Health Coaching 101

Industry Considerations

The terms “certified” and “coach” and the title “health coach” are NOT regulated. This means that literally any organization can say that their graduates will become “certified health coaches.” It also means anyone on the internet can call themselves a “certified coach.” Do not take these sorts of claims at face value. 

The official, governing body for the credentialing of health and wellness coaches in the United States is: The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). NBHWC has collaborated with the National Board of Medical Examiners since 2016 to provide a robust board certification examination which allows individuals with the specific training and prerequisites to obtain the National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC) credential.

If you’re seeking to become a health coach, ensure the training program you’re planning to pursue is part of the NBHWC approved training list. These training programs allow you to eventually sit for the exam and gain your NBC-HWC credential. Technically, this distinction isn’t required to practice health coaching right now, however, the health and wellness coaching profession continues to progress in the direction of standardized requirements - and eventually licensure - and central to this movement will be NBHWC credentialing and recommendations.

Additionally, many coaches have degrees and advanced degrees within, but not limited to, the fields of: holistic health, nutrition/dietetics, wellness, kinesiology, anatomy and physiology, nursing, social work, psychology, etc. A combination of health degree(s), health coach training, and NBC-HWC is an ideal educational background to look for when selecting a coach. While helpful, a degree in nutrition, or physiology alone does not qualify someone to be a health coach. Similarly, personal trainers are not health coaches unless they can verify specific health coach training and credentialing. 

In sum, you wouldn’t work with a Medical Doctor or Registered Nurse if they didn’t go through proper training, so apply the same mindset when selecting a coach. Verify your potential coach’s certifications, including their NBC-HWC credential. If you’d like to become a coach yourself, do the work, including health coach training and NBHWC credentialing.

What Coaching is Versus What it’s Not

If the idea of a “coach” creates an image of an individual with a clipboard and whistle shouting directions for exact next steps, please know that health coaching is much, much different. Not only are clients in the driver’s seat during a coaching experience, they own the direction of their work as well. Here is a brief, side-to-side comparison of what coaching is, and what it is not.

Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Coach

I know from my clients that seeking out a coach can be intimidating. It’s exactly why I created this page! To help you to feel more confident in screening the best coach for you, I’ve listed some questions below that you can ask your prospective coach. It’s common for coaches to provide free consultations prior to beginning coaching, but if for some reason your prospective coach doesn’t have time to answer your questions during a quick phone call, or via email, I recommend moving on and choosing someone who can. Lastly, I provided some reflection questions to consider after your initial contact with your prospective coach. 

Example questions for your prospective coach:

• What is your educational background? What are your specialties as a coach?

• Do you have the NBC-HWC credential?

• Tell me about your experience. How long have you been working as a health coach? How many clients have you worked with regarding my topic area of interest?

• How long can I expect to work with you?

• What can I expect during a coaching session?

• If for any reason coaching isn’t going in the direction we anticipated, how will we remedy the issue?

• What is your payment policy?

• Why do you coach?

Reflection questions for you: 

• Did I like interacting with my potential coach? This is a serious consideration. You’ve got to enjoy chatting with your coach or you may risk your own success by worrying about the coaching relationship instead of being focused on the work you’re there to do. 

• Can I easily talk to my potential coach? Will I be able to be straightforward with them?

• Am I confident with my coach’s educational background and level of experience?

• Does my coach have expertise in the specific area I’d like to work on?

• Can I afford coaching? Is their payment option feasible for me?

• Do I resonate with my potential coach’s public presence (website, social media platforms, etc.)?

5 Red Flags to Look Out For

We’ve already identified a few things to be aware of within the health coaching industry. There are, however, less overt, ways alleged “coaches” can take advantage of uninformed, potential clients. Review the red flags below before working with a coach.

1. A coach who promises specific results on a specific timeline.

   If a “coach” says you’ll “lose X number of lbs in X days or weeks,” they’re simply not a coach. Coaching is highly customized, so there’s no way of knowing exactly what timeline is realistic for goal achievement before the coach and client have started the coaching process. A one-size-fits-all approach is the antithesis of health coaching. 

2. A coach who tells you what to do.

   A coach who tells you what to do, or who sets goals for you is not formally trained and their approach will not work. Why? Humans don’t like being told what to do, and subsequently, telling someone what to do is a temporary fix before the client reverts back to old ways.

   Basic behavior-change research is at the root of all NBHWC approved coach training programs, so you won’t see this kind of behavior among legit coaches. It’s also lazy. Coaches who tell you what to do are only using their lens and have not listened deeply enough to understand the best approach for you, personally. 

3. A coaching program that seems to be never ending.

   Graduation is an integral part of the coaching process. I often say that my job as a coach is to work myself out of a job. If your prospective coach is wishy-washy about how long you’ll work together, take note. Ask how many sessions other clients typically have before graduation. If your coach doesn’t have an exit strategy, it may be that they’re not fully invested in your self-efficacy. 

4. A coach who uses “holistic,” “nutritionist,” or “wellness,” in their title because it’s trendy, not because they have specific education in these areas.

   A person’s title should reflect the type of education and credentialing they have for two reasons. First, so that they don’t mislead their potential clients as to the service they’re able to provide, and second, to respect their peers who have education in these fields.

   For example, a registered dietitian nutritionist who has also gone through health coach training could choose to call themselves a “Nutrition Coach,” or identify as both a Registered Dietitian and a Health Coach. Or, personally, I have a master’s degree in holistic health and I’m NBC-HWC, so my title is a Holistic Health Coach. While we’ve already discussed that many titles related to coaching are not regulated, it’s a red flag if your prospective coach selects their title because of how it sounds and not because they can back it up. 

5. A coach who appears to be offering all kinds of related - albeit different - services.

   At first glance, this may not seem like a big deal and may even be interpreted as passionate interest to see that your prospective health coach also dabbles in astrology, Zumba, tarot, and body work in addition to the mindfulness coaching you’d like to pursue. This could also, however, be a sign that your coach lacks depth in their training, apprenticeship, and experience any of the above fields require to serve their clients well.

   It’s natural that all of us have ebb and flow as we find our niche and the career that speaks to us most, but, it’s important to ask your coach why they practice within multiple fields at the same time. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but your prospective coach should be able to easily provide reasons for practicing in multiple fields. Coaching, after all, requires intentionality to be a success.