There are a variety of certifications you can opt for when becoming a health coach or selecting your perfect fit, but it is the NBHWC certification that is most widely known for providing the benchmark of care for health coaching. “Health coaches help you to discover and implement practices that can sustain long-lasting improvement to your overall health and well-being,” meditation instructor and certified health coach Pilin Anice previously told mbg. Beyond addressing obvious health concerns, health coaches can help you build habits that support your goals so you can be the most well-rounded version of yourself. It’s their expert insight that takes your health plan to the next level. “How are you living, how are you eating, how are you sleeping, and how are you moving?” are a few questions LeVeque has noted that she asks clients in order to gauge their lifestyle and which areas they may need to address to feel their best. This information in tandem with scientific research allows your health coach to “support the resolution of [a client’s] symptoms and potentially the resolution of [their] disease state,” LeVeque added. “For starters, a nutritionist is someone who typically has studied nutrition through a four-year degree program and offers advice specifically around nutrition,” Anice explains. “On the other hand, a certified health coach is more holistic and offers a much wider range of support.” A good coach is one that looks at all of your lifestyle factors, avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach, so take your time finding someone with the right personality (and credentials) for the job. If you’re interested in health coaching as a potential career choice down the line, mbg offers our own Health Coach Certification designed to provide real-world experience so you can practice your skills and gain the confidence you need to treat your patients with the knowledge and care that they deserve. Because at the end of the day, we could all use a health coach.
