Becoming an Online Wellness Coach
Use Technology to Become a Virtual Health Coach
With the increasing popularity of online support and services, the trend to become an online wellness coach is growing. It’s similar to other economic trends that you’re likely familiar with. Can you remember the first time you opened the box to your new iPhone? Or the first time you walked into a brand new Whole Foods? Maybe you recall setting up a Facebook account. Have you joined Amazon Prime to have whatever you want sent do your door in a few days or less? Sure, you probably wish you bought stock in all these things, but chances are, you didn’t.
The point is, you probably had a feeling that something special was happening. There was a movement or a change occurring. When it comes to the future of wellness coaching, something is happening again. If you stop and slow down for a moment, can you feel it? The wellness paradigm is shifting and now’s your chance to get in on the ground floor of the Wellness Movement.
Today, three powerful shifts are shaping this exciting Wellness Movement. And as these shifts come together, they’re creating the perfect environment for online health and wellness coaches. Let’s look closer at what’s happening right now….
Economic Shifts
From an economic standpoint, we’re in the midst of a global healthcare crisis. The population is getting older and, at least in the US, the health insurance industry is changing while overall health care costs are increasing. Roughly one in two adults has a chronic illness. And an estimated 70% of healthcare costs are related to preventable diseases.
Even though we have information at our disposal 24/7, we’re still having trouble making the changes needed to actually be healthier. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity are all on the rise. And doctors, aren’t usually trained (and don’t have time) to help patients change their behavior.
What’s more, new illnesses are often ignored by traditional medicine. Issues like fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue and inflammation all have real, sometimes debilitating symptoms.
Social Shifts
Holistic approaches to health and wellness have become more accepted across the globe. People are rethinking the way they approach health and wellness. Natural health and alternative modalities are more popular than ever before.
A few facts for you:
Nearly a third of American medical schools are offering courses in holistic medicine. We’re talking top-tier schools like Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Yale.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 3 billion people currently use holistic methods as their primary form of healthcare. And, corporations the world over are taking wellness more seriously, too, by offering workplace wellness programs.
Individuals are spending over $60 billion on holistic, non-medical attempts to improve their health. These same people are seeking coaches that provide more than just personal training focused on their weight and their outward appearance. People want a new way to be supported both inside and out.
With these facts and figures in mind, you can see why there’s an explosion in health and wellness coaching jobs and opportunities. Just like Facebook, Whole Foods and Amazon, Wellness Coaching is a new, powerful trend that is here to stay.
Technology is a Driving Force for the Online Wellness Coach
Technology, ever the driver for change, has transformed the way we work. Wellness coaches now have the opportunity to work from home—just like we’ve seen in other industries.
About one in five Americans work from home. Roughly 50% of Britons work remotely. This trend seems like a positive for our mental health. For one, over 80% of remote workers report lower stress levels and technology is making it easier for those workers to maintain that flexible schedule.
For health and wellness coaches, offering virtual services on Skype or Google Hangouts presents a new avenue to earn income that allows you to expand beyond the limitations of four walls in a building. Today, you can connect with people across the world using no to low-cost technology.
For someone who wants to work from home as an online wellness coach, the internet, Skype and social media have made it easier than ever.
What Technology-Based Coaching Can Offer
Wellness coaching has the potential to change how people take their health into their own hands, and technology is playing a role in that shift. From monitoring behaviors to providing affordable, convenient access to those who would usually go without, here are some of the components of technology-based coaching that wellness coaches can incorporate:
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- Online Forums: Participants can communicate with their coach and other members of the community at any time. This online platform gives clients a digital support system anyone can turn to for advice, challenges, and exchange information.
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- Mobile App Messaging: Keep your clients accountable by checking in remotely and offering encouragement and advice.
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- Set Goals and Reminders: Participants can set reminders to keep on track and be held accountable.
- Targeted wellness coaching programs: Allow participants to track their efforts and progress. Wellness professionals can review these results and adjust motivating plans accordingly.
How Does the IAWP Help the Aspiring Online Wellness Coach?
If you want to incorporate online technology in your wellness coaching practice, you’re in the right place. The IAWP has over a decade of experience in online business and we pride ourselves in supporting students how to work with technology in their practices. Our entire program takes place online, so naturally, we’re familiar with the digital space.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn about online wellness coaching as well as a variety of business and entrepreneurship tools to support you. Keep in mind, if you have no desire to use online technology, that’s okay, too. It’s not critical to your success. We teach both online and offline ways to jumpstart and grow your wellness coach practice.
Our certification process is a three-pillar learning experience that covers holistic health and wellness, in-depth coach training, plus hands-on business training designed specifically for running a coaching business. You’ll receive done-for-you coaching blueprints and business systems that will show you how to hit the ground running.The majority of our students start working with paying clients before they graduate. Plus you’ll learn from the industry’s leading experts in holistic health, entrepreneurship, wellness, and coaching.
Ready to turn your wellness hobby into a career that allows you freedom and flexibility using today’s technology? Check out our curriculum and learn to develop and grow a practice as a wellness coach both online and off.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Holistic Wellness Coaches are professionals who take an integrative approach to help people learn to make healthy lifestyle changes. They take into account more than just nutrition, fitness or simple habit changes, but all aspects of a person’s health and life in true holistic fashion.
IAWP Holistic Wellness Coaches are highly trained coaches, providing support and accountability for their clients so they can make lasting lifestyle changes.
Today there are many people calling themselves “Health Coaches”. They have varying educations and backgrounds, some with extensive training, others with no training at all. “Health Coaching” is a general term that does not tell people what area of health you help with or your specific approach. Many Health Coaches focus solely on nutrition, exercise and habit changes.
