How to become A Wellness Coach

In today’s world that seems to be hurtling towards confusion and chaos, Wellness Coaches encourage their clients to “eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life” and thus ensure society at large is healthy.

•  Holistic Wellness Coach
• Health & Wellness Coach

What do Wellness Coaches do?

A Wellness Coach would typically need to:

• Guide, mentor and empower clients to take personal responsibility for their physical, mental and emotional health
• Understand and practice appropriate coaching frameworks and theories of positive psychology, using evidence-based protocols
• Meet the client online or in person in a safe and supportive one-on-one or group setting to get to know their needs and goals
• Ensure the client understands the scope of service, so their expectations are met within reason
• Draft a coaching contract based on a predetermined number of sessions, need for confidentiality, and Code of Ethics
• Make use of suitable evaluations and questionnaires to understand the dietary patterns, behavioural choices, and overall health of the client
• Assist the client in identification of health issues such as smoking, obesity, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise
• Help the client understand their motivations and thus create an intention to and a plan for positive behaviour change
• Encourage the client to focus mindfully on health empowerment areas such as weight management, sleep, energy, stress management, and unhealthy cravings
• Use a strengths-based approach to support rather than treat the client as they progress towards personal wellness goals
• Build an effective working relationship with the client that allows them to communicate their values and beliefs
• Work with the client to develop pre-established strategies to reach their goals, determine realistic deadlines, and constantly review progress
• Be able to recognise suicidal behaviours and depression in a client and refer them to trained clinicians, if required
• Work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to make certain the client receives treatment consistent with their needs
• Read up on their note to prep before every meeting with a client; document what was discussed after the appointment
• Make every effort to operate as a reflective practitioner with increasingly productive self-awareness
• Conduct health and wellness assessments and monthly workshops for diverse populations; take care of administrative work

Wellness Coaches work in healthcare, fitness, spa, educational, and corporate settings. Travel may depend on the type of clientele and range of one’s business.

The way a typical workday unfolds will depend on your working environment and workload. Although most Wellness Coaches are self-employed and can set their own work schedules, the emotionally draining nature of the work makes it essential that your client-contact hours are at an optimum number. Your evenings and weekends may be filled with appointments to accommodate the client’s work schedule.

By and large, Wellness Coaches see about two to five clients per day, in 30- or 60-minute sessions. You will also need time to build your brand, network with agencies, employers and potential clients, and complete mandatory CPD activities and supervision.

Wellness Coaches may choose to open private online businesses or consultancies to practice solo or in a group practice. They may opt to be fully employed or work on an independent contractor/consultant basis. They may also choose temporary locum tenens positions offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations. When finding a new job seems challenging, Wellness Coaches can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Wellness Coaches are generally employed by:

• Doctor’s Offices
• Hospitals
• Gyms
• Wellness Centres
• Spas
• Schools, Colleges & Universities
• Corporate Offices
• Prisons
• Charity Trusts
• Insurance Companies

Healthcare associations, such as The International Association of Wellness Professionals, provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers.

Affiliated Wellness Coaches may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs. Such organisations also open up opportunities to work within and outside your country via video calling or phone calls.

• Inability to treat or counsel patients in a clinical setting despite accredited certifications and significant experience
• Patience and time required to meet well-defined short-term and long-term goals
• Sync between the coach’s and client’s personality type and approach to solving problems may make or break the association
• Emotionally draining issues faced by the clients

An ideal academic program that a potential Wellness Coach takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship in psychology, nutrition and fitness.

You will benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

One of the best introductions to a career in wellness coaching is to vol­unteer at a local hospital, clinic, or nursing home. Relevant internships and practicums will help you gain experience in working with patients, learn about the various diseases they are suffering from and how to use nutrition and fitness principles to reduce the chances of their future occurrence.

In addition, working with a diverse range of clients helps you build an understanding of different behaviours, situations, and problems you may encounter during your practice as a Wellness Coach. Work experience in a supporting role with community centres, care homes, and prisons or as a trainee in schools and universities will also help.

Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their nutrition and kinesiology departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in a career as a Wellness Coach. It can be a helpful way to gain insight into facilitating positive behaviour changes best and running the business.

Candidates without a bachelor’s degree can profit from entry-level positions in fertility clinics, weight-management organisations or corporate entities where they work one-on-one or in small groups to build a strong reputation and client base. Your employer may train you on the job and promote you as a full-fledged Wellness Coach.

Read about the profession, perform community service, undertake relevant research work and interview/job shadow experts working in wellness coaching to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. It helps to document any such experiences on letters of recommendation.

The specific qualifications may depend on the organisation they work for or the capacity in which a Wellness Coach wishes to work. 

However, most aspirants hold an accredited bachelor’s degree in dietetics, public health, nutrition and fitness, biology, physical therapy, psychology, behavioural science, nursing, kinesiology, health education, exercise physiology, social work, or health science. Some programs offer a minor in wellness coaching. 

A relatively small number of candidates have an associate degree in the above subjects, while a few others earn a postgraduate degree. Ensure you gain adequate knowledge of nutrition, chemistry, meal management, and statistics, regardless of your programme.

Focus on health sciences, PE, psychology, and English in high school.

They are not mandatory. However, accredited certification in fitness and health programming, lifestyle and weight management, and wellness coaching from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and become an independent consultant. 

Ideally, you will have gained the knowledge to design and implement balanced programmes that are a judicious blend of nutrition, exercise and lifestyle change while maintaining effective client relationships and encouraging your clients. Successful certification programs protect the public welfare and induce public trust by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Though requirements differ from region to region, promising Wellness Coaches must typically complete an accredited health programme, pay a fee and pass an exam before receiving their credential.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the exciting and fulfilling career progression of employed and freelancing Wellness Coaches as more people focus on their  wellness.

You can take on additional responsibilities, run workshops and guide less-experienced coaches. Meeting client expectations effectively lays the ground for expanding one’s clientele, building one’s brand and charging higher fees.

In addition, professionals who move into executive, health or career coaching will find increased employment opportunities to diversify and advance into managerial roles. You can also complement wellness coaching with counselling and career consultancy. 

Candidates with a wellness-related bachelor’s degree, certification and work experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) of around 40 hours and a pre-determined period of supervision is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. 

CPD embraces diverse novel learning objectives, educational methodologies, and technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT. It is also mandatory for the regular renewal of requisite certifications.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Wellness Coaches.

Post vlogs, write blogs, books, magazine/newspaper articles, and contribute to radio/television programmes to build your brand. Keep up with the latest health and wellness trends to better serve your clients.

Wellness Coaching - A Brief Glimpse Into Its History 

After formal inception in the 1980s, Wellness Coaching became increasingly popular during the 1990s and 2000s. It drew inspiration from the human potential movement of the 1960s that included leadership training, adult education, personal development and diverse psychological concepts. 

The initial focus was on life planning but eventually spread to relationships, finances, careers, health and comprehensive well-being. Today, the wellness coaching industry is estimated to be worth more than seven billion USD. 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Wellness Coaches have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Wellness Coach has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Reading a book of your choice can lower levels of cortisol and other unhealthy stress hormones by 68%.

If you are passionate about spreading “the ripple effect of health and happiness” while developing your own personal and financial independence, look no further than a career as a Wellness Coach. 

“The groundwork for all happiness is health.” 

Leigh Hunt