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Health Coaching Jobs

By ACS Distance Education on January 31, 2019 in Careers, Jobs Success & Psychology | comments

Coaching involves guiding people to better choices for better lives; or fulfilling their potential personally and professionally. A health coach is focused on current problems:  helping clients cope and improve their situation. A coach is not a counsellor or therapist though.

Scope of Work

A health coach’s scope of work may include:

  • Evaluating health and fitness information.
  • Setting goals for improving health and wellbeing
  • Psychology - identifying behavioural issues, motivating change
  • Discussing diet – referring to experts  if needed.
  • Reviewing  progress  over time -goals, behavioural changes
  • Empowering a client to evaluate and change attitudes and behaviours connected to their health and wellbeing.

A health coach may also look at other areas that affect a person’s health, such as sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress management etc.

The scope, nature and complexity of a health coaches work may be greater if the coach is more highly trained. The nature of assistance provided may have some legal restrictions in some jurisdictions. 

 

What You Need to Learn

A health coach needs to understand both health and coaching:

  • Motivational skills - using praise, motivational interviewing, incentives
  • Coaching theory - constructive criticism, goal-setting, wellness vision
  • Communication - verbal, non-verbal, interviewing, educating clients/patients
  • Human biology - anatomy, physiology, digestive & respiratory systems
  • Human health services - holistic, alternative, diagnostic, risk management
  • Human nutrition - diet, calorific intake, nutritional value of foods
  • Fitness - aerobic, muscle, exercise planning & appropriate execution
  • Physical disorders - terminology, chronic health conditions (obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, etc.) 

Starting a Career

Start by:

  • Volunteer work -get to understand coaching (e.g. life coach, sports coach) to
  • Work in health -get to understand health
  • Study Coaching or Health -formally or informally
  • Some health coaches start with coaching, others with health - then move to fill in gaps in knowledge.

As demand for more effective and advanced health solutions grows, the field of health coaching is also rapidly expanding offering optimistic career opportunities.  This gives many already work in allied fields such as personal trainers, yoga teachers, massage therapists, nurses, doctors etc. the opportunity to expand the services.

Health coaches may find work in wide and varied areas and situations, including:

  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Fitness and wellness centres
  • Corporate health programs
  • Private practice
  • Health coaching programs funded by government
  • School health programs

Progressing a Career

Continuous learning is the key to progressing in any career.
Learn more in a specialist area (formally or informally)
Increase networking with other professionals in your sector or allied sectors e.g. sports, fitness, aged care, children, etc
Broaden your experience -into sectors you have limited experience

 

Contact us to explore your careers options. Even if you'd just like to chat to help you work out your next step.

We have a super team of enrolment advisors who can assist you.

There's no obligation to enrol in a course, but we can share our ideas and help direct you toward your career in the leisure industry. 

Call 07 5562 1088 or email admin@acs.edu.au and request a call back!