Health Coach…?
Last year, I passed the certification exam to become an ACE Health Coach. But what does that even mean? Health coaching is a relatively new field that’s misunderstood by many, partially because there’s not a lot of tight regulations yet on who can refer to themselves as a health coach or wellness coach. So, I wanted to do a quick blog post on what a health coach is and what a health coach is not.
A Basic Definition of Health Coach
A health coach is an individual who provides support, accountability, and education to others in order to create behavior and lifestyle changes that result in a positive impact on their health. Some certification programs use the term wellness coach instead of health coach. Health and wellness coaches have a general knowledge of a broad range of health topics (nutrition, exercise, mental health, etc). They are also trained in ways to elicit long-term behavior change. This special emphasis on behavior change theory is one of the main characteristics that differentiates health coaches from personal trainers.
It’s important to remember that a health coach is more or less a jack of all trades when it comes to health and fitness. They will often work in tandem with other medical professionals, but they’re not going to prescribe you medicine like a doctor or write you a custom meal plan like a dietitian. In fact, they shouldn’t — that’s out of their scope unless they have additional degrees/licenses that qualify them.
Health coaches will help you make sense of the overwhelming amount of health information that’s out there. They help you turn information into a concrete, actionable plan. They use their knowledge and expertise to help you distinguish research-backed facts from gimmicky bullshit. And it works — research studies suggest that people who work with a health or wellness coach are more likely to reach their goals and improve their health.
What a Health Coach Should Do
Still a little confused about what a health coach does? Let’s get more specific. A good health coach may do any of the following for a client:
- Utilize tactics like motivational interviewing to identify barriers & encourage behavior change
- Provide unbiased, research-supported information on a variety of health topics or trends
- Aid in setting realistic goals and effectively monitoring progress
- Help you to understand nutrition principles like energy balance & macronutrient needs
- Improve self-efficacy and encourage a positive, growth mindset
- Physical activity guidance and evaluation
- Identify when the support of other health professionals may be necessary
What a Health Coach Should NOT Do
There are a number of credible health and wellness coach programs out there (check out this list of certified programs). However, people without formal credentials can refer to themselves as health coaches too. Below are a few warning signs a coach isn’t well-qualified or is practicing beyond their scope. A health coach should not:
- Pressure you into purchasing particular products such as supplements, oils, or shakes. Some coaches will offer a discount on brands they partner or believe in, but you should never feel pressured to buy products and it should not be the main focus of your sessions.
- Provide you with a customized meal plan to treat medical conditions (including obesity). In most states, only a registered dietitian should provide an actual meal plan. Health coaches can give you more general, habit-focused recommendations and educate you on nutrition principles.
- Prescribe supplements (including herbal) or medicine to treat any diseases or conditions.
- Claim to cure or treat any diseases or illnesses.
- Focus only on weight loss — health coaching should focus on overall wellness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If a health coach only cares about counting calories and conducting weigh-ins, then that’s not a good coach.
Looking for a health coach?
If you’re interested in finding out more about what a health coach can do to specifically help you, please feel free to contact me to set up a free consultation. You can also find out more information on my coaching services page.