If you’re passionate about wellness and have a natural affinity towards healthy lifestyles, eating well or fitness, becoming a Wellness Coach could be a perfect career fit for you.
What is a Wellness Coach?
Wellness Coaches are coaches who specialize in supporting people to be healthy and to make positive health and lifestyle changes. Wellness Coaches focus on preventative measures such as healthy eating, lifestyle changes, fitness and self-care.
Wellness Coaching applies an integrated, holistic approach to health and well-being, examining factors such as eating habits, lifestyle choices, and the impact that career, relationships, stress, physical activity and other life factors have on the whole person. Wellness Coaches take a holistic perspective and work with clients to achieve balance in all areas of their health.
Where do Wellness Coaches work?
Wellness Coaches may work in a variety of settings. The majority of Wellness Coaches work in private practice. Wellness Coaches may also work in alternative or traditional medical clinics, within school systems or in businesses that foster healthy workplaces. Wellness Coaches can work with clients in-person or via phone or internet. Some Wellness Coaches lead small groups, teach classes, workshops or webinars.
What should I look for in a Wellness Coach training program?
Choosing the right health and wellness coach training program for your education is important. You should consider the following:
Where will the training take place? Training programs may be taught in person or via distance learning, including online classrooms, tele-training or other virtual teaching methods.
Is the training accredited? Be sure to find out if your training program is accredited and if you will receive certification and/or licensing during your program. You may also inquire whether or not you will receive CEU’s or college credits for your training.
What is the success rate of Wellness Coach graduates? The best way to learn about success of a school’s graduates is to ask to speak directly with graduates of the program. If the school is hesitant in connecting you with graduates, this may be a red flag. You can ask graduates what they liked about the training and how they are using their training now in the real world.
What ongoing support is provided to students and graduates? Some Wellness Coach training programs may offer ongoing business or marketing support for graduates. Inquire about whether or not this training is provided as part of your education is important. You will need to learn how to market your new business which requires additional skills you will need once you finish your program.
Would I Make a Good Wellness Coach?
A Wellness Coach should possess certain traits, including:
- passionate about health and wellness
- enjoys helping others
- able to listen and provide feedback
Some new skills may be acquired during your training, including how to motivate, inspire, lead, coach, teach advise and educate others about health and wellness.
Suzanne Monroe is the Founder of The International Association of Wellness Professionals and Director of the IAWP’s Wellness Coach Certification & Training Program.
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