.
You will gain insight into over 20 different healing modalities and techniques like NLP, ECM, CBT, meditation, and emotional healing. To ensure that you can launch and run your practice with confidence, the program provides guidance on business essentials, including planning, specialization, insurance, legal aspects, pricing, marketing, and selling your services.
- Course Length: Self-paced (up to 6 months)
- Program Cost: $1,200
- Accreditation: None
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Life and Health Coaching Option: Natural Wellness Academy
Natural Wellness Academy provides a solution if you want to learn life coaching skills and specialize in integrative health coaching. The Holistic Health and Life Coaching course teaches you how to guide others in a holistic way, addressing their mind, body, and spirit as a whole.
Through comprehensive training, personalized mentoring, and practical training, the program sets you up with tools to help individuals make lasting positive changes. You will receive a holistic health and life coaching reference manual, the Academy’s proprietary psychological tools, and guidance on business development. The program is self-paced with an optional 2-day hands-on intensive.
- Course Length: Self-paced
- Program Cost: $2,795
- Accreditation: AADP
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Diverse Coaching Styles Option: School of Positive Transformation
What sets the Accredited Certificate in Integrative Coaching (ACIC) program apart is its incorporation of various coaching styles. This diversity can shape you into an adaptable and successful coach. You’ll have the opportunity to watch coaching demonstrations by top coaches so you can learn and apply their coaching methods.
You will gain access to an array of resources, including videos, activities, and exercises. The program also fosters a supportive online community, with optional live Q&A sessions. A unique perk is the one-year free membership with the Association for Coaching (AC), which will connect you with an extensive network of experienced coaches and peers.
Accelerated Learning Option: International Association of Counselors & Therapists (IACT)
The certification program from the International Association of Counselors & Therapists (IACT) spans four intensive days of learning and offers hands-on practice and ongoing supervision through bi-monthly sessions. If you’re eager to achieve your certification quickly, this is a great option.
This program offers an immersive experience that combines advanced techniques from various fields to teach you how to access the adaptive unconscious. It is delivered by Melissa Tiers, the founder of The Center for Integrative Hypnosis. She will cover relevant aspects of integrative life coaching, including change structures, transformational conversations, neuro-linguistic coaching, and integrating coaching with the unconscious mind.
- Course Length: 4 days
- Program Cost: $45 for IACT members; $99 for non-members
- Accreditation: IACT
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Choose Your Level Option: The Institute for Integrative Intelligence
The Institute for Integrative Intelligence is an ICF-accredited program that can prepare you for the first level of ICF credentialing, the Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and the mid-level Professional Certified Coach (PCC).
The level one Coaching Foundations course is designed to help you establish a strong foundation in coaching mastery. It is an ideal starting point for those looking to attain ICF coaching certification. The program introduces Integrative Intelligence frameworks to nurture human intelligence through interconnected approaches.
The PCC track explores a range of topics, including results-based coaching methodologies, strategies for high-impact coaching in both life and leadership, and advanced Integrative Intelligence methods that promote holistic human development. Upon graduation, you will earn the designation of Certified Professional Integration Coach (CPIC).
- Course Length: 7 months – Level 1; 12-16 months – Level 2
- Program Cost: $6,600 – Level 1; $12,000 – Level 2
- Accreditation: ICF
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Alternatives (non-niche)
Traditional life coaching certification can provide valuable foundational knowledge, even if you aim to specialize in integrative life coaching. These programs offer insights into coaching techniques and building enduring client relationships.
Our top selection for comprehensive life coach training is Coach Training Alliance. With their “three-legged stool” approach, you’ll boost your skills in coaching, business, and marketing. Head to our in-depth review if you wish to know more.
Transformation Academy is another excellent choice as it has a rich library of affordable courses (plus, you can get 50% off using our link). Our TA review uncovers everything you need to know about this academy.
FAQs
- How much does an integrative life coach make?
According to reputable sources like iPEC, life coach salaries can range from around $62,500 to $245,000 per year.
- Do you need a certification to be an integrative life coach?
Certification isn’t a requirement to become an integrative life coach, but it provides structured training and a trustworthy credential.
- How much does an integrative life coach certification cost?
Integrative life coach certification program costs can range from $100 to over $10,000.
- Does accreditation matter in an integrative life coach certification program?
Accreditation can be important in an integrative life coach certification program, as it adds credibility and ensures that the program meets specific standards of quality and professionalism. However, there are sought-after programs that aren’t accredited, so it’s not a necessity.
- What is the most recognized coaching certification?
The variety of certifications can be overwhelming, so pinpointing a single choice that guarantees broad recognition is challenging. Instead, the key to recognition often lies in accreditation. Opting for a certification accredited by ICF or other widely recognized organizations offers the best chance for global recognition.
Conclusion
The integrative life coaching approach is becoming increasingly popular as more people realize its holistic benefits. The optimal choice for launching this fulfilling career, developing your own coaching style, and establishing yourself as a credible coaching professional is enrolling in an integrative life coach certification program.
If you’re not yet sure about specializing, you can begin with general training provided by well-known institutions like Coach Training Alliance or Transformation Academy. This can provide you with a comprehensive foundation in the life coaching profession.
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