Mental health coaches use practical, evidence-based tools to help clients manage stress, build resilience, and create meaningful change. They often work with people navigating long-standing emotional challenges, so the right training is essential.

To enter this field, you need specialized techniques, a solid understanding of psychological issues, and tools to support clients within a non-clinical scope.

Certification isn’t just a formality but a reassurance to clients that you’re equipped to help them.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Whether mental health coach certification is worth the investment
• If ICF certification is required to run your practice
• How long certification programs take to complete
• What different programs cost and what they include
• Seven top certification programs to consider for your coaching career

Is Mental Health Coach Certification Worth It?

Becoming a certified mental health coach has many advantages, even though it’s not a legal requirement.

Firstly, certification programs provide comprehensive training through a structured framework that prepares you to support clients with complex issues. It also adds credibility to your practice and helps you stand out. 

If you’ve already taken a broader coaching certification program, mental health coach training helps you specialize further to support clients with mental health challenges. It also teaches ethical standards. You’ll learn who you can help and when to refer clients to mental health professionals.

To become certified, you must do the following:

• Complete a recognized training program
• Fulfill specific requirements, such as a set number of coaching hours
• Pass an examination or assessment

It’s an investment in your qualifications and credentials that may lead to more clients in the long run.

Note that becoming a certified mental health coach doesn’t qualify you to diagnose and treat mental illness.

Pro tip: Ready to set up your practice? Paperbell gives you a ready-made coaching website with bookings, contracts, payments, and all client information plugged into it.

Do I Have to Be ICF-Certified to Run a Mental Health Coaching Practice?

If you get certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF), it can earn you highly recognized credentials in the industry, but it’s not a requirement.

It demonstrates that you meet the professional and ethical standards expected from mental health coaches and gives you added credibility.

ICF credentials signify your competence. They may help you specialize in a niche, like improving employee well-being in corporations.

Remember that not all organizations that partner with the ICF help you earn their credentials straight away. Some only offer continuing education credits that you can use to renew your existing credentials.

How Long Does It Take to Finish a Certification Program?

The duration of mental health coaching certification programs varies significantly depending on the program structure, intensity, and individual pacing. They can range from a few days to several months or even years.

• Intensive certification programs: Some certification programs offer accelerated or intensive formats that can be completed in a matter of days, usually over a weekend. They involve full-day training with a condensed curriculum and sometimes follow-up assignments for participants to implement the coursework.
• Comprehensive certification programs: Many mental wellness programs are designed to be completed within three to six months. This allows time for more practice and implementation following a more spread-out course schedule.
• Long-term programs: Certain certification programs in mental health coaching and degrees in related fields take a year or more to complete. They include more in-depth training, mentorship, and practical components. You’ll gain extensive knowledge and skills gradually.

[ Read: The Ultimate Guide to the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) Certification ]

The ideal course duration depends on your learning style, time available, and desired level of immersion in the methodology.d level of immersion in the methodology.

How Much Does Mental Health Coaching Certification Cost?

Mental health coaching certification programs cost a few hundred to several thousand dollars. It depends on the provider and the program format. Here’s an overview of their typical cost range from cheapest to most expensive:

• Online self-study courses: Self-paced online certification courses are relatively affordable, generally between $200 and $1,000. They give you access to pre-recorded lectures, study materials, and assessments with little personalized support or interaction with instructors and peers.
• Group coaching programs: Group coaching certification programs usually involve live and recorded sessions with instructors and other participants. They cost around $1,000 to $5,000. These programs may offer additional resources like workbooks, practice exercises, and community support forums, most of which are online.
• Comprehensive training packages: Comprehensive certification programs that include extensive training, mentorship, practical experience, and supplementary materials are more expensive. They typically range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more. These programs offer personalized guidance, one-on-one coaching sessions, and hands-on learning opportunities.
• University or institution programs: Programs offered by universities, colleges, or accredited institutions may have higher tuition fees of well over $10,000. These programs often provide rigorous academic training, professional networking opportunities, and formal accreditation.
• Specialized and advanced certifications: Certifications in niche areas of mental health coaching, such as trauma-informed coaching or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), have a broad price range from $2,000 to $15,000. These programs often have more prerequisites regarding prior qualifications that the curriculum builds on.

When considering the cost of your certification, weigh the investment against the value provided. These include the quality of instruction, program features, and accreditation status that can advance your career and earning potential.

Some programs offer flexible payment options, scholarships, or discounts periodically that may allow you to enroll at a lower rate.

[ Read: 4 Free Life Coach Certification Programs You Can Take Online ]

7 Mental Health Coaching Certification Programs to Consider

There may be many factors to consider when investing in mental health coach certification. This guide lists the programs you can complete online and have a specialized curriculum designed for mental health coaches.

They span from a few hours to a whole year, and their cost varies between $100 and $7900, depending on how personalized and in-depth they are.

Here are some of the best certification programs, from the most budget-friendly to the most comprehensive. Let’s explore how long it takes to complete them, how much they cost, and what you’ll learn if you enroll.

Master Wellness Certification by Transformation Academy

The Master Wellness Certification by Transformation Academy offers online training in various areas of well-being, combining four different certifications. These are:

• Health & Nutrition Life Coach
• Diet Life Coach
• Mindfulness Life Coach
• Your chosen certification in ketosis, yoga, or BellyCore fitness

It’s a self-paced course you can complete in 50-55 hours, depending on your fourth specialization. Optionally, you can take only one of these certifications in 10-15 hours. It is credited as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and costs $497 for all four chapters.

