Somewhat of a crossover between a life coach and personal trainer, a wellness coach is somebody who helps people achieve healthy lifestyles. Unlike personal trainers, who focus solely on devising exercise regimes for their clients, well-trained wellness coaches help their clients stick to such regimes by utilizing various coaching methods, which include behavioral psychology techniques. But a wellness coach does not only help people achieve health through exercise. They also coach people to make positive diet and lifestyle changes and to deal with any stresses that have a negative effect of health. Together, a wellness coach and her or his client create concrete health goals, and formulate a plan for achieving these goals.

Alone, people often set out healthy lifestyle goals for themselves in the form of New Years resolutions, for example; but too often, these goals are never achieved. That is where a wellness coach comes in. With the support and encouragement of a coach, through one-on-one consultations, people are more likely to stick to their healthy lifestyle goals and to achieve overall health and wellness. According to the Wellcoaches Corporation, within three months of working with a wellness coach, the majority of people will accomplish 80% of their major goals towards achieving a healthy lifestyle. http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=41222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c2436405a29364546535f3852584049422155555c555a594d240a&PageID=webcoach

While you don’t necessarily need any specialized training or education to be a wellness coach, some background knowledge in nutrition, medicine, fitness or psychology is beneficial when choosing this career path. As well, getting certified will go a long way towards creating a more lucrative career, as people will be more inclined to hire you if you are a certified wellness coach (CWC).http://www.spencerinstitute.com/wellness-coach-certification-program.html In addition to private clients, wellness coaches may also be hired by corporations to aid in the formation and running of employee wellness programs.http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-wellness-coach.htm So if you enjoy helping people, have a background in fitness, health or nutrition and want to become a part of an up and coming industry, then wellness coaching is for you.

While this step is optional, as you do not need a degree to become a wellness coach – or a coach of any kind – many educational establishments today offer training in this field, allowing you become a Certified Wellness Coach (CWC), and you will gain valuable knowledge that will help you succeed in this career. Arguably the most recognized certification you can get is from the Wellness Corporation, as it is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).http://www.acsm.org/Content/ContentFolders/NewsReleases/2005/ACSM_Recognizes_Industry_First_WellCoaches_Certification.htm

1. Go to the Wellness Corporation website, and register online for one of their 13-week training sessions, which are offered several times each year. http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=41222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c2436405a29364546535f3852584049422155555c555a594d240a&PageID=trainingschedules
2. Pay the fee for the course, which ranges from approximately $975 to $995, depending on what time of year you enroll for.http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=41222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c2436405a29364546535f3852584049422155555c555a594d240a&PageID=trainingfees
3. Participate in each of the 13 sessions, which are offered via telecast, so all you need is a phone with long distance service. The first and last sessions are two hours long, and the remaining 11 are 90 minutes each.http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=41222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c2436405a29364546535f3852584049422155555c555a594d240a&PageID=trainingschedules

At some institutions, like the Spencer Institute, simply completing the education program grants you certification. http://www.spencerinstitute.com/wellness-coach-certification-program.html However, if you study at the acclaimed Wellness Corporation, you must apply for official certification after completing the study program, and you must do so within 12 months of completion. http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=43222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c3037215e3830344e535e28324f42482e26452024555a594d2454325c200a

1. Pay the $395-fee for certification. http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=43222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c3037215e3830344e535e28324f42482e26452024555a594d2454325c200a
2. Successfully complete a 30-minute practical skills test by telephone, a multiple-choice exam on the computer and practice client sessions to demonstrate your knowledge.
3. Submit the appropriate documentation to demonstrate that you have completed all the necessary prerequisites for certification.
4. Reapply for certification every three years, for a fee of $75 each time.http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=43222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c3037215e3830344e535e28324f42482e26452024555a594d2454325c200a

As a wellness coach, you have several options when it comes to the type of clients you want to work with. If you prefer to work for yourself, private clients are the way to go. You can make yourself known as a private wellness coach and charge approximately $50 per one-hour session.http://www.wellnesscoachconnection.com/coaching/coachingpackages.html However, if you would rather have a steady salary, you can work as a wellness coach for a hospital, coaching patients when necessary; or you may prefer a corporate job, where you can be hired by a company to keep employees on track for an employee wellness program. According to PayScale, a Certified Wellness Coach employed by a company should earn approximately $40,000 a year, while one employed by a hospital earns closer to $60,000.http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Certified_Wellness_Coach_(CWC)/Salary/by_Employer_Type

Regardless of which employment avenue you choose as a wellness coach (private clients, on staff at a hospital or within a company), the coaching process is the same.

1. Conduct a detailed assessment of your client’s general health. Acquire any relevant medical background information. You may do this by having the client fill out a detailed assessment form, or you may choose to have a conversation with the client.
2. Have a 60 to 90-minute initial meeting with your client, during which you set out several concrete health goals that your client would like to achieve. These goals may be in the areas of fitness, nutrition, weight loss, stress management or any other behaviors that affect overall health. The goals you and your client set out should be behavioral goals.
3. Hold weekly half-hour meetings to discuss the client’s progress towards outlined goals, and work on creating solutions to any obstacles the client faces.
4. Watch as your client slowly achieves a healthier lifestyle as a result of your coaching. http://www.wellcoach.com/index.cfm?t=41222c233f55303f2b493d2b593250403f3e3c4c2436405a29364546535f3852584049422155555c555a594d240a&PageID=webcoach