International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, LLC (IFCI) offers a certification program that is both client-centered and fibromyalgia-specific. Program participants learn to help clients (and themselves!) come to terms with their fibromyalgia diagnosis, understand their treatment options, implement prescribed lifestyle changes, reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, and navigate the often confusing medical system.
Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® Training Program
Our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® Training Program focuses on fibromyalgia knowledge and includes instructional lectures combined with one-on-one coaching to improve your own fibromyalgia symptoms.
This two-part training is perfect for those who want to improve their own fibromyalgia symptoms while educating themselves on the treatment and management of fibromyalgia. Students who are ideal for this program want to find new ways to feel better while also learning how to help others in their community. They are healthcare providers, support group leaders, and fibromyalgia patients who want to be able to help others. This is also the first step in becoming a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®.
Part 1 of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® Training Program consists of three months of weekly lectures and group coaching with Tami Stackelhouse on fibromyalgia-specific topics such as:
- Current fibromyalgia science
- Medications and treatment plans
- Natural alternatives for fibromyalgia medications
- Complementary and integrative therapies
- Pacing and energy management
- Fibromyalgia-specific nutrition and exercise plans
- Stress management strategies
- How to add more joy to your life
- Self-care and coping techniques
- Building a fibromyalgia Flare Survival Kit
Part 2 of the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® Training Program involves working with your own Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® in one-on-one sessions. Your tuition includes 18 private sessions to be held over six months.
Students can expect to spend a minimum of three to five hours per week on classwork, consisting of: 90 minutes of class lectures (via Zoom), one hour with your coach, plus regular reading assignments and homework.
Whether you want to build your own Fibromyalgia Coaching business, learn more about fibromyalgia for your existing profession, or learn skills to improve your own fibromyalgia symptoms, our certification program will help you meet your goals.
Certificate completion requires completion of weekly one-on-one calls with your Coach, class lectures and assignments, and completion of a final exam and interview with a passing grade.
Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Training Program
Students who have completed the Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® Training Program may apply to continue their education through our Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Training Program.
This one-year program only accepts a handful of students each year and includes a full year of live and recorded instruction and study, as well as an internship to gain coaching experience working directly with fibromyalgia clients with oversight from our instructors.
Students can expect to spend a minimum of two hours per week on classwork, consisting of: one hour of live classes (via Zoom), as well as additional recorded lectures, reading, and homework as assigned. Internship coaching hours will be in addition to this and scheduled with each student according to their own schedule. Internship coaching is both paid and unpaid.
Course material expands upon the fibromyalgia instruction in our Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® course. It also includes expert presentations on business-building and coaching-specific topics, such as:
- Gentle goal-setting and action planning
- Strategies for coaching fibromyalgia patients
- Relationship building for clients and providers
- Connecting with your Ideal Client
- Sales and marketing for coaches
- Financial and legal best practices
- Building a business that supports your healing
- Creating an energetically sustainable business as an entrepreneur
Our Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Training Program has been designed specifically for those wishing to develop a business working with fibromyalgia patients.
Certificate completion requires full participation in weekly live classes, completion of recorded classes and reading assignments, and completion of a final exam and interview with a passing grade. It also requires that students complete a minimum of 100 hours of fibromyalgia-specific coaching.
To join the Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® Training Program, applicants must have completed all Certified Fibromyalgia Advisor® program requirements.
I sometimes listened to class while I was eating dinner in my pajamas, sitting in a parking lot, or driving my car. The recordings also helped when I had brain fog or family activities. You really made this program do-able for Fibro Warriors. Most of the homework assignments are completed at your own pace — and we had such a supportive group of classmates!
Class Requirements
The minimum requirements for full participation in IFCI training programs are as follows:
- Desktop or laptop computer
- Internet access
- Facebook account
- A pedometer and heart rate monitor is also required; this could be a simple app on your phone or a device such as an Apple Watch, Fitbit or Jawbone Up.
