Functional Medicine Health Coaches Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes Possible
Functional Medicine Health Coaches know there’s more to a healthy lifestyle than fad diets and unsustainable exercise regimens. There’s a gap between what clients know they need to do to be healthy and the intrinsic motivation they need to actually make and sustain those changes. Coaches bridge that gap.
Wonder what Functional Medicine Coaching really looks like?
Functional Medicine Health Coaches use Functional Medicine principles & positive psychology coaching techniques to:
- Educate clients and help them understand their doctor’s plan of care
- Offer tools and accountability when clients implement new lifestyle changes
- Motivate clients using positive psychology techniques
- Guide clients through dietary changes, food plans, and physical activity protocols
- Lead clients through group coaching sessions on specific topics
- Work directly with the client’s practitioner when appropriate
- Celebrate successes and encourage progress
Becoming a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach means
- You want to make a living doing work you love
- You want to be your own boss and have more control over where and when you work
- You’re driven to understand how and why our bodies and minds work the way they do
- You’re interested in what makes people tick and how to effect habit change
- You’re a lifelong learner, and you enjoy variety and meeting new people
- You’re passionate about helping others be their best selves
Great coaches are people who fully listen to their clients and offer support, accountability, collaboration, education, and resources. While prior training in another healthcare discipline can be helpful, you don’t need a background in healthcare in order to become a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach.
Job Opportunities for Health Coaches: A Strong Growth Outlook
In the multi-billion dollar health and wellness industry, employment opportunities for health coaches are taking off. Health coaching has emerged as a $7 billion service market with a strong growth outlook, according to the United States Health Coaching Market Report by Research and Markets. As of 2020, an estimated 128,000 health coaches and health educators advise and motivate clients to change lifestyle habits and to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes.
The Global Health Coaching Market Report from AMA Research predicts the Health Coaching Market will undergo huge growth by 2025. The demand for health coaching has increased, driven by rising chronic health conditions, and growing awareness for the value of health coaching to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Where are these new coaching opportunities expected to grow? Locations include medical centers and physicians’ offices, corporations, day spas, wellness centers, and schools. Many of our alumni establish their own coaching practices or partner with practitioners, or sometimes both. Your options will depend on your background, interests, and what’s in your local area or accessible to you online.