Can Online Holistic Consultations Be “Real”?

Reflections on Certification, Experience & Choosing the Right Guide for Your Journey

“Shouldn’t a ‘real’ Ayurveda consultation be done in India, in person, with someone trained at a formal school?”

I hear this often.
And I understand where it comes from.

There’s a perception — sometimes quiet, sometimes loud — that online sessions might be superficial, and that the more certificates someone has, the better or more trustworthy they are.

Let’s unpack this together — from both sides: the client’s lens, and the coach’s reality.

Why Are So Many Turning to Online Healing Programs?

(From the Coach’s Perspective)

The number of people enrolling in mindfulness, yoga, Ayurveda, and creative healing certifications has exploded. Some of these are quick online courses; others are deeply rooted and traditional. Some are stepping stones. Others, lifelong commitments.

But let’s look at why so many choose this path:

• They are navigating career changes or burnout.

• They have limited finances or can’t travel abroad to attend in-person training.

• They want to learn at their own pace while juggling full-time jobs, children, chronic illness, or deep personal transformation.

I’ve walked this path too.
When I enrolled in my Art Therapy Practitioner training, I was going through burnout and IVF. A flexible, affordable online program was the only viable doorway for me.
Today, I’m studying Ayurveda under the guidance of a renowned Ayurvedic doctor and therapist, not at a large institutional school but within the intimate setting of her clinic — package by package, integrating, living, and practicing as I go.

Real transformation doesn’t always happen in classrooms.
It happens in life.
In showing up again and again.

What Clients Often Don’t See

As clients, we want the best.
It’s natural to seek someone “qualified,” experienced, trustworthy. But here’s the quiet dilemma many don’t talk about:

“The assumption that “more certifications = better coach” can create a system where future healers stay stuck in classrooms instead of gaining real-world experience.”

The pressure to “look” legitimate on paper often pushes aspiring coaches and therapists to delay or doubt themselves — even when they already carry deep wisdom through life experience, cultural background, or personal healing journeys.

But at some point, you must live it. Not just study it.
Healing doesn’t come from theory alone — it’s born in empathy, presence, and deep listening.

How I Compensate for the Lack of “Traditional” In-Person Settings

You might wonder: If your consultations are online, how do you make them as impactful as an in-person clinic?

My answer is simple:
I take time. Real time.

• Time to deeply listen.

• Time to let you speak.

• Time to get to know your story.

• Time to adapt what I know to what you need.

In an era of speed and instant results, time has become sacred.
And that is where online consultations, when done with care and presence, can offer something profoundly powerful: space to unfold.

So How Do You Choose the “Right” Coach or Healer?

There’s no perfect formula. But there is resonance.
And while training and credentials do matter — they are not the whole story.

The most valuable teacher is not necessarily the one with the most certificates — but the one who connects with you.
Who listens.
Who understands.
Who reflects back to you your power, not just their expertise.

That’s why I want to offer something useful here:

🌿 10 Things to Look for When Choosing a Holistic Coach or Therapist

1. They listen more than they speak.
   You feel heard — not diagnosed.

2. They live their truth.
   Their lifestyle reflects their message.

3. They’ve walked through fire.
   You sense they’ve faced hardship and grown from it.

4. They adapt, not prescribe.
   Their advice is personal, not cookie-cutter.

5. They hold space without pressure.
   You never feel rushed, sold to, or shamed.

6. They’re transparent about their journey.
   You know who they are and where they’re coming from.

7. They keep learning.
   Not out of insecurity, but out of devotion to their path.

8. They blend tradition and relevance.
   Ancient wisdom, adapted for today’s world.

9. Their energy feels aligned.
   You sense kindness, clarity, and genuine care.

10. You feel a click. A sense of “Yes, this is it.”
    That click? It’s real. Trust it.

In the End: No Comparison, Only Resonance

Let’s be clear — this is not a judgment against those with formal degrees or high-level certifications.
Nor is it a defense for those without.

We all come from different circumstances.
We’ve all walked different roads.
Whether someone trained at an ashram or studied online while raising children — their value cannot be measured by format alone.

We all carry something unique to offer.
And we all work — in our own way — to help build a better, more conscious world.

The key?
You, as a client, get to choose what kind of guidance you need.
These 10 tips aren’t rules. They’re reminders to help you tune in — not just to the coach, but to yourself.

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If my words speak to you — if my path, however unconventional, resonates with yours — you’re warmly welcome.
You’ll never be rushed here.
You’ll be heard.
And we’ll walk this journey together.

🕊️
With warmth,
Mamta Rana
soulveda.art