Opportunities for wellness and health coaches have grown rapidly in the last two decades, in part because of public health concerns about obesity in the United States. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services projects that by 2030, half of all adults (115 million people) in the United States will be obese.
While nutritionists, fitness trainers, and health coaches certainly have a place in the solution, a health and wellness coach offers a holistic approach appealing to individuals who want to make sustainable changes that address all aspects of their well-being.
Does this sound intriguing? If you’re passionate about guiding others toward better health and well-being, Everglades University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Alternative Medicine to help you turn your passion into a rewarding career. With our program, you can gain the knowledge and skills to make a real impact as a health and wellness coach. Ready to take the first step? Contact our Admissions team today or enroll online!
What Is a Health and Wellness Coach?
A health and wellness coach works one-on-one with individuals who want to improve their health and well-being. Using concepts drawn from psychology, behavior change, and life coaching, a wellness coach helps their clients overcome obstacles to maintain healthy habits for life.
Clients might engage a wellness coach for any number of reasons, including:
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing stress
- Improving interpersonal relationships
- Eating a healthier diet
- Achieving better work-life balance
- Increasing life satisfaction
- Prioritizing self-care
- Practicing a positive mindset
Naturally, these kinds of issues overlap. A health and wellness coach will examine what’s preventing their clients from thriving physically, mentally, and emotionally and give them the tools and support to reach their goals.
Many health and wellness coaches choose to specialize in certain areas, such as women’s health, alternative medicine, or massage therapy, depending on their interests and educational background. However, it’s important to note that health and wellness coaching isn’t the same as the services offered by certified specialists like nutritionists or personal trainers. While coaches should have broad healthcare knowledge across many disciplines to improve their work, coaches need to be legally qualified to give clients professional nutritional or fitness advice. Aspiring health and wellness coaches should always consult with their state’s laws to determine what they can and cannot do.
A health and wellness coach acts as an empowering partner in the client’s health, offering motivation, tools, and support to help them achieve their goals.
What Is a Typical Day Like for a Health and Wellness Coach?
Although this may vary depending on your work environment, here’s a quick look at your day if you become a health and wellness coach.
Preparation
You’ll review your calendar at the beginning of the day to see which clients are meeting with you. If you have a new client, you’ll read through their intake form before their first appointment. New clients typically fill out a detailed questionnaire, so the coach can understand their current health status, the issues they want to discuss, and any specific goals, such as stress management. This also serves to mark their starting point and measure progress. If you work in a healthcare practice or fitness center, they might have standard forms based on a specific program they follow. However, that’s only sometimes the case. Many health coaches have flexibility in designing their programs, especially if you’re an entrepreneur in private practice.
Based on their intake form, you’ll gather relevant resources such as videos, books, or websites you recommend. You may also put together a rough draft of a plan, which could include ideas for coaching sessions and strategies for stress management to give your client ideas and inspiration.
Client’s First Meeting
During the first meeting, you’ll walk through the intake form, asking more questions and taking notes about your client’s unique needs. You may also collaborate with the client’s healthcare team to comprehensively understand their health status and any medical considerations. Next, you’ll discuss your client’s goals and what challenges may stand in their way. These challenges could be physical, emotional, or financial. For example, your client might feel self-conscious about exercising in front of others, so you’ll find a movement plan that’s easy to do at home.
Once you’ve defined reasonable goals and understood any constraints, you’ll work together on an action plan to achieve them. For instance, if the primary issue is stress and work-life balance, you might recommend a brief, daily meditation practice followed by journaling. You could share a helpful meditation app, ask the client to document how often they meditate and have them bring the journal entries to the next meeting.
Client’s Follow-up Meetings
Most people work with a health and wellness coach for several months. This means you’ll have periodic wellness coaching sessions to see if they’re making progress. Often, you’ll ask your client to complete “homework” between sessions to demonstrate progress toward the goals you’ve set together – or to identify obstacles they hadn’t anticipated.
During these wellness coaching sessions, you’ll keep your clients motivated by acknowledging that progress takes time and reminding them of the great work they’ve done in the right direction. As a wellness coach, you’ll build feelings of empowerment so they can carry on with their positive changes after you finish working together.
Where do Health and Wellness Coaches Work?
According to the Institute for Wellness Education, health and wellness coaches work in a variety of settings, both onsite and remote, such as:
- Physicians’ offices and hospitals (improving patient health outcomes)
- Health insurance plans (reducing healthcare costs by preventing lifestyle-related conditions)
- Large employers (boosting employee productivity and job satisfaction)
- Health clubs and gyms (expanding their range of services to clients)
- Community organizations (focusing on community health concerns)
- Alternative medicine practices (complementing services such as acupuncture or chiropractic)
In addition, there are many health and wellness coaches who have started their own businesses. With the right marketing skillset, coaches can develop a branded wellness offering that may include specialized services like weight management, build a clientele, and have the flexibility to work on their terms. And with apps like Skype and Facetime, it’s now possible to provide consultations beyond your community, broadening the potential.
Who Should Consider Being a Health and Wellness Coach?
Now that you know more about health and wellness coaching, is it the right career for you? See if any of these statements resonate.
- I enjoy working with people, it energizes me.
- I’m constantly reading and learning about health, wellness, and fitness.
- It gives me great satisfaction to know that I helped someone.
- I have a gift for putting people at ease.
- I’m organized and always prepared.
- I’m open-minded and a good listener.
- I’m not afraid to gently push someone when they’re stuck.
- I’m not easily discouraged.
Becoming a health and wellness coach might be a perfect fit if that sounds like you.
Educational Pathways for Aspiring Health and Wellness Coaches
When you’re ready to embark on your new health and wellness coaching career, consider an educational starting point that will give you a foundation in both traditional and alternative medicine. Everglades University has a Bachelor of Science degree in Alternative Medicine that fits the bill. Students will learn about multiple aspects of natural and holistic care that are all connected to patient health.
This program provides a unique perspective on how the body and mind work, allowing you to set yourself apart from other health and wellness coaches in the industry who might have a more limited background. With more and more people looking for wellness and health coaches, your degree in alternative medicine can greatly benefit your business and your clients.
Why Choose Everglades University?
As an Everglades University student, you can choose the learning path that best suits your goals. With options for in-person classes at our beautiful campuses and a fully online program, you’ll experience small class sizes and a dedicated staff committed to supporting your journey. Financial aid opportunities are also available for those who qualify, making it easier to take that next step toward your degree.
When you’re ready to launch a career in health and wellness, consider a solid foundation in the field with the Everglades University Bachelor of Science Degree in Alternative Medicine. Contact our Admissions team to discuss how our program can help you reach your professional goals in health and wellness.