Health Coach Training

Our program is intimate, experiential, and LIVE - so you get plenty of real practice and feedback.

The field of health coaching is growing rapidly, with opportunities for work in private practice, clinical, corporate and entrepreneurial wellness settings.
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With the explosion of the health & wellness coaching field, the National Board Certification credential (NBC-HWC) represents the profession’s highest standard.

[This program] supports you no matter where you are. Very immersive and helps prepare you and put you into situations/ scenarios that will help you long term as a coach. My favorite part was being coached and using it as an opportunity to improve myself and reach my own goals and dreams. It was a very amazing container where lots of change, growth, transformation and self development happened.

Isaiah

2024 Program Cohort

CAMtP was highly recommended by a close friend/colleague whom I highly respect and trust…. The highlight of the program was learning and feeling comfortable with the entire OSW Community as Medicine coaching process. The program provided me with a sense of purpose, confidence, positivity, and excitement to be engaged within the CAMtP course, a community to build up, develop and deepen relationships, and the opportunity to learn about Health and Wellness Coaching with the goal of becoming nationally board certified as a Health and Wellness Coach.

SKS

2024 Program Cohort

I choose CAMtP because its rooted in the community where I'm from, and the OSW model is one I wholeheartedly believe in and have supported for many years. The experience was more than what I could have imagined. Every class was eye opening and impactful. I left each class/coaching practice session with increased excitement about health and wellness coaching. I am more eager than ever to pay forward what I've learned and experienced in the program

Theresa Hayes

2024 Program Cohort

I chose CAMtP because it felt like what they described from the course content aligned more with my own values. Safe to say it did not disappoint! I loved how grounded and socially aware the instructors were, and how the entire course covered everything from grief, diversity, equity, inclusion, and so many other real life challenges that are rarely addressed within the health care system. Definitely a very innovative and true-to-work health coaching program.

Gaby Galindo

2022 Program Cohort

The highlight of the program was having a diverse cohort that is committed and dedicated to health and wellness. The instructors always made sure to make space for the students to share their perspective. The CAMtP sessions were engaging and there was always an opportunity to practice with our fellow students.

Overall it was a great opportunity to learn the concepts of health coaching and how to incorporate them with our prospective clients. The program has helped me to gain more confidence with my skill plus has placed a great importance on self care while I am on this journey of health coaching.

Rohita Bhatia

2022 Program Cohort

The CAMtP program was created by experts actually doing group and individual coaching with underserved populations, so the amount of genuine experience that the team brings to the program creates a very inspiring and relevant experience.

The dedication and commitment of the team is felt at every moment of the program. Sessions are fun, interactive and experiential - so there is a chance to assimilate the material with all adult learning principles taken into consideration

Anonymous Student

Summer 2022 Cohort

Our Community As Medicine™ curriculum includes:

Practical Experience

Practice coaching skills both one-on-one and in groups – demonstrating client-centered listening, motivational interviewing, reflections, and goal setting.

Coaching Theory

Understand theoretical frameworks and evidence-based research that underlie the field of health & wellness coaching

Health Risk Factors

Understand common risk factors, symptoms, treatment and the role of a health coach in chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc.

Mindfullness in Coaching

Apply mindfulness practices to your coaching presence, and coach them with clients when appropriate

Ethical Considerations

Thorough understanding of the standards of professional conduct and code of ethics in health coaching

Legal Concerns

The components and importance of legal factors in coaching, including confidentiality, HIPAA considerations and licensure

Practicum Traineeship

As our students near graduation, many choose to apply for our 6-month OSW Practicum Program, in which they gain experience providing coaching to OSW participants.

Practicum trainees receive ongoing training and mentorship as they offer individual and group coaching, collecting coaching sessions towards those needed to sit for the NBHWC board certification exam. As they near exam time, our trainees are supported with exam prep and study time, and (as a thank you) we cover part of exam fees for our practicum participants.

Reach out with any questions

Our Faculty

Rachel Barach

Rachel's vision is to expand access to quality health coaching for all who need it. She believes health is a basic human right. In her current role, she trains health coaches focusing on trauma-informed coaching, cultural relevance, social determinants of health, empathy, rapport, and suicide prevention. She also has deep expertise in individual coaching and group coaching in a healthcare context and has worked with over one thousand clients. Rachel’s teaching style is engaging, nuanced, humorous, and enthusiastic.

Coach Training Program Director & Faculty

NBC-HWC, Certified QPR Instructor

Christina Taylor, Ph.D.

A yoga instructor, and integrative wellness & grief coach, Christina Marie, believes that it is possible to embody wellness at every stage of life. She enacts social justice within her reach by committing to reduce the gap in access to wellness support one person at a time. Christina Marie is currently a Ph.D. student studying Mind-Body Medicine specializing in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. Her dissertation will explore the role of nourishment for women who have experienced grief due to loss.

