What to Know Before Hiring a Health Coach

After reading our article "What is a Health Coach Anyway?", you may be inspired and ready to search the Internet, hire your personal health coach and began your new health journey. Buyer beware! Not all health coaches are qualified.

In today's world of regulation and government control, you may be shocked to hear that this new profession of health coaching has little to no regulations...yet. As a health consumer, today you have very little purchasing protection. Anyone who works at a gym or sells magical oils or herbal weight-loss elixirs can legally call themselves a 'health coach.' 

If that's frightening news to you, imagine how frightening this is to me, someone who has spent years in school and study to earn qualifications as a professional health coach.

So, as a consumer, how do you 'shop smart' for a qualified health coach?

Check Their Training

There are a zillion schools, universities and online sites that offer what is casually termed 'health coach training.' Some are 4-year degrees. And some are 4-week self-study programs. All all of them offer the title of 'Certified Health Coach' upon program completion. Geesh, what's a consumer to do?

Well, The International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching (ICHWC) has been kind enough to assemble a list of what they consider to be professional, qualified health coach training programs and their list is available here. Be sure to confirm that your coach's school is on this list.

Look for These National Credentials

In the health coaching world, there are two highly respected national certifications. These are the gold standard for health coaches. Both require an approved course of study, hours of real-life coaching experience, a grueling day-long exam, continuing education hours, and a commitment to a strict set of ethical and legal standards.

If your prospective health coach holds one of these national certifications, you can rest assured that you're hiring a dedicated professional coach. Look for any of these initials after their name before picking-up the phone.

NBC-HWC 

'National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach' issued by the International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching (ICHWC) and their exam is administered through the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the same body that credentials physicians and nurses.

ACC or PCC or MCC

'Associate' or 'Professional' or 'Master Certified Coach' issued by the International Coach Federation (ICF). This coveted credential tells you they're a highly-skilled coach, but doesn't guarantee health knowledge. So, be sure to ask about their specific health training or medical area of expertise.

Look for a Specialist

Skip the generalists and look for a health coach who specializes in your area of health need. No one coach can be an expert in all things health. So, select a coach who has expertise with your specific health challenge. Hormones? Thyroid? Diabetes? Aging? Auto-Immune? Cancer? Weight loss? You wouldn't hire an auto-mechanic to fix your computer.

Look for a Connection

Follow your gut instinct. When interviewing a prospective coach, did you connect? Did you genuinely like them? Did they speak from the heart and show concern for your health or did they up-sell you or push a contract? The relationship you form with your health coach should be built on trust and heartfelt service, not profit. You'll feel the difference.

Hire the Right Health Coach

It pays to do your research before hiring a health coach. Hiring a credentialed health coach, with expertise in your area of health need, in whom you have trust of their skills and their intentions, will launch you in the right direction towards better health.

DISCLAIMER: This information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgement. See complete Disclaimer.