Wellness coaching services are designed to support a client’s healthy lifestyle goals in the areas of weight and stress management, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and work/life balance. Coaches provide a personalized approach that meets each member where they are and empowers them over time to take action and achieve long-term behavior change.
A key element of wellness coaching is the close working relationship between coach and client. They work together to identify the goals that matter most, explore motivations, consider potential obstacles, and develop a plan to initiate and sustain behavior change. They also create a supportive environment that enables the client to establish an internal process of sustainable change and priming compounding positive results.
Unlike personal trainers and group fitness instructors, who rely on their expertise to design programs for clients and students, health coaches use their knowledge of the body along with behavioral science and psychology to facilitate a powerful internal process of change for their clients. Coaching is a unique skill that requires empathy and deep listening.
The goal of a wellness coach is to build trust and connect with the client in a non-judgmental and compassionate way so that they can establish goals for themselves that are self-directed and rooted in their values. Wellness coaches believe that every student is an expert on their own life and are the only one who can understand what they need in order to thrive.
While many health coaches have a background in the health and wellness field, they can be found in many different areas such as schools, corporate settings, and even in hospitals and fitness facilities. In order to choose a coach it is important to do your research and find the person who best suits your needs. A good way to do this is by asking friends and family for referrals. Many coaching services will have coaches’ resumes available on their websites which can be a good place to start your search.
A wellness coach is not a mental health counselor and cannot treat a mental illness or emotional distress. If you are experiencing a mental health concern, you should contact Student Counseling and Psychological Services.
A wellness coaching program is a great addition to any workplace and can reap many benefits for the employee as well as the organization. Companies that invest in employee wellness reap the reward of increased productivity, decreased absenteeism and turnover, as well as a more engaged workforce. The ROI for an employer can be as high as $3 for every dollar spent on employee wellness programs. The return on investment for a wellness coaching program can be even higher when it is integrated into the overall company culture and promoted widely. Employees want to know that their employers care about their health and want them to be happy at work. This can include things such as providing wellness classes, encouraging employees to take workout breaks at work, and providing coaching resources for employees to utilize in their own lives. wellness coaching services