A Therapist’s Checklist: How to Choose the Best Holistic Therapy Training Program

Discover how to choose the best holistic therapy training program for licensed therapists. Learn what to look for in a program, and choose one that aligns with your scope, values, and clinical goals.

Here are 8 key things to look for in a holistic therapy training program:

1. Clarity of Scope

2. Therapist-Centered Design

3. Evidence-Based Content

4. Qualified Instructors

5. Philosophical Alignment

6. Legal & Ethical Considerations

7. Practical Clinical Tools

8. Credentials or Certification

Read on to learn why each is important, and how to weigh each one against the program you’re considering. 

1. Clarity of scope: What does the program actually teach? 

Understanding the curriculum, both what is and is not included, is essential to understanding what you’ll learn. Many programs will brand themselves as “holistic” while focusing merely on one aspect of wellness, such as breathwork, or nutrition, or yoga. Truly holistic programs will teach about many topics related to holistic wellness, including nutrition, functional medicine, lifestyle medicine, spirituality, environmental wellness, physical activity, sleep, stress, and more. After all, being holistic means understanding the whole person - not just one thing. A holistic training program for therapists should teach all of this, while also helping you gain confidence staying within your scope. 

2. Therapist-centered design: Is it designed for licensed therapists? 

Any school can teach holistic wellness, but is the program you have in mind created with your unique scope, licensing, and ethical requirements in mind? Well-designed programs will include this in the curriculum, with bonus points if they offer continuing education credit - a strong indicator of quality and credibility. 

3. Evidence-based content: Are the methods grounded in research? 

Are the principles they teach (for example about functional medicine, spirituality, nutrition, lifestyle, breathwork, mindfulness, somatic psychology, etc.) grounded in evidence? Does the training provide citations from peer-reviewed sources and evidence-informed frameworks? To comply with licensure requirements, you will want to make sure that what you are learning can be confidently applied in clinical practice. 

4. Qualified Instructors: Who is teaching the course? 

Is the instructor trained in therapy, mental health, holistic methods, functional medicine, nutrition, or all of the above? Are they a doctor or other professional trying to share their techniques with another audience? Instructors who are also therapists often provide the most relevant and accessible guidance for your field.

While doctors, nurses, and others may have a lot of information to share, if they have no familiarity with your background, the information may feel less applicable or harder to translate into your clinical work. It’s also essential that the instructor has training, experience, and qualifications in the subject matter they teach. Look for instructors who can bridge clinical and holistic paradigms - for you specifically. 

5. Philosophical alignment: Does the program's values align with yours? 

Most therapists want a training that is holistic and integrative, while also evidence-based. Great programs straddle both worlds without sacrificing either. Look for a program that reflects your personal and professional values. For example, if you prioritize health, purpose, and creativity, it’s a good sign if the program you choose also values those, and can help you grow more fully into them. 

6. Ethical and legal considerations: Do they address scope and responsibility?

Many wellness trainings for the general population (for non-therapists) may not understand the critical importance of these topics for mental health professionals. Even some trainings for therapists may gloss over these topics, hoping you’ll figure that out on your own. In order to have full practice confidence, you’ll want to make sure that you understand how to structure informed consent and treatment planning, and know where your limits are as a clinician. 

7. Practical clinical tools: Can you use what you learn in session?

Examples include questionnaires, assessment tools, client journals, handouts, meditations, and techniques you can use in sessions. Some trainings trend towards the theoretical only, leaving clinicians unsure how to bridge the gap to practice. 

8. Credentials, continuing education, or certification: Will you earn a respected credential? 

In order to demonstrate your expertise to clients, colleagues, and your licensing board, you will want some kind of tangible certificate, certification, or continuing education credit. If the trainer carries continuing education provider status and offers CEUs or CEs, this signifies that the program has met field-specific criteria. 

Choosing With Confidence

Signing up for a continuing education program in holistic therapy is a significant step in your career, one you’ll devote time, energy, and a financial investment to. It’s important to choose a program that feels aligned, ethical, empowering, and that inspires confidence in you. 

The Holistic and Functional Psychology Institute was created specifically with therapist education in mind. We have taken great care to make sure our programs align with the above criteria, and then some. 

Ready to explore holistic tools built specifically for therapists? Download our free starter bundle to get instant access to practical tools, guides, and resources you can use right away. And if you want to dive deeper, enroll in our affordable 3-hour introductory course here to learn how to ethically and confidently integrate tools into your therapy practice.