About
Health Coaches Academy
At Health Coaches Academy we are on a mission.
A MISSION TO MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE'S HEALTH, WELLBEING AND HAPPINESS GLOBALLY.
We believe that everyone should have their own Health Coach. Without our health, all areas of our lives are impacted and improving health is the single most important investment anyone can make.
As a Health Coach, you get to go on this journey with them too. As part of your training, you will work on yourself and your own life, and as you begin to see changes in yourself, you will want to extend this to those around you.
What makes Health Coaches Academy different?
AS THE UK’S LEADING HEALTH COACH TRAINING ACADEMY WE UNDERSTAND THIS PROFESSION DEEPLY AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN EXCELLENT HEALTH COACH.
We also understand the importance of getting the right training to do what is arguably one of the most important roles you will ever have - supporting someone to regain and take control of their health.
Training with the Health Coaches Academy is not just about getting a qualification, it is a route to building a successful health coaching career in the UK. We care about you as a student with us during your studies and we also care about your results practising out there in the world. After graduation our Health Coaches Hub is there to keep you motivated, help you build on your skillset and move forward with your career and coaching business.
Meet the co-founders
of Health Coaches Academy
ANN AND CAROLYN BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 40 YEARS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE IN COACHING, PSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOUR CHANGE, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS TO CO-FOUND THE HEALTH COACHES ACADEMY.
Carolyn St John Loder
CEO & DIRECTOR OF HEALTH COACH TRAINING
I’m Carolyn St John Loder, one of the co-founders and joint CEO of Health Coaches Academy. When I began as one of the UK’s first Health Coaches, there was no clear pathway, just a growing health crisis and a deep conviction that people needed better support to change their lives. So I built what was missing. Drawing from my own health journey, years of coaching and mentoring experience and a deep commitment to human potential, I created the curriculum to train Health Coaches - long before Health Coaching became a recognised career.
At Health Coaches Academy we’re not just training coaches; we’re redefining health and creating a global movement. Health Coaching sits at the intersection of lifestyle, behaviour change, and human potential - and it has a critical role to play in addressing the challenges our healthcare systems face.
Ann Garry
CEO & DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION TRAINING
I’m Ann Garry, co-founder and joint CEO of HCA. After a successful career in management consulting, I retrained as a Nutritional Therapist and Health Coach. I’m particularly passionate about the science of longevity and helping people take control of their health through small, sustainable actions that support wellbeing throughout their lives.
At Health Coaches Academy, I focus on developing our health and wellness curriculum and advancing the health coaching profession. I’m also a member of BANT and CNHC and regularly speak at industry events to promote health coaching and encourage collaboration across the profession. Over the years, I’ve trained and mentored many health practitioners, helping them build successful businesses, and I’ve embedded this experience into HCA’s business training so our graduates can thrive.
"WE ARE ALL ON A MISSION TOGETHER, THE LEVEL OF CARE WE GIVE TO OUR STUDENTS MAKES EVERYONE FEEL PART OF THE HCA FAMILY.
WE ARE A TREMENDOUSLY CONNECTED AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY."
Carolyn St John Loder, CEO
History of
Health Coaches Academy
At Health Coaches Academy, our work goes far beyond qualifications. We’re building and empowering a community of Health Coaches to go out into the world and have a profound impact on the health, wellbeing and happiness of people globally.
2003
Carolyn St John Loder became one of the UK’s first Health Coaches
2007
Started training Nutritional Therapists in health coaching skills
2015
Introduced health coaching to South Africa
FOUNDATION
ESTABLISHING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
2017
Health Coaches Academy established and launched 12-month Diploma
2017
HCA 3-Day Live Event started bringing students together
2017 - 2022
Professional Accreditations from Ofqual, UKIHCA, Association for Coaching, NHS Personalised Care Institute (PCI) and COMENSA (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa)
EXPANSION & FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION
2022
Health Coaches Hub to support graduates into professional practice
2024
Project RIO (Research, Innovation and Outreach) our commitment to social impact.
2025
Accredited Certificate in Group Coaching to expand the reach of health coaching
2025
Coaching Certificate for Healthcare Professionals to integrate coaching into clinical practice
Meet our guest experts
Leaders in Health & Wellbeing
WE HAVE A WIDE NETWORK OF GUEST EXPERTS ACROSS HEALTH, MEDICINE, COACHING, AND WELLBEING - BRINGING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE INTO OUR TRAINING.
Below is a selection of some of the most respected and influential voices we’re proud to work with. Their expertise helps ensure our training reflects the latest thinking in lifestyle medicine, behaviour change, and health coaching.
