Module 1: Frequently Asked Questions

Contact As a passionate practitioner of well-being, Angélica has operated her coaching practice since 2015. She is an avid learner and continually participates in training in the areas of lifestyle medicine, mindful eating and positive psychology. She completed her studies in Biology at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and has been a personal investment advisor since 1987, which gives insight into being an entrepreneur and balancing work and life. As part of the Wellcoaches Mexico team at Intersistemas, Angélica delivers Wellcoaches core training to Spanish-speaking students in Mexico, Central America and the United States. She has presented on health coaching topics at several major organizations in México, including Femsa, Oxxo, Pfizer, Bimbo, and Dicipa.

Contact Barrett McBride has an international coaching practice and has been coaching professionally for more than 20 years. She is a Certified Professional Wellcoach, she is certified by the International Coaching Federation at the Master Coach Certification (MCC) level and she is a Certified Coach Supervisor. Barrett has a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, a MS in Organizational Development, and a MA in Human Development. Barrett’s practice focuses on coaching and consulting with senior leaders and leadership teams, and creating professional development programs for clients in the healthcare, higher education and technology industries.

Contact Charles Inniss began his career as a physical therapist, personal trainer, and teacher. He earned his Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy (DPT) at Boston University and has held personal training certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and Rebook International. Charles completed both the Wellcoaches Core Training and the Professional Coach Training (PCT) en route to becoming a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). He is passionate about corporate wellness, and in the 7.5 years he spent working as the onsite wellness coach for employees at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, he conducted thousands of coaching sessions, gave presentations on various health and behavior change topics, and wrote a coaching newsletter. Charles has over 25 years of teaching experience, with much of it dedicated to health and fitness professionals. In addition to spending 5 years dissecting and teaching gross anatomy labs at Boston University, he taught anatomy and physiology at a massage therapy school, and spent nearly 15 years teaching seminars for personal trainers through organizations like Towns Sports International, NASM, ACE, and Reebok International. He is thrilled to be a part of the Wellcoaches Faculty and hopes that his passion, creativity, and experiences help him to support and inspire other coaches as they strive to make their own positive impact on the world.

Contact Christina's coaching experience includes partnering with executives, entrepreneurs, doctors, teachers, parents, healthcare providers, college bound students, nurses, and aspiring coaches. With her intuitive approach and 15+ years of experience, Christina's clients discover how to live resiliently in the areas of career and wellness. She received her Master's of Art in Education from The Ohio State University, focused on career, personal, and organizational development and a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, Integrative and Functional Nutrition from Saybrook University. Christina founded Performance IMPursuit, Inc. in 1996, specializing in training and development for organizations where her corporate clients include OhioHealth, Bath & Body Works, Honda, Tween Brands, and Nationwide Insurance. Christina's passion and experience as a coach, mentor, facilitator, and instructional designer has led her to coach hundreds of individuals and teams in many industries from health care to retail.

Contact With over 25 years of clinical practice, research and teaching background in the health care industry, Darlene is an experienced family nurse practitioner, professional coach, consultant, educator, and researcher. Her focus is on caring for the entire well-being of the person and partnering with them to find ways to thrive. She brings her skills to assist her clients to prevent/reduce the risk of disease and better manage chronic conditions as well as to reach higher levels of health, vitality, and well-being. Darlene received her academic training at the Universities of Virginia, Washington, North Carolina and Harvard and has many years of clinical, research and faculty appointments at these institutions. In addition to being a licensed Nurse Practitioner and a Professional Certified Coach (International Coaching Federation), she holds numerous advanced health/clinical coaching certifications, is a well-published author and sits on several national advisory boards. Currently Darlene is faculty in multiple ICF-Approved Coaching Programs and graduate university programs, delivers workshops in evidence-based coaching strategies and provides services as a health/well-being coach and consultant to individuals and organizations. Darlene also is a guest lecturer for the Science of Coaching courses at Harvard and a contributing team member of the National Consortium for Credentialing Health and Wellness Coaches (NCCHWC). She lives with her family in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Contact With over 30 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Debbie has worked across a broad spectrum of dietetics, including clinical care, oncology and cardiovascular research, renal health, health promotion, and public health education. Debbie was one of the first RDNs to become a Diplomate of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Her academic journey began with a B.S. in Dietetics from Miami University, followed by an M.S. in Dietetics from Saint Louis University, and culminated in an EdD in Health Professions Education from A.T. Still University. Currently, Debbie serves as an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, where she played a pivotal role as the founding Interim Chair of the Department of Lifestyle Health Sciences and Program Director for the Graduate Certificate in Lifestyle Health. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing education in nutrition, emotional intelligence, culinary and lifestyle medicine. Beyond her professional achievements, Debbie enjoys gardening, dancing, musical theatre, and travel.

