Can You Get Free Holistic Health Coach Certifications Online?

According to the American Psychological Association, 74% of adults report experiencing high levels of stress regularly. Sleep, another critical aspect of well-being, is also taking a hit, with a recent Gallup poll revealing that Americans sleep less and feel more stressed than ever.

As a holistic health coach, your role is to make an impact on clients’ lives by guiding them towards healthier habits, providing personalized wellness plans, and supporting their journey to improved physical and mental well-being.

Whether you are new to the field or an expert, you can actually acquire free holistic health coaching certifications online.    

Add these free online certificate courses to your skill-building list today and take the insights you get from these to polish your portfolio as a certified health coach by helping clients achieve balance and well-being,

Continue reading!

What is a Holistic Health Coach?

As a holistic health coach, you are a professional who guides individuals toward achieving overall well-being, addressing not just physical health but also emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. Using a client-centered, evidence-based approach, you empower your clients to make holistic and sustainable lifestyle changes that consider the whole person.

You help them set and reach self-directed goals, focusing on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and other areas like mindfulness, emotional balance, and self-care practices. 

Your role is to provide personalized support, ensuring clients develop healthy habits that improve their overall quality of life on all levels. Your expertise is pivotal in cultivating the long-term well-being of those you coach, driving harmony between mind, body, and spirit.

What are the skills required to become a holistic health coach?

To become a successful holistic health coach, you’ll need to master several key skills to make a meaningful impact on your clients’ lives: 

Holistic understanding: Develop a complete view of healthcare, wellness, the human body, and nutrition.

Self-reflection: Apply your health and wellness experiences to help clients in similar situations.

Empathy: Connect with and understand your clients’ experiences and challenges.

Information: Stay current with the latest trends and information in health and wellness.

Active listening: Offer a patient and attentive ear to clients.

Effective communication: Convey information and advice.

Knowledge in fitness and nutrition: Be well-versed in positive health practices.

Problem-solving skills: Address challenges quickly and effectively.

Read: How to Become a Health Coach: A Step-by-Step Guide

What’s the Difference Between Health Coach & Life Coach?

As a coach, understanding the distinctions between a health coach and a life coach helps you choose the right path to make the most impact based on your interests and expertise.

Aspect	Health Coach	Life Coach
Focus	Health and wellness	Personal development and achieving life goals
Goals	Improve physical and mental health, nutrition, and lifestyle habits	Enhance overall life satisfaction, career, and relationships
Approach	Evidence-based, client-centered, holistic	Goal-oriented, strategic, and motivational
Training	Knowledge of nutrition, fitness, and wellness practices	Training in psychology, communication, and goal-setting
Client Interaction	Focus on health behaviors, dietary changes, and stress management	Address personal, professional, and emotional challenges
Certifications (Paid)	Certified Health Coach (e.g., NBHWC)	Certified Life Coach (e.g., ICF)
Outcome	Improved health and well-being	Achievement of personal and professional goals

List of Free Online Health Coach Certification Courses

Here is the list of free and some paid holistic health coach certification online:

1. Coaching Health and Wellness – Alison

This course is available on the educational platform – Alison and it is published by Felix Harder, a certified Nutritionist and Fitness Coach. The course teaches you how to excel as a fitness coach and help others reach their health and fitness goals. You will gain the essential tools needed to guide clients in their pursuit of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. You will also learn how to build strong relationships with clients and create personalized diet and exercise plans that meet their needs.

The course reflects on:

• Nutritional understanding
• Caloric comprehension
• Healthy decision-making
• Mental health awareness

Total number of modules: 3

Enrollment: 7,138

2. Mental Health Studies: Understanding Behaviour, Burnout and Depression – Alison

This free online Mental Health Studies course from Alison provides a clear understanding of behavior, burnout, and depression, helping you identify these issues. Many people face trauma in their lives, and while some manage to cope with negative experiences, others struggle. By taking this course, you’ll be better equipped to assist clients in addressing and managing serious mental health challenges.

The course reflects on: 

• Psychotherapy
• Identifying types and classification of depression
• Identifying mood disorders
• Stating the causes, signs and symptoms of depression

Total number of modules: 3

Enrollment: 77,862

[Disclaimer: While you can undertake the Coursera programs for free, actually getting the certificate at the end requires payment.]

3. Introduction to Psychology – Coursera

This certificate course is provided by Yale University on Coursera. You can explore topics like perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, emotions, and social behavior. You’ll delve into how these aspects of the mind develop in children, vary among individuals, are wired in the brain, and how they can break down due to illness and injury.

The course reflects on:

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Analytical thinking
• Abstract thinking
• Reasoning

Total number of modules = 7

Enrollment: 1,359,615

4. Stanford Introduction to Food and Health – Coursera

In this course, you will gain the knowledge and practical skills necessary to improve your client’s eating habits. The focus will shift from reductionist discussions about nutrients to practical conversations about real food and our eating environment. By the course’s end, you will be equipped to differentiate between foods that enhance health and those that pose risks. Additionally, the course will emphasize the importance of returning to simple home cooking as a key element in promoting longer, healthier lives.

The course reflects on:

• Health informatics
• Nutrition
• Food safety
• Food science

Total number of modules: 6

Enrollment: 925,777

5. Essentials of Global Health – Coursera

Essentials of Global Health offers a clear and structured introduction to global health. It addresses five key questions: What illnesses and conditions cause the most suffering and death? Why do these conditions affect people? Who is most impacted? Why are these issues important? What solutions are available to address these health challenges effectively and sustainably?

The course has a global perspective, focusing on low- and middle-income countries, the health of the poor, and health disparities. It emphasizes health systems, the connections between health and development, and global interdependence. While covering essential concepts and frameworks, the course remains practical in its approach.

The course reflects on: 

• Key public health concepts
• Key issues in global health
• Assess key health disparities
• Review future global health challenges

Total number of modules: 10

Enrollment: 79,029

Conclusion

There you have it. Now you know some of the free health coach certification courses available online. 

Each program varies, so it’s important to select the one that best matches your vision as a health coach.

Once you’re done with earning a certificate, you can start giving pro-bono sessions to clients. This would work as a good launchpad for you as a professional health coach.

If you need a guide to launch a health coaching business, give this blog a read! 

And to help you bring your A-game and launch a successful career, here is a guide on how to become a health coach.

Before you go, do try Simply.Coach – a health coaching platform that digitizes the entire coaching journey so you can make your life simpler as a coach. It integrates the process and business of your coaching into a single digital platform! Schedule a demo today!