Health & Business Coaching
The most common question I get asked is “How did you become a Health Coach?” I always like to begin by sharing that I had a very different career path in mind when I graduated from college. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Packaging Engineering and landed my “dream job” at one of the largest food corporations in the world. In my mind, this was the definition of success.
Once the honeymoon phase of my corporate job wore off, I began to question if this was my true calling. I had this gut feeling that I was settling and not creating a fulfilling life. It was then, that I decided I was put on this earth for greater things. I wanted to pursue my passion. I was tired of getting asked “What would your dream job be?” or hearing myself say “I wish I could have that job!” I decided that I wanted to make a life and not just a living.
My one true passion in life has always been wellness. I always had my nose in the latest health book and was sharing information with anyone who would listen to me. I was obsessed, to say the least! So, I began researching different career options in the wellness industry. I would stumble across well-known health and wellness experts and wonder, “How did they get to be where they are today?” After digging a little deeper, I found they all had one thing in common: they were all Health Coaches.
This one should be simple to answer, but when I say passionate, I mean you REALLY have to live and breathe it. If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing you are!
As a coach, it is your job to guide people through their wellness journey. You will be a source of encouragement as you educate your clients and teach them how to heal themselves.
Most Health Coaches become entrepreneurs, whether that be opening their own practices, hosting corporate wellness events, launching their own food companies, starting a podcast or writing books. Becoming an entrepreneur is not a walk in the park, but my goodness is it worth it! You’re going to have to put your heart and soul into it in order to create a successful business, but if you love what you do, it will be the most rewarding experience – I can guarantee that.
If you answered both of these questions with a confident “YES!” then keep reading for the steps below on how to become a Health Coach.
I recommend looking for a program that is taught by individuals in the wellness industry who you trust and admire and is teaches the business aspect of becoming a Health Coach as well. After graduating from IIN myself, I have been a huge advocate for their program because it truly changed my life.
Practice, practice, practice. You can’t expect to become a world-renowned Health Coach overnight. If you attend IIN, they encourage you to start working with clients halfway through the program. The earlier you start, the easier it will be to build a reputation in the industry. Your first client could be your sister or best friend! All that matters is that you practice your coaching skills. You can have all the dietary knowledge in the world and not understand the art of coaching.
It’s time to share your services with the world! Marketing yourself and your business is absolutely crucial to creating a successful Health Coaching business. Set up a website (I recommend hiring a professional to help) so that client’s can find you and learn more about what you offer. Start building your email list right out of the gate – you’ll be grateful you did!
Consider teaming up with a doctor, chiropractor, personal trainer, or other wellness professional who can refer clients to you and vise versa. If you have a local functional medicine doctor that hires health coaches on staff, consider working with them to gain even more experience and a steady stream of clients. This can be a great way to establish your reputation, especially if your end goal is to have your own practice.
A mentor provides you guidance and helps give insight and advice that can save you lots of time and money in the long-run. With anything new, there’s going to be a learning curve. It’s reassuring to be connected with someone who was once in your shoes to ask all of your questions.
I’ve worked with several mentors over the years who shared their insights and experience on what works and doesn’t work, and strategies for becoming a successful Health Coach.
I have personally mentored many health coaches over the years, which inspired me to create The Business Breakthrough Program. This is a program specifically for Health Coaches who are feeling lost and overwhelmed with starting their own business.
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition is the original Health Coach Training Certification program and has been around for 25 years. While there are numerous Health Coach Certification programs out there now, I believe it’s the best health coach training program.
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Training Program is an online course specially designed for people who are passionate about health and wellness. The program is a year-long, but they now offer a 6-month accelerated course as well.
Whether you’re interested in learning about nutrition for your own personal health or launching a meaningful new career, the Integrative Nutrition health coach program will empower you to transform your life and achieve your personal and professional goals.
The curriculum focuses on 3 key areas: nutrition, coaching, and business. I believe that this provides a really strong foundation for starting and growing your health coaching business.
IIN’s core philosophy is bio-individuality, which is the idea that their is no one perfect diet that works for everyone. One man’s food is another’s poison is a phrase they like to use. IIN doesn’t promote any particular diet, such as vegan or paleo. They bring in experts from various wellness backgrounds who share different points of views to show that one diet or lifestyle doesn’t work for every individual.
Integrative Nutrition students are inspired by experts who are at the forefront of wellness. These distinguished speakers are the leading medical doctors, PhDs, researchers and authorities in nutrition today.
DR. ANDREW WEIL, a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing-oriented approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit. Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil is the founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he also holds the Lovell-Jones Endowed Chair in Integrative Rheumatology, and is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health.
DR. WALTER WILLETT, M.D., Dr. P.H., is Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Willett has focused much of his work over the last 40 years on the development and evaluation of methods, using both questionnaire and biochemical approaches, to study the effects of diet on the occurrence of major diseases.
GABRIELLE BURNSTEIN, an American motivational speaker, life coach, and author. Bernstein teaches primarily from the text A Course In Miracles. She teaches a practical application of the Course’s principles emphasizing self-love, forgiveness, and a holistic approach to spirituality. Her book The Universe Has Your Back is one of my all time favorites.
MARION NESTLE, Paulette Goddard Professor, of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, which she chaired from 1988-2003 and from which she officially retired in September 2017. She is also Visiting Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell. She earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition from the University of California, Berkeley.
I believe so strongly in the need for health coaches, that I’ve teamed up with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, to offer you a significant savings on tuition plus a special discount when you join my Business Breakthrough Program.
When you call to enroll, tell your admissions counselor you’d like to “Add Nicole Nelson as my Ambassador referral and use her discount”.
Do your research before finding a program that feels right for you. Talk to graduates of the health coach program, read through their materials, research their teachers. I know it’s a big decision, so if you have questions about IIN or health coaching as a career, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
In the meantime, be sure to take a free sample class and check out their curriculum guide.