This blog is going to get me in a little bit of hot water with friends and family, but I do think it is important to understand that all “health coaches” are not created equal. Before you hire a health coach or sign up for a program that assigns you a coach you should understand what the difference is between someone who claims to be a health coach vs those who are certified health coaches.

Many MLM’s (Multi-Level Marketing/Pyramid) programs focused on health and wellness, such as Beachbody and Optavia, understand the stigma that MLM’s have thanks to the reputation that companies like Amway gave them. To differentiate themselves, they have moved away from calling their distributors exactly that and now refer to them as coaches. For example, when you sign up for Beachbody you will be assigned a coach. That coach will walk you through all that Beachbody has to offer and sell you Shakeology, supplements, and equipment that Beachbody has.

What you need to understand is, that is often all the coach knows. Now some personal trainers and certified coaches (like myself) will partner with Beachbody and Optavia because they do offer great programs and services. I will not knock that. However, it has been my experience that many of the people who are calling themselves coaches/health coaches in these programs have no other formal training outside what their company has taught them. This means if you have a serious medical condition or another issue, or simply want coaching without the registered, trademarked products many of these coaches are at a total loss.

On the flip side, when you meet someone like me who says they are a “certified health coach” that means they received formal training in how to help their clients make real lifestyle changes. Depending on which agency certified them they will learn behavior modification techniques, psychology, and motivational interviewing techniques. We are trained on a wide array of health issues and know when we need to refer out to physicians. We become part of a client’s medical team by helping them adopt the changes they need to prevent disease. We are trained to work with your doctors to make sure programs are safe and efficient for your unique situation.

Each agency is different. I did my research and chose to get certified through the American Council of Exercise (ACE) because “the ACE Health Coach Certification is the only health coach certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), considered the gold standard in health and fitness.” I also got my Personal Training certification from ACE which is also NCCA accredited. The amount of science and psychology that goes into becoming a truly effective coach is a difficult progress, not something you can just pay $200 for and learn overnight.

As you continue in your health journey, I do not tell you this to discourage you from purchasing programs via Beachbody or Optavia. Again, they have some fantastic products and programs. However, I want you to be informed when making your decision. When hiring a health coach really ask what qualifies them to be a health coach? Are they certified? Which agency did they receive their health coaching from? Do your research and make sure you are getting partnered with the right type of coach. It is frustrating to me to know that I invested quite a bit of money and a lot of my time to become a credentialed coach and there are people that pay $200 to get a kit, push products and walk around with the similar title because being called a distributor isn’t as marketable.

For more information on health coaching please feel free to visit my website at www.wollertonwellness.com, or email me at megan@wollertonwellness.com.

WOLLERTON WELLNESS