SCHOOL OF Mental Health coaching

most scholarship decisions are approved within 48 hours

25,000

Participating Churches

50,000

Students Enrolled

become a certified mental health coach

l

Apply for the full tuition scholarship

N

GEt approved for Free Access to the program

Complete the program Certification

Start helping others to change the world

SEE WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH COACH PROGRAM:

Course 1 - Foundations of Mental Health Coaching
C-MHC 101: Foundations of Mental Health Coaching
Presenter
Unit 1: Introduction  
Introduction to Mental Health Coaching Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.
The Role of the Mental Health Coach in the Church Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.
Unit 2: Faith and Spirituality  
The Effective People Helper Ian Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D.
Bringing People into God’s Presence Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.
Spirituality and Counseling Ian Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D.
Unit 3. Ethics and Coaching Responsibilities  
Professional Ethics in Mental Health Coaching Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.
Boundaries and Violations I Jared Pingleton, Psy.D.
Boundaries and Violations II Jared Pingleton, Psy.D.
When Helping You is Hurting Me Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.
The Successful Coach: Managing Time and Staying Organized Sandra Dopf, B.S.
Unit 4. Crisis Intervention  
Trauma and Abuse Diane Langberg, Ph.D.
Best Practices for Trauma and Crisis Response: Part I Jennifer Ellers, M.A.
Best Practices for Trauma and Crisis Response: Part II Jennifer Ellers, M.A.
The Crisis of Suicide Jennifer Ellers, M.A.
Conducting a Suicide Intervention Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.
Course 2 - Mental Health Coaching Skills
C-MHC 201: Mental Health Coaching Skills
Presenter
Unit 1:  Coaching Skills  
Successful Coaching: What Makes it Unique and Essential Skills Georgia Shaffer, M.A.
Creating a Safe Place: Listening, Empathy, and Winning Trust John Thomas, Ph.D.
Relationships and Communication: Core Coaching Skills Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D. 
Helping Others Find Significance in Life Jared Pingleton, Psy.D.
The Power of Encouragement: A Key to Hope Coaching John Thomas, Ph.D.
Getting Unstuck: The Road to Healing and Recovery David Jenkins, Psy.D.
The Incredible Power of Intentional Listening Eric Scalise, Ph.D. and Ken Nichols, Psy.D.
Understanding Our Differences: Personalities and Coping W. Jesse Gill, Psy.D.
How to Help People Change Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.
Doing Brief, Solution-focused Counseling for Christ Jared Pingleton, Psy.D.
A Better Way: Helping Clients Turn Their Life Around Tim Clinton, Ed.D., D.Min.
Unit 2: Small Groups  
Dynamic Small Groups and Spiritual Care Teams Elias Moitinho, Ph.D.
Change and Restoration: The Healing Power of Small Groups Tim Clinton, Ed.D., D.Min.
Types of Groups: An Overview for a Dynamic Ministry Jennifer Ellers, M.A., David Jenkins, Psy.D., and Eric Scalise, Ph.D.
Course 3 - Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders
C-MHC 301: Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders
Presenter
Unit 1: Addictions  
Models of Addiction David Jenkins, Psy.D.
Helping Others with Alcohol, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Problems David Jenkins, Psy.D.
Dual Diagnosis and Comorbidity Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.
Opioids and Addiction: An Alarming Tsunami Michael Lyles, M.D.
Unit 2: Mental Health Difficulties and Disorders   
Mental Illness & Character Disorders Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.
Depression, Mood Disorders and Suicide Gregory Jantz, Ph.D.
Stress and Anxiety: Overcoming Fear, Phobias, and Panic Disorders Shannon Wolf, Ph.D.
Bipolar and Spectrum Mood Disorders Paul Meier, M.D.
Eating Disorders: Diagnosis, Treatment and Referral Gregory Jantz, Ph.D.
Grief, Loss, and Complicated Grief H. Norman Wright, M.A.
PTSD and Complex Trauma Heather Gingrich, Ph.D.
Psychiatric Care and Medication Paul Meier, M.D.
Psychotropic Medication: It’s a Matter of Trust Curt Thompson, M.D.

What is a Mental Health Coach?

Mental health coaching is a form of strengths-based support for persons living with serious mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder). Coaches help clients develop a healthy balance in life, give guidance in decision making, offer support in navigating mental health difficulties, and assistance in establishing a recovery plan. Coaches help clients find ways to obtain and maintain stability, manage difficult symptoms, rebuild relationships, and find a purpose for living. Coaches also help clients find resources for professional care and treatment, family support, and education.

What is the role of a Mental Health Coach?

