Food Story Coaching Certification

Presented by Food Story Coaching

20 CEs

This certification equips holistic nutrition professionals with the psychological, cultural, and coaching tools needed to help clients transform their relationship with food.

Grounded in behavioral nutrition and storytelling, the program teaches that sustainable change requires addressing both the emotional (inner) and behavioral (outer) dimensions of eating. It moves beyond traditional education-based counselling, focusing instead on emotional awareness, compassion, and the client’s lived experience.

The foundation of the curriculum is the 4 A’s Framework: Awareness, Analysis, Acceptance, and Action which guides clients through a structured, emotionally intelligent process for self-discovery and change.

Includes 8 online modules, delivered through 36 video lessons and 21 reference sheets, with each module building progressively on the last.

Each module requires approximately 5 hours of learning time (2 hours of online lecture plus 2–3 hours of reading, assignments, and client practice).

A mentorship option is available, pairing learners with a Certified Food Story Coach for additional guidance and feedback.

Key topics include:
• Food culture and the psychology of eating
• Coaching session flow and client communication
• Working with perfectionism, control, resistance, and people-pleasing
• Body image and self-worth
• Shame, guilt, grief, and emotional eating
• Trauma-informed coaching and diversity in practice
• The interplay between inner emotional work and outer behavioral change
• Professional practice considerations

The content draws inspiration from psychology (including Jungian concepts), mythology, and anthropology — positioning food as both a biological and deeply human experience.

Instructor
Ian Rubin, MA, CPT, CHC is the founder and an educator at the Food as Medicine Institute at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland,

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
• Facilitate emotionally intelligent client conversations about food, beliefs, and behaviors
• Apply the 4 A’s Framework (Awareness, Analysis, Acceptance, and Action) within coaching sessions
• Recognize and compassionately address emotional barriers to change
• Integrate psychological and cultural insight into nutrition counselling
• Support clients through patterns of perfectionism, shame, resistance, or guilt
• Work effectively with diverse clients through a non-diet, trauma-informed lens
• Combine inner emotional work with outer behavior change to promote sustainable results

Register HERE