Shadow Alchemy Coaching Academy is a training school and education hub for coaches, healers, mentors and practitioners who want to learn somatic shadow work in a grounded, ethical and trauma-informed way.

It's also for those invested in their personal growth wanting to go deeper into themselves and patterns to break past just "having awareness" so they can experience deeper transformation.

The Shadow Alchemy Method brings together shadow work, somatics, neuroscience, belief work, emotional embodiment and trauma-informed coaching.

A lot of approaches focus on mindset, nervous system regulation, or talking about the problem. Shadow Alchemy looks at the whole identity pattern underneath it: the belief, the body response, the emotion, the protection, the shadow, and the part of the person that learned to survive that way.

The goal isn't to force a breakthrough. It's to create safety, awareness and integration so the pattern can actually change.

It means we're not just looking at the behaviour on the surface.

For example, if someone keeps overgiving, undercharging, shutting down, people-pleasing, self-sabotaging, or attracting the same relationship dynamic, we don't just ask, "How do we stop this?"

We ask what the pattern is protecting, where it came from, what belief is underneath it, what the body is responding to, and what part of the person still thinks this pattern is keeping them safe.

That's the work beneath the pattern — and it's the only way it changes.

No. Shadow Alchemy is not therapy, and it doesn't replace therapy, mental health care, or medical support.

It's a coaching and facilitation method for working with unconscious patterns, emotional responses, shadow aspects, beliefs and somatic awareness.

We're very clear about scope of practice. Students are taught not to diagnose, treat, analyse trauma clinically, or work outside their training.

Yes. Shadow Alchemy is taught through a trauma-informed lens.

That means we care about consent, pacing, nervous system capacity, client choice, safety, boundaries, and knowing when to pause or refer out.

Trauma-informed doesn't mean we treat trauma. It means we facilitate responsibly and don't push people past capacity in the name of transformation.

There are currently three main pathways:

Personal Pathway — for personal shadow work, healing and integration only. This is not a certification pathway.

Level 1 Certification / The Initiation Path — for coaches, healers and practitioners who want to learn the foundations of 1:1 somatic shadow work facilitation and become certified as a Shadow Alchemy Facilitator.

The Full Practitioner Pathway / The Devotion Path — for people who want Level 1 plus Advanced Facilitator Training, including deeper group work, leadership, retreat facilitation, advanced shadow work and practitioner mastery.

If you want to do this work for yourself, choose the Personal Pathway.

If you want to learn how to facilitate Shadow Alchemy with clients in a 1:1 setting, Level 1 is the best place to begin.

If you know you want the full practitioner journey, including advanced facilitation, group work, leadership and retreat-level skills, the Devotion Path is the strongest fit.

If you're not sure, that's what the pathway conversation is for. We'll help you choose the right level of depth and responsibility for where you are now.

The Personal Pathway is for your own healing, growth, shadow work and integration. You receive access to the work as a client and participant.

The certification pathways are for practitioner training. You're learning how to facilitate the method safely and ethically with other people.

That difference matters because personal transformation and professional facilitation are not the same thing.

No. The Personal Pathway does not lead to certification.

It does not qualify you to coach, facilitate, teach, certify, or use the Shadow Alchemy Method professionally.

If you want to become certified, you'll need to join Level 1 Certification or the Full Practitioner Pathway.

Level 1 teaches the foundations of the Shadow Alchemy Method for 1:1 client facilitation. You learn the core processes, safety framework, practice requirements and certification pathway to become a Shadow Alchemy Facilitator.

The Full Practitioner Pathway includes Level 1 plus Advanced Facilitator Training. It goes deeper into group work, advanced shadow processes, group leadership, retreat facilitation, practitioner self-mastery and advanced ethical facilitation.

Level 1 is the foundation. The Full Practitioner Pathway is the deeper professional pathway.

It means you've completed the required training, practice, attendance, assessments and final facilitation requirements to be certified by Shadow Alchemy Coaching Academy.

Certification shows that you've learned the method, practised it, received support, and met the standards required to facilitate the work within scope.

For Level 1, certification includes:

— completing the core modules
— attending the required live calls and Facilitator Immersion
— completing module reflections
— completing the 21-day Soulful Somatic Practice Log
— passing the Trauma-Informed Facilitator Exam
— completing 10 recorded practice sessions
— using the core Shadow Alchemy processes
— submitting call log reflections
— completing a final recorded Shadow Shift session with a real client

These requirements are there because certification should mean something. It's not just watching content and downloading a certificate.

Yes. There are written, embodied and practical assessments.

This includes reflections, practice logs, a trauma-informed facilitator exam, recorded practice sessions, call log reflections and a final client session.

The assessments are designed to help you become more confident, safe and grounded in the work — not to make the process feel intimidating.

Yes, within scope.

Many students are already coaches, healers, mentors, therapists, facilitators, breathwork practitioners, somatic practitioners, or space holders.