Mental health coaches are unlike licensed mental health care providers in that coaches do not diagnose or offer professional care or treatment for mental health difficulties and disorders. Coaches support any positive change, helping persons in professional care to manage symptoms, build support for recovery, and work on life goals such as relationships, work, and education. Mental health coaching is action-oriented with an emphasis on improving one’s present life and reaching goals for the future.

Mental health coaches use a partnership model wherein the client is considered to be the expert on his or her life, the one who decides what is worth doing, while the coach provides expertise in supporting successful change. Mental health coaching focuses on achieving any goals important to the client, not just recovery-related goals. Mental health coaching emphasizes honoring values and making principle-based decisions, creating a clear plan of action, and using current strengths to reach future goals. The coach provides accountability to help the client stay on track.

“Without question, this training will be one of the most, if not the most, significant projects we have ever done in the history of the AACC. We need an army of helpers­ in the local church—those who God has given natural gifts and talents to, to offer help, hope and guidance to those in need!”
Dr. Tim Clinton

President, American Association of Christian Counselors

Learn to help those who struggle with serious mental illness (SMI)

  • Addiction
  • Trauma and Abuse
  • Communication
  • Grief and Loss
  • Boundaries
  • Panic Disorders
  • PTSD
  • Phobias
  • Relationships
  • Suicide
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Depression
  • Stress and Anxiety
  • Faith and Spirituality

And so much more!

50,000

Already enrolled!

Free Tuition for the first 15,000 charter churches enrolled. our mission is to train 30,000 students immediately

$2,400 Full Tuition Scholarships Available – Apply Below

  • 40-Hour, Biblically-based, Clinically-excellent Training Program
  • Featuring some of the world’s leading mental health experts
  • On-Demand video lectures
  • Available 24/7/365
  • Study anywhere, anytime, at your own pace, on any of your favorite devices!

Apply for a full tuition Scholarship now!

Mental Health Coach Leadership

Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.

Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D., is CEO of The Hope and Healing Center & Institute (HHCI) in Houston, Texas, and adjunct professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine and the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston. His research on the interplay between psychology and issues of faith has been featured by the New York Times, USA Today, Fox, MSNBC, Yahoo, and U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Stanford is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. As director of HHCI, he writes, conducts training seminars, and serves individuals living with mental illness and their families. He is the author of two books, Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness and The Biology of Sin: Grace, Hope and Healing for Those Who Feel Trapped.

Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.

Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.

Academic Dean and Program Director

Dr. Ron Hawkins (Ed.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary) is a licensed professional counselor and serves as Chair of the Executive Board for the American Association of Christian Counselors. A distinguished voice in Christian Mental Health Care, he has written numerous books and served for nearly 40 years in administration and leadership roles including Provost and Chief Academic Officer, founding Dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences, and Professor of Counseling and Practical Theology at Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

Tim Clinton, Ed.D, LPC, LMFT

Tim Clinton, Ed.D, LPC, LMFT

President AACC

Tim Clinton, Ed.D, LPC, LMFT, is the President of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the largest and most diverse Christian counseling association in the world. Dr. Clinton also serves as the Executive Director of the James Dobson Family Institute and recurring co-host of “Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk”, heard on nearly 1,300 radio outlets daily. Licensed as a Professional Counselor and as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Clinton is recognized as a world leader in mental health and relationship issues and spends much of his time working with Christian leaders and professional athletes. He has authored or edited nearly 30 books, including The Struggle is Real: How to Care for Mental and Relational Health Needs in the Church.

Faculty

Georgia Shaffer, MA

Georgia Shaffer, MA

Licensed psychologist, PCC credentialed life coach

Elias Moitinho, PhD, LPC, LMFT

Elias Moitinho, PhD, LPC, LMFT

Professor of Counseling, Department Chair in the Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies, in the School of Behavioral Sciences, at Liberty University.

Gregory Jantz , Ph.D.

Gregory Jantz , Ph.D.

State-certified chemical dependency counselor, a licensed mental health counselor, and a nationally certified eating disorder specialist

Diane Langberg, Ph.D.

Diane Langberg, Ph.D.

Globally recognized for her 45 years of clinical work with trauma victims

Ian F. Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D.,

Ian F. Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D.,

Professor of Counseling at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Heather Davediuk Gingrich, Ph.D

Heather Davediuk Gingrich, Ph.D

Professor of counseling at Denver Seminary

JENNIFER CISNEY ELLERS, MA

JENNIFER CISNEY ELLERS, MA

Professional counselor, life coach, mediator, trainer and author

Michael Lyles Ph.D.

Michael Lyles Ph.D.

Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology