Health and Wellness Coaching
Jobs Task Analysis Findings

(Completed and validated in fall 2014)

Job Definition

Health and Wellness Coaches partner with clients seeking self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values, which promote health and wellness and, thereby, enhance well-being. In the course of their work health and wellness coaches display unconditional positive regard for their clients and a belief in their capacity for change and honoring that each client is an expert on his or her life while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non-judgmental.

(25%)¹ Domain I

The tasks that comprise and define this Domain are concerned with the activities that take place in the initial stages of the coaching process.

T-1 Explain the coaching process.
T-2 Obtain information about why coaching is sought, desired outcomes, priorities, personal strengths and challenges.
T-3 Determine if the individual is a candidate for health and wellness coaching.
T-4 Explore motivation and assess readiness for change.
T-5 Jointly create a coaching agreement that includes roles, expectations, practice-specific processes, fees, and frequency, mode and length of sessions.

(40%)¹​ ​Domain II

The tasks that comprise and define this Domain are used throughout the Health and Wellness Coaching relationship and are the most central to the coaching process.

T-6 Assist the client in creating a description of their ideal vision of the future.
T-7 Establish or identify the present situation, past history, previous successes and challenges, resources, etc. associated with the client’s vision.
T-8 Explore and evaluate the client’s readiness to progress toward the vision.
T-9 Invite the client to identify and explore patterns, perspectives, and
beliefs that may be limiting lasting change.
T-10 Work with the client to establish goals that will lead to the vision.
T-11 Work with the client to develop a series of steps that will lead to the achievement of client-selected goals.
T-12 Elicit the client’s commitment to and accountability for specific steps.

(30%)¹​ ​Domain III

The tasks and knowledge that comprise and define this Domain are concerned with the activities that address the client’s evaluation and integration of progress.

T-13 Collaborate as the client evaluates success in taking steps and achieving goals.
T-14 Work with the client to maintain progress and changes.
T-15 Collaborate as the client re-assesses goals and makes modifications based on personal decisions and progress made.
T-16 Assist the client in articulating learning and insights gained in the change process.
T-17 Work with the client to develop a post-coaching plan to sustain changes that promotes health and wellness.

(5%)¹​ ​Domain IV

The tasks that comprise and define this Domain underlie all Health and Wellness Coaching practice and the professional behavior of coaches.

T-18 Health and Wellness Coaches practice in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
T-19 Health and Wellness Coaches practice in accordance with accepted professional standards and within the limits of their scope of practice.
T-20 Health and Wellness Coaches practice in accordance with the accepted standards of professional ethics.
T-21 Health and Wellness coaches engage in a continuous process of training and education to become more proficient in their practice and to ensure that their practice-related knowledge and skills remain current.

(+/- 3%)¹​ ​Knowledge

The competent and effective performance of Health and Wellness Coaching Tasks requires knowledge of:
K-1 Techniques for establishing and maintaining rapport
K-2 Communication techniques (verbal and non-verbal)
K-3 Coaching assessment techniques (e.g., information gathering, appreciative inquiry, non-judgmental questioning, motivational interviewing)
K-4 Personal client information that pertains to the coaching process
K-5 Health and Wellness Coaching process and models
K-6 Models of motivation and behavior change (e.g., Transtheoretical, Maslow, self-regulation, Self-Determination theories)
K-7 Techniques for providing or sharing information and resources within the coaching relationship
K-8 Techniques for enhancing self-awareness
K-9 Goal setting techniques
K-10 Basic, evidence-based healthy lifestyle recommendations by credible sources K-11 Behavior tracking techniques

Skills
The competent and effective performance of Health and Wellness Coaching Tasks requires skill in:

S-1 Establishing and maintaining rapport S-2 Establishing trust
S-3 Providing support
S-4 Displaying empathy
S-5 Mindful presence
S-6 Respectful interaction
S-7 Active listening
S-8 Open-ended questioning
S-9 Communicating
S-10 Information gathering
S-11 Assessment and Evaluation
S-12 Interpreting assessment findings
S-13 Structuring the coaching process
S-14 Recognizing emotions (coach and client)
S-15 Motivating for behavior change
S-16 Applying change processes
S-17 Decision making
S-18 Evaluating research and resources
S-19 Providing information and resources within the coaching process S-20 Building self-awareness (coach and client)
S-21 Self-care (coach and client)
S-22 Goal setting
S-23 Selecting outcome measures
S-24 Behavior tracking
S-25 Observation
S-26 Responding to client resistance
S-27 Enhancing self-efficacy
S-28 Building positivity
S-29 Building autonomy
S-30 Reframing
S-31 Focusing and redirecting
S-32 Using metaphor
S-33 Time management
S-34 Stress management
S-35 Self-management
S-36 Setting boundaries
S-37 Documenting
S-38 Collaborating with other professionals