Beyond working as a practicing health and wellness coach, obtaining a wellness coach certification can open doors of opportunity across a broad range of careers, even outside of the general health field. Because wellness coaching touches on just about every facet of daily life, evidence-based skills such as motivational interviewing and behavior change strategies are assets in a variety of occupations.
While healthcare and clinical settings are the most obvious career fields that come to mind, there are multiple roles within those settings that could benefit from a wellness coaching certification. Dietitians and nutritionists can partner with and guide clients toward better food choices by educating them about the mindset and lifestyle benefits that a healthier diet enables and using wellness coaching skills to help clients incorporate long-term changes that stick. Chiropractors, occupational therapists, and physical therapists can work more holistically with patients by understanding the lifestyle factors that affect recovery and long-term wellness. Mental health professionals can integrate physical health goals with mental health goals, to provide more well-rounded care for a patient’s general wellbeing.
In the corporate realm, many companies are investing in robust employee wellness programs with the understanding that supporting employee wellbeing also helps them with workplace productivity and job satisfaction. Becoming a certified health and wellness coach is a valuable tool for corporate wellness coordinators and specialists to have at their disposal, as they can design more effective wellness programs that reduce healthcare costs and increase productivity. Human resources professionals can draw on certification skills to develop employee benefit programs and wellness initiatives that truly meet the individual where they are and support what matters most to them.
Fitness trainers and instructors can also benefit from a wellness coaching certification by understanding more about clients’ lifestyles, from nutrition to sleep to stress management. By plugging those factors into a client’s fitness plan, trainers can creatively problem-solve and adapt individual training regimens for more comprehensive results. Similarly, wellness retreat coordinators can plan more effective, transformative wellness experiences by applying their coaching expertise.
Becoming certified also opens up entrepreneurial pathways, such as starting your own coaching practice. Writers and bloggers can specialize in wellness coaching topics and become reputable experts in the field, producing books, articles, and other content that promotes health and wellness topics. Even chefs and culinary instructors can benefit from certification, by understanding and teaching the “why” behind healthier food choices and redesigning less healthy recipes into more nutritious versions.
In the public health arena, community health workers, health and wellness sales consultants, and school and university wellness coordinators can easily leverage their expertise in health and wellness coaching to influence and create programs that benefit the larger population and advocate for healthier policies and programs.
When you step outside of the wellness coach box, it’s very easy to see how certification integrates into so many fields and jobs. The potential for positive change across industry is enormous and exciting, as more and more companies and individuals begin to understand the interconnectedness of mind, body, and lifestyle.
We’re here to help you on your wellness coaching journey. Learn more about Catalyst Coaching Institute’s certification program and how you can grow your expertise for a more rewarding career today!
