A new, interprofessional certificate program launching this fall will prepare health and wellness coaches to use integrative health strategies, motivational interviewing and behavioral change strategies to promote health and wellness.
Health and wellness coaches educate and motivate individuals and families to achieve their health and wellness goals by providing evidence-based information, positive psychology and evidence-based methods for behavioral change They work with employee wellness programs, community health teams, primary care practices, fitness facilities, youth and families, people recovering from addiction, veterans, people with disabilities and others.
Working one-on-one with clients or in small groups, coaches providing support, goal-setting guidance and encouragement to engage in healthy lifestyle practices including physical activity, nutrition, stress reduction and mindfulness. Coaches focuses on clients’ values, needs, vision and short- and long-term goals using behavior change intervention strategies.
The 12-credit certificate includes coursework in motivational interviewing, coaching skills, mindfulness techniques. Students may choose to focus on specialties including family wellness, autism spectrum disorders and addiction recovery. The program will prepare students to sit for the International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching (ICHWC) certification exam.
ICHWC introduced the certification exam in 2017, formally recognizing the profession and further increasing demand for certified coaches. The certification gives employers assurance that the health coach knows how to provide effective behavior change counseling and safe and effective health advice.
“The national certification brings the health and wellness coaching profession to the attention of mainstream medical community,” said Integrative Health Program Director Karen Westervelt. “As the delivery of health care switches to a more preventative based model of care, integrative health and wellness coaches will be an important part of the interprofessional medical team."
Projected Job Growth
As emphasis on preventative health care and reducing health care costs grows, the need for dedicated professional health coaches continues to rise. Recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment in the field of health coaching is expected to increase by 16% during the next seven years, much faster than the average for all occupations. The American College of Sports Medicines Health and Fitness Journal ranked health coaching as #11 in the 2019 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends.
The certificate will be offered to undergraduate students in all majors and as a post baccalaureate program for people who work in health care and wellness professions.
“It’s a great starting place for a person interested health care or in conjunction with a career in health care,” said Cara Feldman-Hunt, UVM Integrative Health program manager and instructor. “You can get a job as a health and wellness coach right out of college, or enhance your current practice.”
Applications are presently being accepted for the UVM Integrative Health and Wellness Certificate.