AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Darleene Peters, Owner of Deep Wellness NOLA

January 27, 2025

During the last 30+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.

Meet one of our featured graduates, Darleene Peters, owner of Deep Wellness NOLA. Darlene earned her Health and Wellness Coach Certification from AFPA.

Meet AFPA Graduate Darleene Peters, Certified Health and Wellness Coach

Tell us about yourself.

Hello, my name is Darleene Peters. I am the CEO and founder of Deep Wellness NOLA located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

How did you first become interested in health and wellness?

As I began to mature, and the demands of being a wife, a mom and a busy, professional began to take its toll on me, I realized that I needed to prioritize my own health and wellness. I also realized that I needed to be able to help my loved ones prioritize their health and wellness. I had to be the example.

I learned about the associations between stress and chronic illnesses, and how these chronic illnesses that have continued to plague so many of us are largely preventable due to lifestyle factors. So at that point, I became committed to helping others.

I knew that becoming certified would be an important step in making an impact.

Which AFPA certification have you earned, and why did you choose that certification program?

I earned my AFPA certification in Health and Wellness Coaching. I thoroughly researched all my options, and I enjoyed reading about what AFPA offered, the variety of their programs, and the student support. However, the continuing support, even beyond certification, is really what prompted me to go with AFPA.

It’s a great organization, and I continue to use it even after my certification for my continuing education credits to stay on top of any news and developments in the health and wellness arena. And it has proven to be an invaluable resource throughout my time as a Certified Health and Wellness Coach.

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What are your favorite parts of running your business?

My favorite part about running this business is being able to help others. It’s that feeling when someone tells me that the information I shared was useful and beneficial to them. It’s the feeling of constantly learning because health and wellness, as we know it, continues to evolve. AFPA has allowed me to stay on top of industry trends and developments.

I’m also proud to say that I am certified in a field where not many other people can say that. I have committed to becoming certified so that I can be taken seriously and so that I can be an authority and expert in the health and wellness field.

How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life?

Becoming a AFPA-Certified in Health and Wellness Coaching has had such a tremendous impact on me in more ways than I could have imagined. It has forced me to think out of the box when I was thinking that I can only do this through individual or group coaching. I realized I could have reach by writing, speaking, presenting, and sharing information, and it forced me to look at myself and examine myself and realize that I have more to offer and that I could have the impact that I wanted to have. I could have everything that I wanted once I became certified.

I still use AFPA as a personal resource. Their blogs, their information, their continuing education credit courses are incredibly helpful, and I use them to stay on top of industry trends and developments, and just in my effort to continue to help people lead healthy and well lives.

What advice would you give others considering getting certified through AFPA?

The world needs health and wellness coaches.

So perhaps you were like me and thinking, “Can I really do this? Do I have the time to do this? I have enough on my plate.” I’m telling you that you can and you should. The AFPA program is self-paced, it’s incredibly convenient, and it’s online. You can go at your own pace. You can be as ambitious as you want to be to complete the program within the time period that your schedule allows.

I was juggling work and children, extra full-time, and became certified during a pandemic. So if I can do it, you can as well. And I promise you the rewards, the benefits, the feeling of accomplishment will be amazing.