The Truth About Continuing Education as a Coach

I believe we go through phases in this industry, like every industry does but this industry honestly feels so much personal and emotional.

There are seasons where it feels so important to be in a certification, to be learning and expanding and deepening your skillset as a coach. And then, suddenly, we shift into another phase where if you are in a certification, you are labelled a certification hopper.

The truth is, both can be true.

Entering into a certification is one of the most beautiful ways to expand your knowledge, evolve your leadership, and step more into the embodied coach you are desiring to become. But like everything, there’s duality.

When Learning Becomes a Shadow

I’ve been a victim to this duality myself. I’ve jumped into certifications that were not the right fit, not because they were bad or wrong, but because I fell into the belief that I needed to be in a certification to be a good coach. That if I wasn’t constantly learning, I was somehow falling behind and I hadn’t earned my place as a coach.

And then I would get into the certification and realise it wasn’t right for me. I wasn’t there from grounded intention, I was there from fear. From the shadow that told me my worth as a coach was attached to what I could prove or achieve.

That was a huge mirror for me. Because what I really needed wasn’t another piece of paper or another title. I needed embodiment. I needed to know the work in my bones. I needed integration.

The “Certification Hopper” Conversation

Let’s talk about the term “certification hopper.”

It’s thrown around a lot in the coaching world, often as a judgment, as if continually investing in your learning automatically means you are lost or ungrounded. But that isn’t always true.

There’s a difference between expanding your skillset with intention and using certifications to fill a void that can only be met through embodiment.

So how do you know which one you’re operating from?

Ask yourself these questions.

Do you feel like you need to have another certification before you can launch something new or call yourself a good coach?
Do you find yourself constantly talking about all of the certifications you’ve completed as a way to prove your worth or capability?
Have you watched other coaches do this certification and felt like you’re falling behind if you don’t do it too?

If you feel something stir in your chest when you read those, that’s awareness.

None of it makes you wrong. It simply means there might be a shadow running the show. The shadow that says your success is dependent on credentials instead of embodiment. The shadow that says more learning equals more worth. The shadow that believes you need to earn your right to lead.

When you lead from your shadow, you’ll find yourself chasing validation and permission. When you lead from your heart, you’ll find yourself choosing from truth.

Choosing From Heart, Not Fear

When I personally entered the Shadow Alchemy Certification, everything shifted.

Inside this space, we hold coaches who are ready for expansion and embodiment because they genuinely want to add Somatic Shadow Work to their life and business. They are not chasing certificates. They are choosing depth.

And here’s the truth… you are allowed to have doubts. You are allowed to have moments where you think, “Oh shit, can I really do this?” That is such a normal part of this journey. The difference is that we don’t want you to join from fear or comparison. We want you to join from your truth.

For this certification, we want you to choose to be here from your heart, with a deep knowing that your skillset is allowed to evolve as you do. This is not a certification you join just to get a certificate. It requires commitment, integrity, and a devotion to the craft of helping others.

This Certification Is Also About You

So, if you are wondering whether this is the right certification for you, here is what I invite you to sit with. Are you ready to enter into Somatic Shadow Work for yourself before holding space for others? Can you commit to not only learning the material, but also allowing yourself to be held through your own experiences? Are you willing to meet your shadows, beliefs, and emotions, even when it feels uncomfortable or scary?

Because you might notice something here. This certification is also about you.

We hold a deep value inside Shadow Alchemy Certification that you must walk first. You must walk through your own fire, your own darkness, your own experiences before asking someone else to. You must know what it feels like to be seen, to be held, and to be witnessed in the fullness of who you are.

The Beauty of Somatic Shadow Work

That is the beauty of Somatic Shadow Work. It isn’t about performing or fixing. It’s about being with what is. It’s about letting your body lead, which for many of us can feel daunting, but that’s the invitation, to lean in and start trusting your body.

This certification has changed so many lives because it’s not just about learning techniques. It’s about experiencing transformation from the inside out. I’ve personally witnessed coaches go from self-abandonment to self-respect, from fear to trust, from uncertainty to confidence. I’ve seen them grow their businesses, accept opportunities, leave jobs that drained them, and hold the most powerful, safe, and transformative spaces for others.

The Coaches Who Truly Walk the Walk

This is not a certification for those who simply want a title. It is for those who want to do this work deeply, fully, and with devotion.

Some of the most inspiring people I’ve met have been through Shadow Alchemy Certification. In fact, one of the coaches from my own immersion is coming to be a guest coach at my retreat this month. That’s how powerful the ripple is when you are surrounded by coaches who truly walk the walk.

If You’re on the Fence

Maybe you’ve been sitting on the fence wondering if this is your next step. Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking, “Am I a certification hopper?”

It really comes down to one question. Why do you want to join Shadow Alchemy?

Let your body speak. Let your intuition guide you.

Our next immersion begins this November, which means by the end of 2025, you could be confidently running Somatic Shadow Work sessions and holding spaces that change lives.

If your body feels that pull, even if your mind is scared, trust that it’s for a reason. This work changes everything.