With rising awareness of preventive care health coaching, also called wellness coaching, is acquiring a stronger position along other healthcare occupations such as medical doctors, therapists and dietitians. As to date a number of conducted studies have proven health coaching to be efficient in improving varies aspects of health and general well-being. Nevertheless, wellness or health coaching is perceived as a novelty occupation and the term itself causes certain confusion both between healthcare and fitness professionals and general population.

Wellness coaching can be defined as a course that facilitates healthy and sustainable behavioral change by assisting an individual to hear their inner wisdom, determining their values, and transforming their targets into actions. Health coaching is different to psychotherapy in that it focuses less on a client's problem but instead concentrates on the answer that is generated by the client’s internal power and wisdom. Health or wellness coaching focuses on the present instead of the past. A health coach assists clients in dividing their goals into manageable steps, monitors their progress and helps to overcome arising psychological obstacles. A health coach is usually working with an single individual at their home setting or in the office. Health coaching may include close eye-to-eye interaction as well as remote communication by a phone or other advanced communication technologies like emailing.

Since legal regulation of health coaching as to date is non existent virtually anybody can call themselves a health coach. The downside of that is that even certified wellness coaches suffer from insufficient credibility which translates into potential clients preferring a registered dietitian (RD). Just as personal fitness trainers health coaches can not create a diet plan for the client since registered dietitian's license is necessary to do this in accordance with the state's legislation. However, a health coach may be someone who helps their clients find and combat psychological reasons beneath their eating disorders including obesity.

Beside being an independent occupation health coaching can proof as a great way of adding extra value to a current career in health or fitness associated field. For example, for someone already working in the industry health coaching can help in generating leads, building relationships and enhancing the credibility. Healthcare and fitness professionals who may find health coaching occupation beneficial to their existing career include counselors, social workers, health training specialists, nutritionists, psychologists, nurses, physical therapists, personal fitness trainers, pharmacists, doctor assistants, occupational therapists, and oriental medication practitioners, etc.

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