What is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach?

From the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), “Health and wellness coaches engage individuals and groups in evidence-based, client-centered processes that facilitate and empower clients to develop and achieve self-determined, health and wellness goals. Coaches assist clients to use their own insight, personal strengths, and resources to set goals, commit to action steps, and establish accountability in building an envisioned healthy lifestyle.”

Health Coaching…

Is a client-centered process

Sees health as the integration of all aspects of a persons life

Uses clients strengths and values to facilitate the goal setting process

Sees clients as experts of their own lives

A collaborative process that relies on cultivating trust and rapport between client and coach

Uses science backed techniques to set clients up for success

Focuses on the WHY behind a clients’ goal

Emphasizes accountability and tracking progress

Understands that agency and self-efficacy are necessary for change

Integrates information on health and wellness topics that are relevant to areas of focus

You’ve come to the right place if…

You find it challenging to navigate our world today while desiring a more purpose-filled life

You want to foster healthier relationships and crave more connection and community

You’re dissatisfied with your experiences with other healthcare providers and are seeking something more aligned with your needs

You’re going through a big and complex life transition and may feel alone or unsupported

You are seeking sustainable change and self-improvement but not sure where to start

You’re overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out in your life and desire more balance

Note: if you don’t resonate with anything here, that certainly does not mean you’re in the wrong place…. I would still love to hear from you to see if we’d make a good fit!

FAQ’s

  • A myth about health coaching is that it's only about fitness or nutrition which couldn't be further from the truth. While there is no doubt that these are two areas of life that people most want improvement in, they aren't the end all be all of our health.

    When we realize that health is life and not just physical, the options are endless when working with a health coach

    This list is certainly not exhaustive but to name some other areas... stress reduction, sleep hygiene, social connection, chronic condition management, spiritual wellness, navigating life transitions, and so on.

  • The simple answer to this question is none. Anyone can call themselves a health coach- even if you have little to no training- because it is not a licensed profession (yet).

    This has lead to many referring to themselves as “experts” in one particular area such as fitness or nutrition. While they certainly have the ability to help people change their lives for the better, its important that we continue to define this field to help create awareness about what is and what isn’t a health and wellness coach.

    However, in the last decade or so there has been an increase in health coaching programs with more and more being certified curriculums through the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC).

    The NBHWC is an established organization that sets the standards and ethics for the field and offers a certification that helps set certified health and wellness coaches apart from others. There are more and more people going after the NBHWC certification and this is moving the profession forward and making it easier to find reputable, professional health coaches.

  • Unfortunately there isn't a straight answer to this and that is because everyone has a unique set of circumstances that makes their "roadmap" to change look entirely different than everyone else. Health coaching is holistic and takes a bio-individual approach to each client.

    However, we do have limitations over how long we work with clients and there is usually a set "end". The ultimate goal in health coaching is to work our way out of a job, so ending the relationship should be a positive thing. Working with someone forever wouldn't be ethical or supportive to their progress but change takes time and we ultimately want our clients to do what's right for them, whether that means continuing with coaching or not.