Do you want to be a wellness coach?
Wellness coaching is an emerging profession that offers people the opportunity to help others improve their health and well-being. It’s a rewarding career with many growth opportunities, but it can also be challenging at times.
Here are five tips for people new to wellness coaching that will help you get started on your journey in this exciting field.
Why a Wellness Coaching Career Might Be for You
If you want to work in a field that lets you interact with people and help them with their health, wellness coaching could be the right career for you. It may also help you improve your own life since you can use it as an outlet for creativity, self-expression, and your own wellness journey.
Wellness coaches utilize passion, compassion, intuition and knowledge to help others by promoting healthy living practices. They work with people one-on-one, in groups, and through workshops.
You’ll serve different clients with different needs, so it’s important to have a range of skills and knowledge to be successful.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
There are a few things you’ll need before starting your career as a wellness coach.
First, you should have some solid health and wellness knowledge to share with your clients.
Second, you need to be comfortable working with people and have good communication skills.
Finally, it’s helpful to organize yourself and have good time management skills. If you possess these essential qualities, you’re on your way to a successful career as a wellness coach!
Other steps to help you get started:
- Check into available wellness coaching certification programs. This will give you the training and education you need to be successful in this field.
- Look into a professional coaching organization like the Catalyst Coaching Institute to connect with other wellness coaches and stay up-to-date on the latest industry news.
- Get involved in your community by leading or participating in health and wellness events.
- Attend coaching workshops and conferences to learn more about the latest coaching techniques and strategies.
- Stay motivated and inspired by reading wellness-related books, blogs, and articles.
What Are the Education Requirements to Be a Wellness Coach?
Wellness coaches can choose from many different educational paths to help them learn the skills they need before starting their careers. Depending on your preferred industry, path, and career goals, there are a few options you can consider:
Option 1: University Education
Depending on the field you want to work in, an advanced degree like a Master’s of Science (M.S.) could be the right path for you.
If you want to work specifically with athletes or people who have chronic illnesses, you may want to consider a degree in health promotion, Exercise Science, or another related field.
Option 2: Wellness Coach Certification Programs
Outside of a traditional university setting, there are a variety of programs where you can learn the skills you need to be a successful wellness coach. You can find wellness coaching certification programs through private organizations as well as local community colleges.
These programs will teach you the basics of coaching, including how to assess and work with clients, set goals and create action plans, and manage a coaching practice.
Option 3: On-The-Job Training
If you’re already working in the health and wellness industry, you may be able to find an on-the-job training program to become a wellness coach. These programs usually last a few months and will teach you the basics of coaching. There’s also the option to add a wellness coach certification to your existing practice to enhance your skills and broaden your potential client base.
Tips for Success as a Wellness Coach
At minimum, you’ll need to be a good listener and communicator, and have a knack for conveying information in a way that’s well received by your clients. You may also need some of these qualifications:
1. National Certification
Wellness coaches who are members of the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) must meet strict standards to achieve this nationally recognized certification. This certification distinguishes you and provides a level of standardized accreditation that you can take anywhere in the United States.
Why This Is Important
The NBHWC offers certification for wellness professionals. The title of NBHWC-Certified Wellness Coach shows your dedication to the field and allows you to work with other health professionals.
For example, as an NBHWC-Certified Wellness Coach, you would be able to work with physicians and nurses in a doctor’s office. You could also lead workshops on wellness topics in a corporate setting.
This allows you to expand your career possibilities and reach more people.
How Do I Get National Certification?
The steps to becoming an NBHWC-Certified Wellness Coach include:
- Complete an NBHWC-approved training program
- Complete 50 health and wellness coaching sessions
- Have an associate’s degree or higher, or 4,000 hours of work experience
The exam was created by the National Board for Medical Examiners and is a 4 hour scenario based test. Catalyst Coaching Institute’s courses can help people through that national certification process by offering tips on how to answer scenario based questions, live study sessions to practice questions, suggestions on what books and resources to study and support as you get ready for exam day!
2. Wellness Coaching Skills
Wellness coaches help people make lasting changes by providing support and guidance. To do this work effectively, you need certain skills to encourage your clients to live healthier lives.
You’ll need strong communication and listening skills. You also should be comfortable helping people express their feelings through conversation or other methods of expression.
In addition, you should also have good organizational skills, act responsibly, and be reliable.
Why This Is Important
The skills that make for a successful wellness coach are the ones that will help you in any form of coaching. Since wellness coaching is useful anywhere, having these skills makes you more marketable in terms of future career opportunities.