Shadow Alchemy can be integrated into your existing work, as long as you stay within your qualifications, insurance, legal requirements and scope of practice.

Shadow Alchemy certifications are issued by Complete by Caitlin PTY LTD / Shadow Alchemy Coaching Academy.

They are not a government qualification, university degree, or externally accredited therapy licence.

You can study from anywhere, and graduates may use the method internationally, but you are responsible for checking the coaching, business, insurance and legal requirements in your own country or region.

Yes, eligible certified graduates may be listed in the Find a Coach directory.

This is for students who have completed the required certification pathway and meet the standards for being represented as a Shadow Alchemy Facilitator.

The trainings are delivered online through a mix of self-paced learning, live calls, practice labs, community support, resources and live online immersion experiences.

You'll have access to the portal, recordings, workbooks, manuals and practice resources depending on your pathway.

Yes. The training is fully online, including the Facilitator Immersion.

There is no in-person requirement for any of our standard trainings unless explicitly stated.

It depends on the pathway.

Level 1 can be completed in a minimum of 6 months, with up to 12 months to complete certification requirements.

You'll need time for modules, live calls, practice labs, practice sessions, reflection work and integration. We'd recommend treating it like a real professional training, not something you squeeze in casually at the last minute.

The Advanced pathway takes 18–24 months to complete depending on your completion of Level 1.

Yes, calls are recorded where appropriate and replays are available.

However, for certification, some live attendance requirements must be met live. Replays support your learning, but they don't replace every live participation requirement.

Students receive support through monthly live classes, support calls, coaching mastery calls, peer practice labs, community access, portal resources, recordings, demonstrations and structured practice requirements.

The intention is that you're not learning this alone from a content library. You're learning through education, practice, feedback, community and integration.

Yes. Depending on the pathway, students receive resources such as the student manual, workbooks, practice resources, process guidance, call logs, somatic practice resources, recordings and access to the Vault / Applied Learning Library.

There are full payment and payment plan options available.

For Level 1, the current investment is $7,000 AUD, with a $1,000 AUD deposit and payment plan options available.

For the Devotion Path, the current investment is $16,000 AUD, with a $1,000 AUD deposit and longer payment plan options available.

Payment options may change, so the current checkout or application information will always have the most up-to-date details.

Yes. The current deposit is $1,000 AUD for Level 1 and the Devotion Path.

Your place is not confirmed until your deposit or agreed first payment has been received.

Payment plans usually begin once you enrol and your deposit or first payment is made.

The exact dates will depend on your chosen plan, start date and enrolment agreement.

Scholarships are not currently offered as a standard part of enrolment.

However, we do consider case-by-case arrangements with individuals who require special circumstances. Please email the team at [email protected] with your circumstances so we can discuss with you. We do not guarantee an outcome.

Please note: spaces, discounts and alternative arrangements are not guaranteed.

Yes. Spaces are limited in Level 1 immersions and advanced training because this work involves live support, practice, assessment and facilitation standards.

Our community continues to grow, but for our immersive experiences, these will always be capped to ensure each student has the support they need.

Level 1 currently has intakes in July and February.

The Facilitator Immersion usually runs in March or October, depending on your intake.

For the most accurate dates, check the current application page or contact us directly.

Because students receive immediate access to proprietary digital content, purchases are final and non-refundable once access has been granted.

If something significant happens and you need to discuss your enrolment, please contact us as soon as possible. Transfers or changes are considered case by case and are not guaranteed.

These trainings are for coaches, healers, mentors, facilitators, practitioners and personal development lovers who want to understand the deeper patterns beneath behaviour, emotions, relationships, money, leadership and identity.

They're especially suited to people who are self-aware but know that awareness alone hasn't changed the pattern.

The certification pathways are for people who want to facilitate this work professionally and responsibly with clients.

They're not for people who want a quick certificate without doing the work.

They're also not for people who want to diagnose, treat trauma, replace therapy, bypass consent, force breakthroughs, or use shadow work as a way to tell clients what's wrong with them.

This work requires maturity, self-responsibility, ethics, and a willingness to be in your own process.

You don't need a specific qualification to begin Level 1.

However, you do need some personal transformation experience and some experience working with people or holding space in some way.

If you're brand new to coaching, healing or facilitation, we'll talk through whether this is the right starting point for you.

That's okay. Many people who do this work also have therapeutic support.

Shadow Alchemy is not a replacement for therapy, so if you're currently working through significant trauma, mental health concerns, crisis, or instability, we may recommend continuing with your therapist and checking whether this training is the right timing.

If you're unsure, please tell us in your application or pathway conversation so we can support you responsibly.

You can contact us directly through the application or enquiry form, or email the Shadow Alchemy team.

If your question is about which pathway is right for you, the best next step is to book a pathway conversation so we can understand your background, goals and what kind of support you're looking for.