Meet our
Education Team
OUR HCA TEAM IS OFTEN REFERRED TO BY OUR STUDENTS AS THE HCA FAMILY; WE ENSURE THAT YOUR LEARNING MEETS STRINGENT ACADEMIC CRITERIA AND COMES ALIVE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING.
Our education team is led by experts who teach by demonstrating the art of Health Coaching and bring together deep expertise in nutritional therapy, lifestyle medicine, psychology, and behaviour change science. Everyone you meet at HCA practices as a Health Coach - this is so important and one of our top values. Our job is not just to teach you to be a Health Coach, but to inspire you to build a successful career as one as well.
Lyn Hatch
Head of Student Experience and
Accredited Coach Supervisor
Lyn is a UK based trauma-informed and functional medicine Health Coach. She works with clients 1-2-1 and in group programmes and supports companies with wellbeing programmes. After 20 years in corporate roles, her mum's cancer diagnosis and final days of life in a hospice inspired Lyn to change direction, leading her into palliative care and then Health Coaching. Her mission is to provide others with dignity, care and compassion to enable them to live a full life.
Mary Walker
Head of Coaching Assessment and
Accredited Coach Supervisor
Mary is a highly qualified UK Health Coach with a background in teaching A-level psychology. She holds Diplomas in Nutritional Therapy, Health Coaching, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and NLP Mastery, and is a certified Mindfulness teacher. A member of BANT, CNHC, and BAMBA, for HCA she serves as a Trainer, Head of Coaching Assessment and one of our highly trained Coach Supervisors. Mary also runs her private practice, "Your Compassion Coach," promoting mindfulness and self-compassion.
Nikki Wilson
Director of Studies and
Accredited Coach Supervisor
Nikki holds a degree in Nutritional Therapy and is a Master Coach. She combines her passion for health, wellness and business in a dual career. She serves as Director of Studies at HCA and is also the Owner and Operations Director of a group of Dialysis Clinics and a Renal Management company. As Director of Studies, she focuses on creating an academically robust and life-changing experience for HCA students, ensuring a positive and impactful journey for all.
Marcelle Dubruel
Senior Health Coach Trainer and
Accredited Coach Supervisor
Marcelle is a UK based Master Health Coach, Nutritional Therapist and member of BANT. She is also a certified Heart Math practitioner, leads Corporate Wellbeing Programmes, and sees one-to-one clients privately. Marcelle is a Senior Health Coach Trainer for HCA and runs the monthly Health Coaching Clinics, demonstrating coaching in action. Marcelle is fascinated by the power of coaching and the ability it has to facilitate others in living a life they absolutely love, with a level of health that they all deserve.
Suzanne Laurie
CPD Lead & Mentor
Suzanne has a BSc (Hons) in Nutritional Therapy and an MSc in Positive Psychology. She trained as a wellness coach under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Arloski, as and the director of a large training institute introduced the first Health Coach training to Ireland. Suzanne has since completed specialist training in emotional eating and binge eating disorder. She has recently contributed to two books on perimenopause and menopause, and works primarily with midlife women, online and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Kate Couchman
Director of Health Coaches Hub & Mentor
Kate is an experienced Health Coach with a Master’s in Homeopathy and Nutrition. She has held senior roles within the supplement sector and has extensive experience building businesses. As Director of the Health Coaches Hub, she supports health coaches to move from overwhelm to clear, focused action through a practical and grounded mentoring approach that helps them cut through complexity and take consistent, confident steps. She is passionate about helping coaches create businesses that feel aligned, sustainable and manageable
Alison Jones
Co-Founder & Mentor
Alison is Co-Founder of Health Coaches Academy with a background in Clinical Nutrition and Health Coaching. Inspired by the loss of loved ones who could have benefited from greater support with their health, she co-founded HCA to train compassionate, highly skilled Health Coaches who can make a lasting difference. Alison has played a key role in developing the academy's curriculum and the Health Coaches Hub. She is passionate about empowering students with the confidence, knowledge and coaching skills to support meaningful, sustainable behaviour change.
Gina Grubbe
Assessing Lead
Gina is a Health Coach and mother of three energetic boys. With a background in psychology and marketing, she realized her passion for helping people rather than promoting products. Her interest in human behavior led her to explore the connection between food, wellbeing, and mental health, as well as the influence of societal norms on children. In 2017, Gina discovered Health Coaching and trained with HCA’s first intake, combining her love for psychology and nutrition to make a meaningful impact on others' lives.