Contact Erika received an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Labor and Human Resources from The Ohio State University, which supported her work in human resources and organizational leadership in banking, government and Fortune 500 retail organizations. Erika is the Chief Coaching Officer for Wellcoaches, leading a team of 50 coaching leaders from all of the world who have trained over 14,000 coaches since 2002. She is co-author of critical health and wellness coaching texts such as The Coaching Psychology Manual, The Complete Handbook of Coaching (Chapter 23) and A Pilot Study of Health & Wellness Coaching for Fibromyalgia. She is also co-creator of the validated Well-being Inventory, published in The Well-Being Coaching Inventory (WCI): Questionnaire Development and Validation, American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 2025. Erika is also an instructional design consultant for ImprovEdge, combining neuroscience and improvisation, and served as a volunteer instructional designer for Braver Angels, designing workshops that bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide. She co-founded a regional organization designed to promote anti-racism in her rural community. And, for fun, Erika launched a community theatre and sings in a band with her husband and children. Listen to Erika on the Wellcoaches Inside podcast, featuring the inspirational stories of coaches and the leaders who shaped them.

Contact Greg holds a master’s in nutrition, is a registered dietitian, and co-author of Coach Yourself Thin (Rodale Press, 2012). He is co-owner of PIVOT X Coach Training Ltd, a CDC affiliated organization that trains Lifestyle Coaches of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). Greg teaches the Group Coaching Certificate training for Lifestyle Coaches and develops advanced coach training material.

Contact Kim has an extensive history working with medical centres and Primary Health Networks to train medical professionals in behaviour change therapy and chronic disease management. She was awarded the 2015 Australian Best Practice Nurse award in Chronic Disease Management. She is accredited with the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches as a Health Coach and has executive coaching endorsement through the International Coaching Federation at the PCC level. She is currently training Health Professionals across Australia in chronic disease management, prevention screening, and Quality Improvement strategies. She regularly presents at national conferences as a keynote speaker on Change Management, Teaming, Coaching, Chronic Disease Management, Creating Efficiency in General Practice and Care Co-ordination. Through her business MediCoach Kim mentors nurses and organizations to achieve their best, ensuring they are resilient in the changing health landscape. She is currently a Director of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and the Practice Excellence Institute.

Contact Margaret, aka Coach Meg, is Founder and CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation, following 17 years in the biotechnology industry in the US, UK, Canada, and France. Read more!

Contact Michael is co-author of the successful Rodale book Coach Yourself Thin, and is certified by the American Council on Exercise, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and USA Track and Field. He worked at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center from 1991 to 2001, including 3 years as fitness director. Michael co-founded NOVO Wellness in 2001 and has since helped thousands lose weight and keep it off through NOVO programs and consulting services.

