FAQs

What is health coaching?

Health coaching is a confidential and supportive partnership between you and the health coach. It effectively motivates and encourages behavior change to help you meet your health and wellness vision and goals.

Why should I consider health coaching?

Your health is your most important asset. Working with an experienced, certified health coach gives you resources and support to help you be your healthiest. You may also want a health coach if:

• You’re running low on motivation. A health coach can help you build confidence, provide support and offer inspiration.

• You need someone on your side. Your health coach is like a really knowledgeable friend who is there to listen, ask good questions, and keep you on track with your goals.

• You need help recognizing successes. A health coach can help you identify wins and celebrate your progress.

How do I know if health coaching is for me?

Health coaching is great for anyone ready and inspired to make changes in their life but unsure of how to get started. Health coaches take the time to listen to your unique concerns and help you identify goals, strategies and solutions that work for you. There is no “one size fits all” approach to health. A Health Coach will help you navigate the world of contradictory nutritional advice to identify exactly what will work for your body and your needs.

What’s the difference between a health coach and a therapist?

This is a popular question we get asked A LOT. Health Coaches and therapists both provide counsel; but therapists help their clients work through and resolve past issues and traumas, whereas coaches work with clients on current obstacles and challenges. A coach’s main job is to help clients take results-oriented action to move from stuck in their lives to empowered and liberated. Another main difference is that coaches do not analyze, diagnose, or prescribe treatment, while therapists do.

How many visits will I need with my health coach?

There’s no set number of visits; however, meeting with your health coach on a regular basis will guide you along your journey to wellness.

How long are the health coaching sessions?

This will depend on your schedule, as your health coach will uniquely tailor each session to meet your needs. Ideally, a coaching session would be at least 30 minutes long.

What is a health coach’s scope of practice?

The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching describes the Health and Wellness Coach Scope of Practice as follows:

Health and wellness coaches work with individuals and groups in a client-centered process to facilitate and empower the client to develop and achieve self-determined goals related to health and wellness. Coaches support clients in mobilizing internal strengths and external resources, and in developing self-management strategies for making sustainable, healthy lifestyle, behavior changes. While health and wellness coaches per se do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or provide psychological therapeutic interventions, they may provide expert guidance in areas in which they hold active, nationally recognized credentials, and may offer resources from nationally recognized authorities such as those referenced in NBHWC’s Content Outline with Resources. As partners and facilitators, health and wellness coaches support their clients in achieving health goals and behavioral change based on their clients’ own goals and consistent with treatment plans as prescribed by individual clients’ professional health care providers. Coaches assist clients to use their insight, personal strengths and resources, goal setting, action steps and accountability toward healthy lifestyle change.

*adapted from NCCHWC Health & Wellness Coach Scope of Practice – April 10, 2019

Is there a difference between a health coach and wellness coach?

Today, these terms are used interchangeably. Historically, health coaching focused on physical health while wellness coaching focused on mental health. As these terms and approaches have evolved, both health coaching and wellness coaching now consider the many facets of an individual that, combined, create a healthy life.

There is no discernable difference between the two terms, which is why the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching includes both in their name. Graduates of the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute earn the title of Certified or Master Certified Health Coach because the term “health coach” is more widely recognized by the public and by online search engines.

How is health coaching different from life coaching?

Although some aspects of health coaching and life coaching overlap, health coaches focus on supporting clients in reaching self-identified health and wellness-related goals. Health coaches focus on affecting positive behavioral change through nutrition, physical activity, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection. According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), life coaches work with clients to “maximize their personal and professional potential.” In other words, life coaches focus on an individual’s relationships, career, and finances.

I see your health coach is a Master Certified Health Coach through the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute. Is the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute accredited and/or approved?

Yes. The Dr. Sears Wellness Institute is an accredited and approved Health Coach Certification Program by leading organizations in the health and wellness industry. An institution is accredited or approved (depending on the wording of the overseeing agency) if it has met or exceeded minimum standards of quality by the accrediting organization. Each accrediting body sets its own standards and requirements, which is why it is important to look for institutions that are accredited or approved by reputable governing boards.

The Dr. Sears Wellness Institute is approved by the only nationally and internationally recognized governing body for health & wellness coaching, the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).

The Dr. Sears Wellness Institute is Continuing Coach Education (CCE) accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and is accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

In addition, the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute is approved by several credible organizations such as: University of Massachusetts Global, American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP), International Childbirth Educators Association (ICEA), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Have more questions? Book your free 30 minute consultation with our Certified Health Coach to see if this is the right step for you!