A New Path For Psychology Graduates
You Studied To Help Others. You Did The Work. Now What?
Valiance Coaching Institute is a program that prepares psychology graduates and students for a professional coaching career and the Certified Behavioral Wellness Coach (CBWC) credential. If this sounds like something you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.
The Numbers
Here's what nobody tells you when you declare your major.
Psychology BAs Awarded Yearly
Psychology is one of the most popular majors in the United States — and one of the least supported after graduation.
Go On To A Related Graduate Program
Only 14% of psychology bachelor's degree holders go on to earn a graduate degree in psychology. The other 86% are largely left without a clear path.
From Undergrad To Clinical Licensure
The path from a bachelor's degree to a licensed clinical psychologist takes 8 to 10 years — not counting the cost.
In Average Debt For A Psych Graduate
Around 90% of graduates carry student debt, with median loan amounts climbing toward $200,000.
There is a path between doing nothing with your degree and spending a decade in graduate school. That path is what we're building.
There's another path.
Are you the type of person who has always enjoyed giving advice, support, and structure to others' lives? Then this is what you are meant to be, without the sacrifice of 10+ years in school, and definitely not owing $200,000+ in student debt afterward. If you truly want to help, then this is the program for you. We don't look at your GPA; we look for heart. We bring that internal instinct out of you.
Who This Is For
Two types, same objective.
You're still in school.
You're studying psychology, behavioral science, counseling, social work, or a related field. You want to work directly with people after graduation, and you're starting to wonder whether the clinical route is realistic, affordable, or even what you actually want. You can start building toward a coaching career before graduating — and with the right resources, you will succeed.
You've already graduated.
You finished your degree and are working in an adjacent field (HR, case management, social services, training and development), and you feel the gap between what you studied and what you do every day. You haven't given up on using your degree the way you intended: helping others.
What Makes Us Different
We are a second pathway to healing.
Valiance Coaching Institute teaches you coaching frameworks and how a psychology background uniquely applies to coaching, including the combination of coaching, psychology, and behavioral insight that no other program offers at this stage of your career.
We're honest about what this is: a preparation and bridge program, not an ICF- or IAC-accredited certification. The CBWC credential you earn here is designed to prepare you toward those external certifications, while giving you a real coaching practice you can run today under the supervision of two vetted, certified Life Coaches every step of the way.
THE FOUNDER'S STORY
Read the Story Behind the Institute.
Ryan W. McClellan shares why he built Valiance Coaching Institute, what he observed while speaking at psychology programs across the country, and the single quality he believes determines success in every helping profession. This is not a sales page. It is an honest account of what we are building and why.
Read the Founder's Story‘If you treat a disease, you win or you lose. But if you treat a person, you win every time.’
— Patch Adams, as cited by Ryan W. McClellan
What's Included
Everything you get from us.
Live cohort-based program
A small founding cohort (6–8 students) moving through the program together, not a self-paced video library.
Two live sessions per week with the founders
Direct teaching, coaching practice, and feedback from Ryan and Lindsey, every single week of the cohort.
The CBWC credential on completion
Earn the Certified Behavioral Wellness Coach designation, awarded by Valiance Coaching Institute on graduation.
Access to the AI Practice Lab
Practice live coaching conversations between sessions in a safe sandbox built specifically for skill-building reps.
Weekly peer practice
Structured pairings with cohort members so you get hours of real coaching reps, not just observation.
Downloadable resources
Frameworks, intake templates, session structures, and a coaching toolkit you keep after the program ends.
Your Coaches
Who you'll learn from.
Ryan W. McClellan, MS
Lead Coach & Co-Founder
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Lindsey [Last Name], PCC
LEAD INSTRUCTOR &CO-FOUNDER
Two to three short sentences about Lindsey's certification, coaching specialty, and what students can expect from working with her. Editable in the visual editor.
The Credential
Certified Behavioral Wellness Coach (CBWC).
On graduation you earn the Certified Behavioral Wellness Coach (CBWC) designation, awarded by Valiance Coaching Institute. We want to be honest: the CBWC is a proprietary credential. It is not an ICF or IAC accreditation. It's designed to give you a real, working coaching identity today and to prepare you for those external certifications tomorrow.
Most coach certification programs cost $3,000–$10,000
Fall 2026 — Founding Cohort
The Founding Cohort.
Founding cohort pricing is intentionally accessible. Future cohorts: $1,999 → $2,999 as the program establishes itself.
Founding Rate · Pay In Full
You are getting in at the ground floor. In exchange for the founding rate, we ask for your honest feedback and, if we earn it, your testimonial. Everything else — curriculum, live calls, peer practicum, and your Behavioral Wellness Practitioner certification — is fully included.
Apply for the Founding CohortPayment Plan
Same founding cohort. Same full access. Same certification.
Split into three monthly installments — we set up the schedule after your application is accepted.
Apply for the Founding CohortNo payment is needed at this point; click "Apply" to answer a few questions!
Apply
Apply for the founding cohort.
Every applicant gets a one-on-one interview with both coaches to determine fit and eligibility. Even if you don't get in, we'll send resources you can use either way.
We won't spam you. We'll only reach out about your application.