Coach Training Program Faculty

NBC-HWC

Elizabeth Markle, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Markle, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, speaker, writer, researcher, and Associate Professor of Community Mental Health at California Institute of Integral Studies. Dedicated to multi-theoretical and multi-level approaches to individual and community health and healing, Elizabeth's current area of study and innovation is around combining clinical expertise with social entrepreneurship to create sustainable, thriving cultures of health and wellness. She is the co-founder of Open Source Wellness, a nonprofit initiative offering experiential behavioral health and wellness via a "Community As Medicine" approach in collaboration with healthcare providers and insurers.

Co-Founder, Executive Director

Angelina I. Londoño, PhD.

Angelina is a highly experienced Translational Researcher, Bilingual Health Educator, Trainer, DE&I advocate, and entrepreneur. She is strongly dedicated to empowering trainees and coaching participants through self-compassion, self-efficacy, and connection. Angelina firmly believes in the transformative power of community and peer support in fostering a sense of belonging and promoting overall well-being. With a deep commitment to equity and social justice, Angelina leverages her bi-cultural background and fluency in Spanish to effectively drive positive change. Her teaching and mentoring philosophy revolves around helping students discover their strengths and building their confidence in a positive, inclusive learning environment that encourages student engagement and personal growth.

Coach Training Program Faculty

NBC-HWC

Arielle Hartz

Arielle's passion is firmly anchored in the realm of mental and emotional health. Arielle is a courageous leader who holds an incessant curiosity for people and the powerful potential they hold within. Her values surround interpersonal relationships, in-the-moment change, and overcoming challenges, and hopes to provide an enriching, compassionate, and expansive space for her coaching clients and students. She's grateful to share her love for the coaching craft and the gift of learning.

Coach Training Program Faculty

MPH, NBC-HWC

Valerie Tookes

As an integrative health coach since 2010, Valerie is passionate about working with clients to unpack what gets in the way of living the healthy life that they want for themselves. She believes that it is possible to move from living a stressed, exhausted, depleted, sedentary life full of cruel, self-critical thoughts—into a life filled with new habits, more energy, more confidence, new passions and curiosities, even new friendships and relationships. She loves witnessing this kind of transformation, because it’s the same journey that she has been on herself. She believes that It's never too soon—or too late—to start taking better care of yourself, treating yourself with kindness, and loving yourself well.

Coach Training Program Faculty

MA, NBC-HWC, PCC

Barbara Martinez

Barbara’s background is in Women's Health, with a particular focus on hormone health, including PCOS, menopause, and pelvic floor symptoms. As a passionate advocate for eliminating barriers to healthcare for Latinos, she works tirelessly to address cultural and language obstacles, cost of care, and immigration status to reduce healthcare disparities. Her extensive work in diabetes prevention has been instrumental in helping individuals make sustainable lifestyle changes that align with their personal needs. Additionally, her role as a chronic pain coach for over 2 years has allowed her to support people with musculoskeletal conditions in a holistic way. Barbara is dedicated to empowering individuals to take charge of their health and well-being through informed, supportive, and culturally sensitive approaches.

Coach Training Program Faculty

NBC-HWC

Stephanie Ptak

Stephanie is currently a health coach with a background in public health. She first entered the coaching field in 2013, where she worked with adolescents in a teen clinic. She is a passionate and curious individual, and approaches coaching in a way that fits for each unique person, honors the roles identity and culture take in our wellbeing journeys, and recognizes the ways that larger systems impact our pursuit of health. As a coach and teacher, she especially enjoys working alongside folks as they uncover what already lies within them, and has a specific passion for integrative approaches to wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation, and motivational interviewing. Stephanie values lifelong learning by dedicating time to professional growth and development, and through reflection and exploring connection to self and the world around her. She is excited to share her love for the art of coaching within this program.

Coach Training Program Faculty

MPH, NBC-HWC

Danielle Sanders

Danielle Sanders, MPH, RDN, LD, CHES is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, and Certified Health Education Specialist. She has developed and taught formal curriculum for physicians, dietitians, social workers, and health coaches alike. As someone who is passionate about integrating cultural foods and foodways into the nutrition conversation, she aims to challenge the textbook definition of health. Danielle is committed to sharing her unique coaching style and make a lasting impact by promoting health equity while also allowing individuals to embrace their food culture and life experiences. Her work is rooted in empathy, empowerment, and enthusiasm as she works to make health achievable for all.

