Become a Certified Mental Health Coach

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Led by Mental Health & Ministry Experts

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42+ Hours of Mental Health Coach Training

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On-Demand Learning (24/7/365 Access)

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Educational Pathway to IBCC Certification

What You’ll Be Equipped to Do

Know What to Say When Someone Is Hurting

If you feel God drawing you toward caring for people who are hurting, you do not have to rely on guesswork. This training equips you with a simple, repeatable way to support people through hard moments and guide them toward hope, stability, and next steps.

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Understand Common Mental Health Struggles People Bring to You

You will learn how to better understand what people are facing, from addiction and depression to trauma, grief, eating disorders, and mood disorders, and how these struggles often connect to each other, including the role faith and spiritual care can play in the healing process.

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Learn the Core Skills That Make Mental Health Coaching Effective

You will learn what mental health coaching is, how it works in everyday life, and how to start using a simple, practical approach that brings clarity, hope, and direction to people who need help.

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See What’s Included:

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.

A Real Story From the Front Lines of Ministry

Watch how a pastor and coaches are applying mental health coaching in everyday conversations and building a stronger culture of care in their church.

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Becoming a Certified Mental Health Coach is easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Get the Scholarship

2. Complete the Courses

3. Start Helping Others!

“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 to help save the next generation—those whom God has given natural gifts and talents to offer help, hope, and guidance to parents and caregivers!”

Dr. Tim Clinton

President, Asociación Americana de Consejería Cristiana

People Are Hurting, and You Do Not Have to Be a Professional to Make a Difference.

Many people are stepping into conversations they never expected, with friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, and church members carrying anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and grief.

What you are seeing in your relationships and community

A friend overwhelmed by anxiety, panic, or constant stress
A loved one slipping into depression, isolation, or hopelessness
Trauma and grief that keep resurfacing and feel hard to move through
Addiction and destructive patterns that strain families and relationships
Crisis moments that leave you unsure what to say or do next

What you are feeling as you try to support someone

Pressure to say the right thing and not make it worse
Not knowing what questions to ask or where to begin
Wanting practical next steps, not just encouragement
Feeling emotionally drained while carrying someone else’s pain
Wishing you had a clear approach you can use when it counts

People who are struggling need more than good intentions, and you should not have to guess what to say or do next.

God equips ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference—and this program gives you a clear, practical way to support someone with compassion, confidence, and hope.

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Learn how to:

RECOGNIZE

what someone is struggling with

RELATE

to what they are going through

RESPOND

appropriately (what to say and what not to say)

REFER

when necessary

Mental Health Coach Leadership, Staff and Trainers

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.

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

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.