This 12-credit Integrative Health Coaching Certificate program is designed to serve the needs of both current health practitioners who wish to expand their skills, and individuals who seek to enter into the fields of health coaching and patient navigation. 

Upon completion of the 252-hour certificate program consisting of lectures, dialogue salons, Socratic seminars, project-based learning initiatives, and a 100-hour Field-Based Practicum experience, program participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Graduate Institute, and will be eligible to apply for an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential.  In an effort to change the direction of patient care from a disease-focused perspective to one of patient empowerment, disease prevention, equity of accessibility, and patient navigation, this program is designed to address a number of prevailing trends such as: health coaching, federal legislation for the establishment of integrative health coaches and patient navigators; and a statewide initiative by the Graduate Institute to coordinate and engage health care organizations through Connecticut to provide site-based practicum experiences.

This Certificate Program connects the preventative aspects of patient care (i.e. wellness strategies, nutrition, and optimizing emotional, spiritual, and psychological health) with the daily functions of navigating a changing healthcare system.  By blending the diverse yet inherently interconnected functions of these two domains, the program provides comprehensive training that enables practitioners to facilitate successful patient outcomes while promoting healthy living.

The Integrative Health Coaching and Patient Navigation Certificate Program consists of seven courses delivered over nine months. On-site instruction is supplemented with 11 mid-month interactive online classes.  Courses include: 1) Coaching Ethics; 2) Interpersonal Communication; 3) Guiding Principles and Practices of Health Coaching; 4) Global Perspectives in Healthcare; 5) Organizational Governance and Management; 6) Measuring Patient Satisfaction; and 7) a supplemental non-credit post program – The Practicum: A Coaching Residency.