Guest Faculty

MPH, RDN, LD, CHES

Heather Finn

Heather is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and she has worked in the field of digital health since 2014. She is passionate about developing effective services and platforms that are accessible to many for improving their physical, emotional and mental health. With a deeply empathetic nature and curiosity for what drives others to get out of bed in the morning, Heather began her path to health behavior change through developing a peer counseling program for her elementary school. This curiosity combined with a desire to help others access their own inner strength has driven Heather’s own path both personally and professionally. Heather loves to be part of an individual's journey to self-awareness, growth and a better quality of life. She also loves to support others as they follow their dreams of a career pivot to helping others.

Coach Training Program Faculty

M.S., BCBA, NBC-HWC

Cryscilla Herbkersman

Cryscilla’s background is in Education and Physician Assistant Studies. As OSW’s Coach Training Program Coordinator she is passionate about ensuring that all students feel supported and empowered throughout the program. Health and wellness coach training was a deeply transformative personal and professional experience for her. She is excited to be a part of this team to help future coaches recognize the ability we all have to empower others to find their own personal motivation to make lasting positive lifestyle and behavior changes. She has studied health and wellness for 5+ years and loves to spend time in the kitchen creating simple, accessible, and affordable veggie-powered recipes. She currently works as the Coach Training Program Coordinator, OSWx Alumni Coordinator, and OSW Peer Leader Coordinator.

Coach Training Program Coordinator

MS, NBC-HWC

FAQ

Our most frequently asked questions

Where can I get more information about the program?

Reading through our syllabus is a great place to start in order to get an idea of what is covered and expected in our program.

Are you a National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)-Approved Training & Education Program?

Yes! This means after completing our program, and completing the other requirements necessary, you can apply to take the NBHWC exam.

Where do the classes take place?

All classes meet live over zoom. The zoom link will be provided to you at the beginning of the course.

What time zone are the classes in?

All class times listed in our syllabus are in Pacific Time (PDT/ PST)

What makes Open Source Wellness’ Community As Medicine Health Coach Training Program unique?

So many things! Our program emphasizes the foundational knowledge and practical skills of the coaching process standards and competencies of the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), as well as uplifting the values of cultural humility, trauma awareness and “Community As Medicine” that are core to Open Source Wellness’ work.

Open Source Wellness is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing direct services and increasing access to health coaching in medically underserved communities. We are committed to creating a world in which everyone experiences abundant health, wellbeing, and human connection, especially those who have been historically excluded and marginalized.

What is Community As Medicine?

Check out this TEDx talk to see one of our founders, Elizabeth Markle, discuss Community as Medicine.

How many students are in the program?

We are currently enrolling 1 section with a maximum of 40 students. This section will meet Wednesdays 4-6pm Pacific Time. If there is enough interest, we will open a second section meeting Thursdays 9-11am Pacific Time. The way the program is designed creates an intimate learning experience with breakout rooms and other opportunities for connections and practice. This is not your typical webinar!

I hope to be able to coach in Spanish- what support does this program offer?

It’s fantastic to hear that you are interested in Spanish health and wellness coaching! This program can help support you in your journey. We currently have 5 instructors that speak Spanish and we offer resources and practice coaching in Spanish for those interested. Students may complete 2 out of their 3 mentored coaching sessions in Spanish.

What is the cost of the program?

The cost of our program is on a sliding scale from $3,500 - $5,500. There is also an option on our application for you to apply for an additional need-based financial scholarship to help with tuition costs beyond our lowest sliding scale offering of $3500; we also offer 5-7 month payment plans.

Your application isn’t open yet- how can I get notified when it is available?

If you have come at a time when we don’t have our application open yet, please email our program coordinator, Cryscilla, at camtp@opensourcewellness.org. She would be happy to add you to our mailing list to receive notification when we have our new syllabus and application available.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Please contact our program coordinator, Cryscilla, at camtp@opensourcewellness.org who would be happy to answer any additional questions.

Cultural Humility

Trauma-Informed

Group Coaching

Spanish Coaching Support

Support with Starting Your Coaching Business

Health coaching is the future of clinical and community care.

Our program is intimate, experiential, and LIVE - so you get plenty of real practice and feedback.

Our Community As Medicine™ curriculum includes:

Practical Experience

Coaching Theory

Health Risk Factors

Mindfullness in Coaching

Ethical Considerations

Legal Concerns

Practicum Traineeship

Logistics:

What sets us apart?

Investment

Our Faculty

Rachel Barach

Christina Taylor, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Markle, Ph.D.

Angelina I. Londoño, PhD.

Arielle Hartz

Valerie Tookes

Barbara Martinez

Stephanie Ptak

Danielle Sanders

Heather Finn

Cryscilla Herbkersman

Our most frequently asked questions