Think of a Health Coach as a Trainer for Your Whole Well-Being
In a world flooded with quick-fix diets and miracle-pill promises, a health coach offers something different: a partnership that centers on you.
Think of a health coach as a personal trainer for your entire well-being—body, mind, and daily habits. We don’t just prescribe a plan; we guide, support, and empower you to make lasting changes.
What Does a Health Coach Do?
A health coach helps clients improve their overall wellness by focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes. We do not chase quick results. Instead, we partner with clients to identify personal values. We set realistic goals. Together, we develop strategies that fit into real life.
Key areas often include:
- Nutrition and healthy eating habits
- Physical activity and movement
- Sleep quality and stress management
- Habits, routines, and accountability
- Mindset, motivation, and confidence building
- Chronic disease prevention and management (when applicable)
Our role blends science with empathy—we educate, motivate, and hold clients accountable as they create healthier routines that last.
Core Responsibilities of a Health Coach
A health coach’s day can vary widely. However, the heart of the work remains the same. It involves helping people move from “I can’t” to “I can.” Common responsibilities include:
- Conducting health assessments and setting meaningful goals
- Designing personalized wellness plans based on individual needs
- Educating clients about nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress
- Providing motivation and accountability through regular check-ins
- Using behavior-change and motivational interviewing techniques
- Collaborating with healthcare professionals when needed
- Sharing tools, resources, and real-world strategies clients can apply daily
My Real-World Examples
I’ve never held an official title as a “Health Coach.” However, earning my Health Coach certification in 2017 completely changed the way I approach personal training and wellness. Over the years, I’ve helped multiple clients lose significant weight, ranging from 30 to 70 pounds. This was not achieved through fad diets or quick fixes. Instead, we focused on building long-term, realistic habits that fit their lives.
There are 168 hours in a week. As a personal trainer, I’m lucky if I see a client for just two of those. That leaves 166 hours when they’re on their own—making choices about food, movement, sleep, and stress. Health coaching bridges that gap. It gives me the tools to help clients create plans for all those other hours. Together, we develop strategies that make healthy living achievable every day, not just during workouts.
Those moments—when a client realizes they can take ownership of their health—are what make this work so rewarding.
Why It Matters
People today are busier and more stressed than ever, and often disconnected from their own well-being. Health coaching fills that gap by offering structure, accountability, and encouragement in a world full of noise.
What’s exciting is that more opportunities for health coaches are emerging than ever before. Many roles are now remote, allowing coaches to help clients across the country through virtual platforms. At the same time, corporate wellness programs are growing—companies are hiring health coaches both on-site and virtually to support employee well-being, reduce stress, and improve overall workplace health.
It’s not just about exercise or nutrition—it’s about balance, longevity, and sustainable change.
How to Get Started in the Field
If you’re passionate about helping others live healthier, more balanced lives, health coaching is a fulfilling and flexible career path.
Common pathways include:
- Earning a degree in health, exercise science, nutrition, psychology, or a related field
- Completing a reputable certification program such as:
To sit for the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) exam, you must complete an NBHWC-approved course. Two of the most recognized options include:
- ACE Advanced Health Coach Certification – focuses on behavior change and lifestyle management.
- ACSM’s Wellcoaches Program – a science-based course offered through a partnership between the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Wellcoaches School of Coaching.
Many colleges also offer NBHWC-approved programs that prepare you for the national board exam—such as Macomb Community College in Michigan, which provides a comprehensive pathway combining wellness education and hands-on experience.
Key skills for success:
Active listening, empathy, effective communication, accountability, and evidence-based knowledge.
Typical settings:
Private practice, wellness clinics, corporate wellness programs, gyms, or virtual coaching platforms.
Whether you work from home or within an organization, health coaching allows you to impact lives far beyond the traditional fitness setting. If you love helping others discover their potential and build healthier habits, this career won’t just be your job—it will be your purpose.
Exercise Science Journey 