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Health and wellness coaching is becoming a cornerstone of both personal well-being and modern employee wellness programs. Whether you’re looking to improve your own health or expand your organization’s support for employee well-being, understanding what coaching offers is a critical first step.
In this guide, we’ll explore what health and wellness coaches do, how coaches become certified, and the powerful benefits they provide, for individuals and within companies. You’ll also discover how coaching fits into corporate wellness strategies, supports recruitment and retention, and transforms company culture. If you’re considering coaching for yourself or your workforce, this comprehensive overview offers the insights you need to get started.
What is Health and Wellness Coaching?
A health and wellness coach empowers individuals to improve their health and well-being by guiding them through sustainable lifestyle changes. These professionals focus on holistic wellness, which includes physical, mental, and emotional health. Using evidence-based techniques such as behavior change theory, motivational interviewing, and personalized goal setting, health and wellness coaches support clients in reaching their health goals.
How Someone Becomes a Health and Wellness Coach
A variety of accredited programs are approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Graduates of these programs earn a certificate that qualifies them to sit for the national board exam. Upon passing, they become Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWCs).
NBC-HWC certification assures that the health coach has been well trained in the current best practices for ethics and effective coaching strategies.
The Benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for Individuals
Health and wellness coaches provide a variety of benefits for people looking to improve their overall wellbeing. Some key advantages include:
Improved Health Behaviors: Coaching can help individuals adopt and sustain positive habits, such as healthier eating, regular exercise, and improved sleep patterns.
Enhanced Quality of Life: Studies have shown that wellness coaching can lead to significant improvements in physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual well-being.
Chronic Condition Management: Coaching can be particularly beneficial for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and helping individuals make lifestyle changes that support their health.
Overall, health and wellness coaching can lead to a more balanced, healthier, and fulfilling life.
The Role of Health and Wellness Coaching in a Corporate Wellness Program
Employee Wellbeing
Health and wellness coaching plays a crucial role in workplace wellness programs by reducing absenteeism, significantly impacting employee well-being in several ways:
Reduced Healthcare Costs: By promoting healthier lifestyles, health and wellness coaching can lead to lower healthcare costs for both employees and employers.
Enhanced Productivity: By promoting healthier lifestyles, wellness coaching can lead to increased productivity. Wellness can be contagious and energized happy employees can have a pied piper effect on their colleagues.
Skill Development: Employees can develop valuable skills such as goal setting, time management, and resilience through health and wellness coaching.
Overall, integrating health and wellness coaching into corporate wellness programs can lead to a happier, productive, and more effective workforce.
Retention and Recruitment
When it comes to retaining and recruiting team members, health and wellness coaching is a magnetic asset in the realm of employee benefits.
Stress Management: Health and wellness coaches teach stress reduction techniques, which can lead to improved mental health and reduced employee burnout.
Increased Engagement: Employees who feel supported in their health journeys are often more engaged and satisfied with their jobs.
Boosted Morale: A focus on wellness can improve overall morale, leading to a more positive and motivated workforce that feels valued.
When looking to cultivate an environment that attracts top talent and keeps key players, health and wellness coaching is a differentiator in employee wellness programs.
Company Culture
Health and wellness coaching significantly enhances company culture by creating a supportive and proactive environment. It encourages employees to prioritize their wellbeing. This focus on health creates a sense of community and teamwork. Additionally, it demonstrates the company’s commitment to its employees’ overall well-being, which can boost loyalty and job satisfaction. Ultimately, a strong employee wellness program with health and wellness coaching contributes to a positive, dynamic, and resilient workplace culture.
What It’s Like Being Coached by a Health and Wellness Coach
Health and Wellness Coaching Structure
While all health and wellness coaching programs may vary, health and wellness coaching typically begins with an initial session. This is a time for the coach and client to connect, build rapport, and clarify goals. Sessions may take place in person or virtually, depending on what’s most convenient. Virtual coaching options can include telephone, video calls, email, or even text-based support.
During initial sessions, an individual shares their current health status, lifestyle, and goals. As a team, the coach and client develop a personalized plan tailored to an individual’s unique needs and aspirations.
Follow-up coaching sessions are crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring individuals stay on track. These sessions can be conducted in person or virtually as well, offering flexibility. During follow-ups, the coach reviews progress, brainstorms how to navigate through any challenges, and adjusts the goals and approaches as needed.
Health and Wellness Coaching Process
With a health and wellness coach, a person can expect structured guidance and accountability as they carry out their action plan. This plan may include specific health behaviors to adopt and milestones to track progress. Continuous support, including between sessions, and accountability, helps clients overcome obstacles and stay motivated.
Success Stories: Health and Wellness In Action
A Cop and His Soda
Jack has been a part of the police force for 22 years. The town recently expanded their employee wellness program to include health and wellness coaching. Since working with a health and wellness coach, Jack has been able to cut his five soda a day habit down to one can per day! He attributes his success to the accountability of having a health and wellness coach and being able to break down the habit into smaller steps. His primary care physician is thrilled with his recent glucose readings and Jack has more sustained energy throughout his shift.
Managing Stress at the Front Desk
Sandy was new to her role as a paralegal. She quickly felt her work-life balance thrown out of whack as she had clients and attorneys to juggle. Her workdays became longer and her stress was building up. With Sandy’s hectic schedule, she was able to start using a health coach app to virtually work with a health and wellness coach. Over time, she was able to identify stress management techniques that she could utilize in and out of work. With her job satisfaction and work-life balance restored her productivity increased and she was eventually promoted.
Want to See Results Like These?
Whether you’re supporting a team or pursuing your own goals, digital health coaching can help you make meaningful, lasting changes.
Try Avidon’s coaching platform free—no obligation, just personalized support.
FAQs
Life coaches focus on helping people achieve personal or professional goals like career growth, relationships, or general life satisfaction. Health and wellness coaches are more focused on physical and emotional well-being. They support clients with goals like improving nutrition, managing chronic conditions, building healthy habits, and reducing stress.
Health and wellness coaches help clients create and stick to personal health goals without offering therapy, prescribing treatments, or selling supplements. They use encouragement, accountability, and structured support to guide sustainable behavior change. Coaching provides clear benefits for individuals and organizations, from increased energy and motivation to improved employee engagement and morale.
Coaching ROI can be assessed through engagement surveys, productivity metrics, absenteeism rates, and healthcare claims data. Over time, trends in employee health and satisfaction provide a clear picture of impact.
Absolutely. Health and wellness coaching pairs well with biometric screenings, chronic disease management, or mental health support. It adds a personalized behavior-change layer that helps employees follow through on goals and makes wellness programs more effective overall.
