Friends and colleagues are graciously polite. Offspring, however, not so much. When I told my kids I was studying for the exam to become nationally board-certified, my son said, “For what? Why?” I’m sure others have had the same question.
The field of health and wellness coaching has evolved because of the need for support for people who want to feel better and need lifestyle interventions. In the last several years, the profession has grown. In effect, so has the variability in the standards of health and wellness coaches, which makes for a largely undefined and unregulated environment. The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC) was formed to address the need for consistent standards for this somewhat new profession. In November of 2017, the first group of examinees became nationally board certified.
According to NBHWC, “The esteemed NBC-HWC credential represents training, education, and assessment standards, allowing for the profession to advance in all aspects of healthcare and wellness.”
This doesn’t change what we do–it just holds us to a standard. It differentiates us from a crowded field of wellness practitioners. It doesn’t make us “better” than anyone else–we are just different!
How?
As nationally board-certified health and wellness coaches (yes, we passed our exam!), we partner with our clients who are “seeking to enhance their well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values.” We display unconditional positive regard for our clients and a belief in their capacity for change, honoring the fact that each client is an expert on their own life. We conduct our client sessions to be respectful and non-judgmental at all times. We help our clients learn to trust themselves to know what’s best and to seek answers intuitively.
And, it works!
Our society is extrinsically focused. We seek answers from outside ourselves from experts, friends, family, or other “authoritative” beings. Sometimes, we don’t even question the answers we’re provided and blindly follow the advice or directions even if we don’t really believe it is “good.” Of course, we are social beings, and it’s important to have a community and connections with others who support us and help us live our best lives. As coaches, one of our mantras is to question everything and everyone. Even us.
We’ve seen it over and over again with clients and with ourselves. When we learn to become intrinsically focused, we are healthier in mind and body.
Isn’t that what we all want?
Ultimately, Wendy and I are hoping to coach ourselves into extinction. Sounds harsh, but what I mean is that we and our NBHWC colleagues have such an effect on our society that people don’t need us anymore–that they become their own coaches, knowing what makes them thrive and feel good.
Perhaps this is a tall order.
We’ll start here, with the audience that we have. And we’ll ask you to help spread the word. Tell someone you know who may not feel so great that there are health and wellness coaches out there that will help them without deprivation, without criticism, without undoable challenges, and “prescriptions for health.” We are passionate about making this world a healthier place. And it starts with you!
