Health & wellness coaches support clients in activating internal strengths and external resources to make sustainable and healthy lifestyle behavior changes. Health coaches use a client-centered approach wherein clients decide their goals, engage in self-discovery or active learning processes, and self-monitor behaviors to increase accountability, all within the context of an interpersonal relationship with a health coach.

Whatever goal the client sets, the health coach ensures that they are supported until the desired outcome is achieved. National Board-certified coaches display an unconditional positive regard for their clients and have trained to the highest standards in the profession which means that they have the skills and knowledge to walk alongside you on your path to your healthiest self.

As a Health Coach, we do not diagnose, treat, prescribe, interpret medical results, write food plans, nor recommend supplements.

Keeping within the scope of practice simply means we are our client’s accountability partner and educator to help collaborate and navigate through the plans of the professional.

Short answer = No

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Functional Medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, with a goal of optimal wellness. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to an individual’s illness, and Functional Medicine looks beyond the symptoms to identify why illness occurs in the first place. This approach empowers patients, doctors, and health coaches to work together to resolve the complex underlying causes of disease to restore health through diet and lifestyle change.

Short answer = Yes!

The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) recognizes the critical importance of following best-practice with regards to client/patient privacy and data confidentiality when handling client/patient information and records. The NBHWC recognizes that local, state, and federal regulations, as well as policies pertinent to individual employment settings, may dictate additional guidance and/or policies and procedures. As a general rule, the NBHWC holds the position that health and wellness coaches should manage client/patient personal health information and records according to the policies and procedures as established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). More specifically, health and wellness coaches should familiarize themselves and comply with, “Title II: HIPAA Administrative Simplification.”

Given the relative complexities and broad utilization of this legislation, it is recommended that coaches first familiarize themselves with “HIPAA for Individuals” and then “HIPAA for Professionals.” This information is provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is further recommended that health and wellness coaches pursue training and education germane to HIPAA compliance. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also provides access to a number of free training and education resources, and this information can be found on their website.

The NBHWC further recognizes that the setting within which health and wellness coaches provide services may dictate additional compliance-based rules and regulations. For example, coaches providing services within an educational environment may be required to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The U.S. Department of Education provides specific information and additional links here. They also provide free sector-specific training videos.

Regardless of the domain within which one practices health and wellness coaching (including those that are self-employed, practicing outside of health care, and/or in educational settings), it is the position of the NBHWC that all health and wellness coaches should educate themselves and comply with applicable best practices.