Contact Noah received a B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Upon completing his degrees he served as an Assistant Professor and Department Chair in Exercise and Sport Sciences at Tennessee Wesleyan College. He later accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences at Ithaca College. During his four years at IC he helped coordinate the undergraduate and graduate programs in Sport Psychology. In 2009 he took a position at Georgia Southern University where he coordinated the Master’s program in Sport Psychology and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Sport Psychology and Coaching Education. He joined the Humber faculty in 2011 and teaches in the Fitness and Health Promotion program and the Kinesiology program at the University of Guelph-Humber. Dr. Gentner helped develop the Humber Centre for Healthy Living which provides holistic health and wellness services to Humber faculty and staff. Dr. Gentner has published research in several journals and has given presentations on Sport and Exercise Psychology at worldwide and regional Sport Psychology, Coaching, and Athletic Training Conferences. He is a Sport Psychology Consultant and since 2000 he has worked with individual athletes, teams, and coaches ranging from youth sport to professional levels. Dr. Gentner became certified as a Basic Mental Health First Aid instructor in 2014 and since then has provided numerous training sessions for students and professionals.

Contact Sheryl Richard is a health and well-being professional who empathetically works with people from various walks of life. Her diverse background includes in-depth experience with private, corporate, and community coaching, facilitation, training, teaching, mentoring, fitness, IT project management, and research with qualitative expertise. Among her research interests are evidence-based sustainable behavior/lifestyle change, coaching and education; social ecological health model; determinants of health; health disparities and inequities; vulnerable populations, and preventable chronic disease. Sheryl completed her undergraduate education in Business Administration & Management Information Systems at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; a Master’s in Organizational Management at the University of Phoenix; and a PhD in Community Health with Walden University. She currently holds certifications including Wellcoaches Professional Health/Wellness Coach (CPHWC), National Board Health & Wellness Coach (NBHWC), and Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute. Sheryl has worked with Wellcoaches for more than a decade and is currently a Wellcoaches Training Faculty team member. Academically, Sheryl serves as Walden University Contributing Faculty and Dissertation Chair/Mentor for online doctoral Health Professions and Healthcare Administration programs. Likewise, she fulfills the role of Adjunct Faculty for Herzing University and Franklin University undergraduate healthcare programs. Through her Magnificent Messmaker® course, Sheryl passionately pursues helping people to be, do, live, and give their best while authentically growing in the fullness of who they are.

Contact Simon is a psychologist and leadership coach, with a particular interest in supporting leaders in healthcare. He is a Fellow of both the American College and Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Simon is Board Certified in Health Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine and is a Professional Certified Coach with ICF. He is faculty with Wellcoaches School of Coaching (US) and Lead Coach with Wellcoaches Australia and Singapore. He is an Adjunct Lecturer at Avondale University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre. In addition, Simon is a Director of the US not-for-profit Global Positive Health Institute. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of the Romanian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, and the Scientific Advisory Boards for the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi and the Instituto Español de Medicina Estilo Vida. Simon supports lifestyle medicine societies and colleges around the world by focusing on behavioral change as a key part of the lifestyle medicine approach. His work has been published in both professional journals and books. When not working, Simon also loves talking about his other passions of travelling and cooking. He lives in Madrid, Spain.

Contact After receiving an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master’s degree from the University of North Florida, Susan enjoyed health care administration work for many years. In 2010, she decided to create a new career and found her love of coaching. She has numerous coaching certifications including NBC-HWC, International Coaching Federation-PCC, Wellcoaches Professional Health & Wellness Coach, Chronic Pain Coaching, etc., and is also a Certified Diabetes Prevention Program facilitator and ACE Certified personal trainer. Susan has served as a volunteer facilitator for The Medical College of Wisconsin Bioethics Program and as an adjunct instructor for several university health care programs. Currently she enjoys coaching with a large Health System, a private wellness company, as well as her Wellcoaches work as a Mentor Coaching & Practical Examiner. Special Wellcoaches projects have included research studies with The Ohio State University (Fibromyalgia Coaching), Ithaca College, and Columbia University/PCORI. An avid Green Bay Packers fan and volunteer literacy tutor, Susan loves to find joy and adventure with her husband Michael while they travel, hike, and kayak.