Six Principles of Effective Health Coaching

Health coaching, like "wellness," means different things to different people. I'm afraid that shows like "The Biggest Loser" make people think of health coaches as drill sergeants, delivering tongue-lashings and screaming during workouts.

The reality couldn't be more different. Health coaches work with participants at any fitness level with understanding and empathy.

WCS co-founder Juliet Rodman built our coaching program on six fundamental principles that still guide our health coaching philosophy:

1. All health coaches must be credentialed and highly-experienced.
2. Access to health coaches must be convenient, flexible, and secure.
3. Participants will be allowed to work with a single dedicated health coach.
4. Coaching interactions will never conform to a preset agenda or script; rather, coaches are to engage participants at their unique state of "readiness to change."
5. Participants will be encouraged to outline their own personal health goals and the steps they feel ready to take in working toward those goals.
6. Health coaches will function as supportive guides, sources of accountability, and expert resources to direct change and maximize success.

It's worth mentioning that as wellness investments go, coaching delivers results. Several recent studies have proven as much!