The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA) is reaching students across the globe! The international approval of our program helps us to better serve our students and alumni in each region, and establish our program as the gold standard in Health Coach Certification.
The UK & International Health Coaching Association (UKIHCA) is the professional body dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the role of health coaching as a credible and accessible model for preventing, and potentially reversing, chronic, lifestyle-related disease in English-speaking countries outside of the US. FMCA’s Health Coach Certification Program is an approved training program by the UK & International Health Coaching Association (UKIHCA), and as we grow globally, we are starting to see more students come from the United Kingdom and beyond!
While many paths lead to becoming a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC), what really resonates with us is each student’s purpose, their “why,” and how their unique path led them to FMCA. We asked some of our alumni in the UK to share their journeys in their own words with us here:
Lucie Field, FMCHC
Q: What inspired you to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach?
A: Quite simply my naturopathic doctor, Max Tomlinson, of 21 years!
Seven years ago we lost contact as I went out into the world to find out who I actually was and what I really wanted out of life, which was mainly influenced by my journey through Functional Medicine with him. After spending years working on luxury yachts, visiting incredible places in the world, and meeting great people, I realized life was whatever I wanted it to be. As luck would have it, we reconnected again, albeit I was now living in a different country. I described to Max my new lifestyle, all the changes I had made, and unbeknownst to me I’d picked up some useful skill sets on my way that in hindsight I now realized would be useful to his patients. So he suggested I became a health coach.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: Max told me to contact The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) to study with them. FMCA is the only health coach training centre affiliated with IFM.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: You won’t just learn how to coach Functional Medicine at FMCA, you will also be coached and grow as a person exponentially–the more vulnerable you are in coaching sessions, the greater you experience the depth of the coaching process yourself. Be vulnerable and let the magic unfold.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: The power in coaching for me are the intrinsic and unique possibilities that a client finds through the techniques we as coaches utilize. It never ceases to amaze me the powerful moments when clients have an “aha” moment, where their demeanor lights up as their self discovery resonates at a deep level, something shifts, and they realize something profound that had never occurred to them previously.
Daniel White, FMCHC
Q: What inspired you to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach?
A: I began my personal and professional health journey through studying a BSc degree in Psychology and an MSc in Nutrition and Behaviour. As I slowly began to dive deeper and deeper into a natural and holistic approach to my health in order to assist me to lose weight, reverse my autoimmune condition (eczema), eliminate anxiety and improve my mood, I was increasingly exposed to the work of thought-leaders in the field of Functional Medicine (such as Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. David Perlmutter). I began to learn all that I could through books and podcasts. Once I had finished my Masters in Nutrition and Behaviour I began practicing as a registered nutritionist, but I quickly realised that I could support my clients to achieve better outcomes through a Functional Medicine approach to their nutrition and lifestyle. I intuitively knew that by studying Functional Medicine and further developing my coaching skills, I could grow and develop personally and professionally to become a better-skilled and more well-rounded practitioner.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: I was attracted to The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy by the breadth, depth and quality of their cutting-edge curriculum delivered in partnership with the Institute for Functional Medicine. I felt that their Health Coach Certification brought together unique and invaluable areas of learning such as Functional Medicine and nutrition, mind-body medicine, and positive psychology, as well as coaching skills. I’ve always had a broad interest in many areas of holistic health and wellbeing, but before locating FMCA, I was unable to find any suitable programme that synthesised all of the areas that I was passionate about into one cost-effective programme that provided such a direct and hands-on learning experience.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: Ray Bradbury once said, “Jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.”
Make sure to throw yourself head first into the practice of coaching and get outside of your comfort zone. Your coaching skills and experience will develop at a lightning pace if you’re willing to get uncomfortable and apply a healthy amount of pressure to the process. Whether you offer to practice your coaching skills with friends, families or fellow students on the course, the more hands-on coaching experience you can obtain throughout the year, the easier you’ll find the transition into professional coaching and the more effective you’ll be. Don’t be afraid to get it wrong either–feedback and critique are the fastest ways to learn and grow as a coach.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: Health coaching helps us to unlock the secret powers hidden within each of us. Through this process we can uncover our innermost values and the deepest drivers to achieving positive health changes that bring more passion, celebration, love, and satisfaction to our lives.
Rachel Turner, FMCHC
Q: What inspired you to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach?
A: After living with Ulcerative Colitis for 15 years and addressing diet, lifestyle and mindset changes, I stumbled across Functional Medicine, and this approach to health blew my mind!
I had already tweaked a lot with my life which was naturally in line with the FM model but realising that there was a recognised structure in place helped me complete my healing. This was life-changing for me, and through this journey I quit my career and found that my passion is to help others realise their own healing potential. I believe the best way to do this is by working as a Functional Medicine Health Coach to guide and support on all aspects of my client’s life. It was a natural process for me to train as a coach.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: The Functional Medicine model is important to me, and it was this type of approach that recovered my own health, so it was an easy decision to go with FMCA. I did investigate other routes but FMCA stood out as the best option for me. It addresses so many areas of health and wellbeing, and with an understanding of mind-body medicine. The IFM Collaboration also speaks volumes. I also contacted FMCA graduates to confirm my hunch that this was the right route for me and, of course, those graduates confirmed my feelings.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: To ask yourself, “How do I want to help others? How do I want to help myself?” If you are looking to understand your own body, health and mind, and realise your purpose whilst gaining an understanding on how to connect, serve and support others in an honest, authentic and empathic way, then you’re going to love coaching. And if you are going to make this investment, make every penny count by joining FMCA.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: For me, the power of health coaching is empowering others to realise their own health potential. Helping a client discover that their health really is in their own hands is empowering and healing. Collaborating with a coach to navigate the client’s journey, which can be exciting and challenging in equal measure, can be truly life-changing in more ways than the client often expects.
