Health and Wellness Coaching

naturopathbuddy · May 24, 2010

There is a terrific online class on www.healthy.net, which is 13 weeks long. Look for the colored wellness wheel. It is life changing and will give you amazing coaching skills to use with clients. When you are finished, you are called a Certified Wellness Inventory Facilitator. The instructors are dynamic and amazing.

mAGGI315 · May 25, 2010

Is anyone actually earning a living doing this? I did a similar thing and used noomi.com, which has the wheel and it is great. I set up with a niche of working with moms (since I already work with them) and really found that although people love the idea, no one really wants to pay the month each month to have a wellness coach.

the yahoo groups and other coaching/wellness groups I joined were all about marketing to other coaches and nurses, not really to the consumers, but about how to market yourselves, how to get more clients. It seems that the only people that were really making the money were the ones doing the training of the new coaches and wellness coaches.

I think it's a wonderful idea and maybe we're just a few years ahead of the time. With the bad economy, maybe people are having a hard time justifying the cost to themselves (although we know of course, it would save them money in the long run).

I asked on several of the yahoo groups who was actually making enough money to earn a living and not many people were. Most spent the majority of their time doing marketing and networking, not coaching.

I did just see an ad in the newspaper for a wellness coach/nurse for a long term care facility that looked like a great idea. They put in a little gym, pool, and some other health equipment. the nurse would set up the programs, conduct health screenings, classes, help set goals, etc. That sounds like a great idea and great opportunity, I'd like to see that catch on around the country in long term care facilities.

Bubbles · May 25, 2010

Occasionally there are wellness coaches positions advertised. There are several companies locally. But, beware! A few years ago I was tempted to leave my employer by a company advertising how wonderfully they were growing. The company was called Cor Solutions. Then it was purchased by Matria. Now it has a different name. Most of the nurses working there had limiting physical conditions, but could still work in an office on a phone and a computer. However, the company was not expanding. Fact was that multiple nurses had walked out and there were rows and rows of empty cubicles. Nurses continued to just get disgusted and get up and walk out after I started working with them. It took me a while to figure out the game. Basically companies sell this program to major employers as a win - win -- their employees will be healthier and the company will spend less on health insurance and sick days. Sounds good, right? Actually it is a numbers game! My employer did not value a nurse developing rapport with a person and teaching and supporting them to lose weight, stop smoking, control diabetes, etc. If you enjoyed teaching and spent time doing this you were screwed! Much better to give just a little info and get on to the next person!! All a numbers game!! Not for compassionate, caring nurses!!! Sorry to be negative, but that is the name of the game. :mad:

naturopathbuddy · May 25, 2010

It may be possible to earn some income as a wellness coach. More and more insurance companies are posting these type of positions. Also, setting up a private practice and then marketing to other holistic businesses, spas, etc.is an option. Community wellness workshops are in huge demand. Consider adult evening classes at schools,and community centers. Group coaching tends to be much more affordable in a tough economy than one-on-one sessions. Consider offering 30 minute complimentary sessions.That is a great way to get people to grasp what coaching is. As chronic degenerative diseases increase, health and wellness coaches will become a vital part of our medical system.

mAGGI315 · May 26, 2010

I think the previous poster has a great point about watching out for some of the companies that are springing up and aren't sincere in their efforts.

Having said that, I think that if more insurance companies and other facilities were to pay for more wellness, we would be able to make huge differences.

We tried to have something like a wellness nurse at the mall a few years ago. It was a great project, sponsored by a grant and a local hospital. We had a kiosk, staffed by a RN, with tons of educational material, a computer to look stuff up, and she could talk to patients about all kinds of health issues, do BP's, weight, blood sugars, and other simple things. Unfortunately, there wasn't much interest and it eventually tanked.

I think in the next 10 years or so it might really take off, but right now, I see lots of resistance to it, and see people who just aren't willing to pay.

betbelhell · Jul 29, 2010

can you tell me more about what you do and how you started? thanks

betbelhell · Jul 29, 2010

can you tell me more about this opportunity

HolisiticRN · Apr 25, 2011

I am actually in North Carolina, but do classes locally and virtually. I am in the process of creating a Nursing Business network for a twofold purpose. One, to network with other nurses that want to teach health/better eating principles and who want to use that vehicle to build financial wellness in the process. I am looking for a few nurses who have that "entrepreneural" drive, and want to incorporate their nursing skills in the process... :)

HerbalNurse,

I noticed that you mentioned you practice out of NC. I am relatively new nurse working on my graduate degree. My interests have evolved as my career has progressed. I initially set out to become an NP with the goal of focusing on health and wellness. However, I am now considering the role of a CNS with a focus on this area. I just learned of the Health and Wellness coach role and it seems like a conglomeration of everything that I was interested in employing in my practice.

For a role such as this, what sort of credentials will I need? How can I use my MS degree to my benefit and what should I focus in?

Could you tell me a bit more about how you initiated your career in this area and do you have any recommendations for me? I live in a part of NC that does not seem to have a strong focus on health and wellness and I would like to that focus to the area. Also, you mentioned the "entrepreneurial spirit". I was floored to hear you say that because I thought that I would be giving up self employment if I become an NP.

I am new to all nurses (I joined because I read your post and wanted to contact you). I appreciate any information and insight that you might be able to lend!