How Do I Get These Skills?
The best way to develop the necessary skills for wellness coaching is to become a certified wellness coach. This will give you the foundation in health and wellness that you need to help people make lasting changes.
You can also take courses in communication to improve your skills in these areas. If you’re already working in the health and wellness field, look for opportunities to coach people one-on-one or in groups.
3. Stay Up to Date on Trends
The wellness industry is always changing, so it’s important for wellness coaches to stay up to date on the latest trends. This includes topics such as new exercise trends, research on sleep, and ways to reduce stress.
Why This Is Important
If you’re not up to date on the latest research and information, you won’t be able to effectively brainstorm ideas and options with your clients to find the next step that they want to pursue. You may also find that your clients are looking for new information that you’re not familiar with.
How Do I Stay Up to Date?
To stay up to date on wellness trends, read health and fitness magazines, attend workshops and seminars, and follow health bloggers and other wellness professionals on social media. Catalyst Coaching Institute offers a robust set of 360-degree wellness coach resources to help you stay ahead of the curve. You can also find some great information on the NBHWC website.
4. Be Passionate About Wellness
Wellness coaches are passionate about helping people live healthier lives and be their best self.
Why This Is Important
If you don’t have the motivation and energy to help others, it will be difficult for them to stay motivated. Clients won’t want to work with someone who isn’t passionate about wellness and committed to helping people improve their health and fitness levels.
How Do I Find My Passion?
The best way to find your passion is to look for opportunities that allow you to express it. You may find this through personal training, group workshops, classes, or other ways of coaching people one-on-one. You also might want to find your own health and wellness coach!
5. Join a Networking Group
Wellness coaches should join networking groups where they can meet like-minded professionals who share their passion for wellness. Some great groups include the Wellness Coaches Network, The Wellness Council of America, and the Catalyst Community.
Groups like these provide coaches with the opportunity to meet other wellness professionals who are passionate about helping people live healthier lives. This is a great way for aspiring wellness coaches to develop their network and learn more about the industry.
Why This Is Important
Joining a networking group means you can connect with like-minded people and learn from their experiences. You can also share ideas and resources, and find new opportunities to grow your business.
How Do I Join a Group?
To find a networking group, start by searching for wellness coaching groups. You can also use the NBHWC website to find other people who share your passion for health and fitness. And some private organizations manage their own supportive wellness coaching communities.
What Are Some of the Challenges I Can Expect?
While working as a wellness coach can be extremely rewarding, aspiring coaches need to know that challenges are part of the job.
For instance, coaching people one-on-one or in small groups means you’ll have to deal with different personalities. You’ll also need to learn how to respond appropriately when a client does not follow through with the goals they set.
Here are some of the common problems that new wellness coaches face:
1. Feel Overwhelmed
If you’re new to wellness coaching, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first. For instance, you may find it difficult to market yourself and build your business if you don’t know where to start or who to ask for help.
How Do I Overcome This Challenge?
The best way to overcome this challenge is to seek out support from other wellness professionals. You can also find helpful information on the NHBWC website, including tips for marketing your business and staying healthy while coaching. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family members who are supportive of your career goals.
2. Not Being Able to Market Your Business
Marketing your business can be challenging for even the most seasoned wellness professionals. It’s hard to decide where to start or how to reach your target audience.
How Do I Market My Business?
Since marketing is one of the biggest challenges new coaches face, you must find ways to market your business effectively. Building a strong brand and website are great ways to do this. You should also look for ways to promote your business through social media, online advertisements, and public speaking engagements.
3. Not Being Able to Help Everyone
Many wellness coaches find it difficult to help everyone they come in contact with. For instance, some clients may not be ready for coaching or won’t have the money to hire a coach.
How Do I Help Everyone?
Since you can’t help every client, it’s important to realize that not everyone will be ready for coaching. What you can do is try to offer helpful information through books, blog posts, articles, and other free resources.
4. Not Having the Time to Find New Leads
Finding new leads for your business takes time, and many new coaches don’t have the time to do this effectively. As a result, their businesses suffer.
How Do I Find New Leads?
There are many ways to find new leads, such as sharing valuable information with your current clients, sharing expertise on social media, and participating in networking groups.
Networking with other professionals is one of the best ways to learn the ropes of wellness coaching. By joining a group, you can share your experiences coaching people one-on-one or in small groups.
Jump-Start Your Wellness Coaching Career
Catalyst Consulting Institute is here to help. Are you ready to be a Catalyst for positive change? Start your journey and begin building an effective coaching business today! Contact us to get started.
