Health and wellness coaching is a client-centered collaborative intervention that helps people make sustainable lifestyle changes. It is designed to support individuals in achieving their physical and emotional health goals. Health coaches are personal guides and partners who help their clients find the motivation and tools to make positive changes. Wellness counselors can be found in a variety of places, such as gyms, health food stores, wellness centers, schools, corporations, and even doctors' offices and hospitals.
The health and wellness industry is growing as more people seek healthier lifestyle options. The International Institute of Health Coaches (IIN) offers a rigorous curriculum that integrates more than 90 of the world's leading experts in health and wellness. This program combines the scientific and the spiritual to create comprehensive and immersive health education. Wellness coaches empower their clients to become experts in their own health by fostering a positive mindset around health and wellness.
The first step to becoming a wellness coach or health coach is to ensure proper education and training. The IIN teaches students how to create a 6-month program, which provides coaches with sufficient time and opportunities to help clients establish healthy habits for long-term well-being. A study found that after people completed a 12-week wellness training program, they continued to achieve higher levels of self-efficacy and a better quality of life 24 weeks after the program ended. A health coach helps you “break free” by helping you determine what's holding you back from achieving your health goals.
If depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems may be interfering with achieving your goals, it is important to talk to a licensed mental health professional before hiring a coach.Wellness initiatives can also be implemented in the workplace to boost morale and make the work environment more comfortable and welcoming.