Catherine Shelton
Curriculum Development Coordinator
Catherine is a certified Health and Wellness Coach specialising in women's health and perimenopause. Alongside her private coaching practice, she works with one-to-one clients, facilitates group programmes and leads wellness retreats. As HCA's Curriculum Development Coordinator, she supports the development of our curriculum and student learning experience, helping ensure our training remains engaging, practical and impactful.
Sasha McGhee
Curriculum Coordinator
Sasha is a certified Health Coach and Yoga Teacher. Her passion for helping people improve their health led her to Health Coaches Academy, where she discovered a profession that brought together her interests in wellbeing and behaviour change. Alongside her coaching work, she is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Medical Anthropology. As HCA's Curriculum Coordinator, Sasha helps shape and enhance the student learning experience, combining her passion for health education with a keen eye for detail and continuous improvement.
Meet our
Mentors, Student Support and Health Coaches Hub Team
OUR WIDER TEAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING EVERY STAGE OF THE STUDENT JOURNEY
Our mentors, student support, course consultants, Health Coaches Hub and marketing teams are all at the heart of HCA, working closely with students and graduates to ensure they are looked after both when you are studying with us and after you graduate. We care deeply and support you to go onto practice and build your career in the real world. We are proud that our commitment to our students and graduates is reflected in our 5-star Google rating and that our students love training with us!
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Accreditations
& Professional Recognition
WHEN YOU COMPLETE OUR LEVEL 5 DIPLOMA IN HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRACTICE GLOBALLY AS A PROFESSIONAL HEALTH COACH.
Our qualifications are designed to meet recognised UK and international standards, giving you credibility and confidence as you build your career. Our Health Coach training programme is accredited and approved by:
UK AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COACHES ASSOCIATION (UKIHCA)
A UKIHCA-approved Health Coach meets the highest standards of health coaching practice. They are committed to working within the UKIHCA Scope of Practice, maintaining their professional knowledge through Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and upholding the UKIHCA Code of Conduct.
The Health Coaches Academy was the first UK training provider to achieve approval under the UKIHCA's enhanced accreditation standards, introduced in 2021. This rigorous assessment process ensures our training is delivered to the highest professional standards, giving you confidence that your qualification is recognised and respected across the industry.
ASSOCIATION FOR COACHING
The Health Coaches Academy Diploma is an Association for Coaching Accredited Diploma in Coaching, recognising that our programme meets internationally recognised standards for professional coach training. The Association for Coaching (AC) is one of the world's leading independent professional coaching bodies, dedicated to promoting coaching excellence and advancing standards across the coaching profession.
This accreditation provides confidence that your training is recognised, respected and aligned with best practice, giving you a qualification valued by clients, employers and organisations worldwide.
QUALIFI
The Health Coaches Academy Diploma is a Qualifi Accredited Level 5 Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching. Qualifi is a UK awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, recognising programmes that meet rigorous standards of quality, knowledge and professional competence. Through this accreditation, graduates gain a nationally recognised qualification that is listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
Achieving a Level 5 Diploma can support progression into employment, further study and degree-level or postgraduate pathways in the UK and internationally, providing a qualification that is both credible and transferable.
COACHES & MENTORS OF SOUTH AFRICA (COMENSA)
Comensa (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa) is the SAQA recognised professional body for Coaching and Mentoring in South Africa who regulate the coaching and mentoring professions in South Africa.
ENHANCED LEARNING CREDITS ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM (ECLAS)
The Health Coaches Academy Diploma is approved on the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) provider and course register, enabling eligible members of the UK Armed Forces to use their Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) towards the programme.
The Ministry of Defence's ELC Scheme supports lifelong learning by providing financial assistance for nationally recognised qualifications at Level 3 and above through approved learning providers. As an ELCAS-approved provider, Health Coaches Academy offers eligible service personnel and veterans the opportunity to apply their funding towards gaining a recognised health coaching qualification and developing a rewarding new career.
NHS PERSONALISED CARE INSTITUTE(PCI)
The Health Coaches Academy Coaching Certificate is accredited by the Personalised Care Institute (PCI), demonstrating that it meets the Institute's rigorous quality assurance and accreditation standards.
Established by NHS England, the Personalised Care Institute supports the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan by helping health and care professionals develop the skills and confidence to provide personalised care. PCI accreditation gives you confidence that our Coaching Certificate is aligned with nationally recognised standards and equips you with the coaching skills needed to support people in making meaningful, lasting changes to their health and wellbeing.
Why accreditation matters
Your qualification is recognised and respected in the UK and internationally. You can apply for membership with professional bodies, enhancing your credibility and career opportunities. Being trained through an accredited programme means your health and wellness coaching practice is backed by quality assurance and professional recognition.
You can find out more about why health coach accreditation is so important by reading our blog.
