Outside Coaching Recommendations

Health coaches use self-reflection, self-awareness, and commitment to ongoing personal growth, which are essential to becoming an effective practitioner. The Master of Arts and Certificate programs are designed to support students in their personal and professional development. For this reason, it is recommended that health coaching students seek opportunities to partner with professionals to enhance the aforementioned skills. 

It is important for student health coaches to experience being coached by a professional coach for their personal and professional development. Participation in outside health coaching is highly encouraged for a minimum of one semester and recommended for a minimum of one year. The health coaching program student and faculty leadership recognize that individuals’ needs are unique and may change throughout the course of their program of study. For this reason, autonomy of choice is highly valued. Students may choose to seek a variety of professional services throughout their time in the program to enhance their personal development skills and to cope with any life stressors or mental health challenges that may arise. Professional services may include health coaching, psychotherapy, individual, couples, or family counseling, or psychiatric services. 

Students are encouraged to seek outside professional services on their own accord. This standard helps to avoid the potential of dual relationships and allows for individual circumstances such as health insurance coverage, physical location, and personal needs and preferences to be taken into account. It is recommended that students choose someone who is unlikely to be a future supervisor or close colleague and do not seek services at a potential future internship site or place of employment. Students should not seek health coaching services from current or future adjunct faculty. 

Find a board-certified health coach through the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches website: https://nbhwc.org/find-a-certified-coach/#!directory/ord=rnd