Health and Wellness Coaching

A Pratt School of Engineering Health and Wellness Coach works with students, staff, and faculty (“clients”) who want to improve their health and wellness. They enable their clients to explore their personal health goals, name them clearly, and set up a success-orientated plan for achieving those goals. A health and wellness coach also helps their client overcome obstacles or get “unstuck” when working towards a lifestyle change. During the coaching experience, clients will be empowered and supported as they work towards their goals

Clients might work with a health and wellness coach for a wide variety of reasons, including:

• Managing stress
• Becoming more active
• Navigating interpersonal relationships
• Eating a healthier diet
• Finding overall life-balance
• Prioritizing self-care
• Sleep hygiene
• Building self-confidence
• Any non-clinical growth or self-improvement topic

A coaching session is a collaborative conversation between a coach and a client. The coach serves as a guide through the process of change and the client is the expert in their own life. The coach helps a client assess what is currently working for their health and well-being, what may not be working quite as well, and identify what their health and well-being vision is so they can begin taking small action steps towards it. Coaches use a holistic approach and motivational interviewing techniques. Session characteristics include:

• 1:1 meeting with a coach for 45-60 minutes
• A confidential* and safe space for a client to explore their current health and well-being
• Conversations are client-centered, prioritizing current goals and lifestyle
• Creation of SMART goals that move the client towards their vision of their best health
• Design of accountability plans to help the client stay on track
• After a session, a client will feel focused, energized, and motivated towards change

*Clients may share private information during the coaching session. The coach will hold everything that is said in confidence unless the client presents a physical danger to their self or others. In this case, the coach will inform campus or legal authorities so protective measures can be taken.

Health and wellness coaches help clients assess their well-being, and then support them as they develop action plans towards behavior change. Health and wellness coaches do not diagnose, prescribe treatments, or provide psychological interventions. Health and wellness coaches empower their clients to use their strengths to navigate through lifestyle and behavior changes. If your health coach feels you would be better suited to seek counseling before pursuing health coaching, they will indicate this to you and share resources that will help connect you to the appropriate resources. Clients who are experiencing mental health challenges should seek treatment through Duke’s Counseling and Psychological Services.