“Wellness Coach” is a more specific term. It denotes that more than just general health is being considered in the approach. Wellness signfies well-being and lifestyle aspects beyond food and exercise.
When evaluating various health and wellness coaching programs, it is important to understand the difference between becoming a generalist and a specialist. Whether a training program calls their graduates a “health coach” or a “wellness coach,” they often have a particular angle that they work from.
Holistic Wellness Coaching is a specialty term in which professionals will take a holistic approach to wellness, considering all aspects of a person’s well-being as well as the support provided involves holistic remedies, therapies, and a more natural approach to wellness.
While generalist coaches can be useful, you’re guaranteed greater success when you choose a specialist track like Holistic Wellness. You probably know that in the field of medicine a doctor who is a generalist is paid much less than a specialist. Generalists do not have the same level of training and the market allows for specialists to charge higher fees. This is also true for a Holistic Wellness Coaches.
The International Association of Wellness Professionals is recognized world wide and we have students from numerous countries all over the world.
The IAWP is an accredited school by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and completion of our Holistic Wellness Coach Certification training allows you to become a board certified Health and Wellness Coach with the AADP.
Our Holistic Wellness Coach Certification Program is CCE accredited by the International Coaching Federation. Our Certification program is also approved by the Canadian Health Coach Alliance.
With approval and accreditation from leading organizations across the globe, you can feel confident that our curriculum has met a high standard in terms of the education and support you will receive.
The IAWP is committed to supporting you during your training and for the life of your new career. Our curriculum is built on support and systems which set the foundation for launching a thriving coaching practice. Our certification is unique because it’s built on an experiential learning method where coaches-in-training receive a full immersion in their learning with unlimited support.
For example… You will have have unlimited opportunities to receive personal coaching from our IAWP Master Coaches during our weekly Live Coaching Labs. You can learn from multiple mentors and experience different coaching styles during these group coaching labs. We offer a wide variety of days and times so you will receive personal support in these highly transformational training sessions.
You will also have unlimited access to our live training calls and workshops each month, where you will receive personal support from a Master Coach, a guest teacher or our Founder, Suzanne Monroe.
These events are live, interactive workshops held over video conference and are a great way to connect with our faculty and fellow students, with a laser focus on subject matters related to wellness, coaching, business and mindset.
Our mission at the IAWP is to provide the most supportive online education experience in the industry and we take our mission seriously. The way we deliver our training and support is what makes our program unique from any other training in the online education field today.
Our unique training method is called The Immersive Transformation Training Method™ (ITTM), where you will personally experience and practice everything you learn in your program. This process allows you to master your own wellness, become a highly effective coach, and launch a profitable practice…all during your training.
Unlike most online education, where you “read, watch and learn”, here at the IAWP you will “read, watch, learn and DO” through our hands-on learning experience. ITTM includes interactive training, hands-on application, application modules, real-world experience, small group coaching labs and ongoing support.
This full immersion means you always have a place to get direct and personalized support and you not only end up with superior knowledge of coaching, but more importantly, you have the ability to coach.
We also give you all the tools and systems you will need to be confident as new Wellness Coaches, without having to reinvent the wheel or start everything from scratch. You’ll get to build on a foundation that’s guaranteed to help you create success in your new business or career path.
With a large international student population, you will form lasting friendships and peer support relationships with students from around the globe and in your local communities.
We don’t stop offering support after graduation, though.
One of the most impactful parts of an education with the IAWP is that we offer lifetime support for all of our students. Our community is always there to provide advice, feedback, and inspiration, no matter where you are in your Holistic Wellness Coach career journey.
Don’t just take our word for it, check out what our students are saying!
The short answer is Yes! In fact, we are so confident you will get your first client by the time you graduate, that we guarantee your success. If you follow the steps in our program and fail to attract your first client by graduation, we will refund your tuition and you can keep your certification.
At the IAWP, our program is based on our Immersive Transformation Training Method™. This method ensures you are applying your knowledge during every stage of your training and this includes taking the right steps to attract your ideal clients.
Through our business training, you will follow our Coach Launch system, which is designed to take you step by step through a process that will guide you as you attract and sign up your first 10 clients, or your next 10 clients, again and again.
When you enroll in our Holistic Wellness Coach Certification program, you will receive Lifetime Access to our training, plus continued education and support for the life of your career. This is very unique in the online education industry and we are unaware of any other organization that provides this level of access and ongoing support.
This also means that you will be part of a community that is committed to supporting one another. Unlike other training programs where access to other students might be limited to your current class, at the IAWP you will have the opportunity to connect with former students and grads who are always excited to share their experiences and pay it forward. It’s truly a unique community like no other.
While you do not need continuing education credits to maintain your IAWP Holistic Wellness Coach Certification, our training is recognized and accredited by several organizations, like the International Coach Federation where our program allows you to earn Continuing Education Credits.
Our primary focus is on giving you the systems and support you need to build a thriving practice, helping others.
Our business training can be applied to building a practice in your local community or creating an online coaching business. Some students prefer to work locally, others go straight to online. The choice is yours and will largely depend on your preference.
Through our Coach Launch Fast Track system, you will learn how to set up your business and determine which career track best fits for you. You will also learn the ins and out of online marketing, social media, video conferencing and other virtual business tools. You’ll also personally experience virtual coaching and online workshops through your training.
Because launching an online practice requires some additional technical skills, we encourage our students to apply our systems in their local community first and then expand to online as they build proof of concept with their niche, their signature coaching program and our client attraction strategies.