This course is an excellent option for aspiring mental health or wellness coaches who want to complete their certification in a short amount of time online while gaining insights into various areas of holistic well-being.

Advanced Courses by NICABM

The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) offers short, advanced online courses on mindfulness, mind-body connection, trauma healing, and neurobiology. They are tailored for mental health professionals and taught by renowned instructors like Peter Levins, PhD, and Bessel van der Kolk, MD.

They cost between $100 and $600, and their duration varies based on the subject, generally not more than a few hours. Some are taught live with a Q&A included, while others are available as a pre-recorded course. They all include lecture recordings and transcripts, which come in handy when studying complex subjects.

These courses are ideal if you want to learn from some of the world’s most prominent experts in mental health with great flexibility and at an affordable cost. Though they are generally tailored for psychologists and other mental health professionals, the science-based curriculum can complement other programs focusing on valuable coaching skills and methodology.

Mental Health and Wellness Coach Certification by Quality Mind

Quality Mind’s comprehensive training for mental health coaches integrates the following:

• Positive psychology
• Neuroscience
• Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP)
• Ancient philosophies
• Their signature Personal Activation System

It explores the complexities of the human brain and dealing with emotional patterns. In addition to coaching training, participants also receive marketing tools to promote their practice and ongoing mentoring.

According to reviews, Quality Mind has various options for program costs and duration that you can learn more about by booking a discovery call with their team. Quality Mind’s training doesn’t provide full certification with the ICF, but it offers continuing education credits.

Integrative Trauma Practitioner Certification by the Aura Institute

The Aura Institute’s Integrative Trauma Coach Training is ideal for those seeking to learn trauma-informed techniques for guiding clients toward lasting change. It teaches somatics-based therapies through practical, hands-on learning to address both physical and emotional aspects of trauma.

The program covers breathwork, Somatic Therapy, and a unique healing modality developed by Aura’s founders. This comprehensive approach aims to create emotional freedom and holistic well-being in clients.

The Aura Institute’s program consists of two levels:

• Level 1, Foundations Training: Takes 50 training hours, costs $2,800, and certifies you as an Integrative Trauma Coach.
• Level 2, Integrative Trauma Training: Takes 75 training hours, costs $2,950, and certifies you as an Integrative Trauma Practitioner.

You don’t have to take both, but if you sign up for the combined training, you save $1,250. The institute also offers early bird discounts and other training models for an additional fee. It’s a great option for professionals who want to specialize in trauma-informed coaching.

Integrative Health Coach Certification by Nickerson

The Nickerson Institute’s Certified Integrative Health Coach Training Program is a unique training for holistic mental health coaches led by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Wendy Nickerson. It’s accredited by:

• The American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP)
• The Health Coach Alliance (HCA)
• The Canadian Association of Integrative Nutrition (CAIN)

The program takes 6 to 12 months to complete and a total of 200 hours. It combines self-paced learning from video lessons with live bi-weekly meetings. Additionally, you’ll receive the following:

• A personalized web page on the institution’s coach directory
• The opportunity to create integrative health courses for the Nickerson Institute

These are rare benefits that most coaching programs don’t offer. Tuition costs $4,299 with installment plans available, and the program is suitable for both aspiring coaches and those with an existing practice in mental health coaching.

Mental Health Care Coach Training by Wave

Wave offers an online mental health care coach training program accredited by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. It’s grounded in Wave’s transdiagnostic model, which prioritizes a whole-person, holistic perspective over siloed individual diagnoses.

The training focuses on evidence-informed modalities and Wave’s proprietary model for emotional well-being. It combines 100 hours of online learning spread over 16 weeks with a combination of self-paced study and live sessions. Some of the highlights include the live demos demonstrating coaching scenarios in action and one-on-one mentorship.

Tuition costs $4,000 with some flexible payment options, including plans ranging from three to nine monthly installments.

Mental Health Coach Certification at iNLP

The Mental Health Coach program at iNLP Center is one of the most comprehensive training options in this niche. It offers five different certifications and is accredited by the ICF, allowing you to earn Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentials.

The curriculum blends NLP, coach training, and Inner Dynamic psychology tools. You’ll get to attend three online training tracks (NLP Life Coach, Master Coach, and Mental Health Coach) and have lifetime access to the materials.

The program includes the training and mentoring requirements for ICF credentialing and support from the staff for your application process. Plus, you’ll get unlimited peer coaching and marketing consulting hours to help you launch your practice.

Another great feature of the program is that even though it’s entirely online, it’s highly interactive; you’ll spend minimal time studying independently. Mostly, you’ll be attending your weekly 120-minute live classes and working on your homework activities with other participants.

The entire track can be completed in nine months and costs $7,900. Students of iNLP’s Master Coach Training program and coaches with PPC and iPEC credentials can enroll for $2500-3200.

Run Your Mental Health Coaching Practice With Ease

We hope this guide has given you some clarity on the mental health coach certifications available online and which may be best for you.

Once you’re ready to take clients, Paperbell can streamline the admin side of your business so you can focus on building your dreams.

It’s an all-in-one client management and website tool that handles bookings, contracts, payments, and more.

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FAQ

What Is the Best Mental Health Coach Certification?

There’s no single “best” option. Programs like iNLP, Nickerson Institute, and Wave offer the most comprehensive, evidence-based training depending on your niche and goals.

Do I Need a Mental Health Coach Certification?

It’s not legally required, but earning certification builds credibility, teaches essential skills, and helps you work safely within a non-clinical scope.

How Do I Show My Mental Health Coach Certification?

You can upload certificates to your Paperbell website, feature them on your package pages, and include them in onboarding materials so clients see your qualifications.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.