CHEF Coaching Graduate Spotlight ~~ Theresa A. Stone, MD  shares both her experience implementing the training she received from the CHEF Coaching Program and patients success stories. May 2021.  Learn and Listen . “Thank you, Rani, Sara, Shirley, Jane, and the entire CHEF crew! The tools that I learned in the CHEF Coaching Program equipped me to bridge the gap between nutritional knowledge and patient self-care empowerment. I enjoy sharing whole food recipes and cooking tips with my patients. It is wonderful to watch many of my patients try new recipes, increase the number of home-cooked meals, change dietary patterns, and enjoy becoming full participants in the management of their healthcare. The absolutely delicious recipes, the all-encompassing library of culinary medicine research studies, and the helpful “starting your culinary medicine practice” how-to tips provided a wealth of information. The friendliness, depth of knowledge, and accessibility of the Chef Coaching staff are remarkable. Thank you for creating this brilliant combination of Culinary and Coaching skill building!” ~ Theresa A. Stone, Physician, Medstar Institute of Innovation     Nivi Jaswal, BA Psychology, MBA, NBC-HWC, MVLCE (Main Street Vegan Academy),  shares her experience applying skills learned in CHEF Coaching. Katie Van Dorn, Health and Wellness Coach, Chef   “I am so grateful to Dr. Rani Polak and the Harvard Institute of Lifestyle Medicine for developing this excellent culinary coaching program. The content of the program was very comprehensive, and the research literature shared to back up the methodology was well documented. I look forward to integrating these culinary coaching techniques into my wellness coaching work, as well as in my effort to provide cooking courses to patients and members of the public.” Kimberly Parks, Medical Director, Synergy Private Health and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School “The Clinicians CHEF program helped form the foundation for creating a culinary medicine program within my own practice. I learned the potential that culinary coaching has to help transform patients’ lives, and I was given the resources I needed to become established in the culinary medicine community. I would recommend this course to any provider who wants to improve their own skills or learn how to coach others.” Alyssa Dalos, Medical Educator, Owner Alabama Functional Herbalism  "Through the Certificate in Culinary Coaching program, I gained greater familiarity with the use of culinary language; gained access to copious “curated” resources; and, solidified my habit of batch cooking and meal prep that I am happy to say continues to make my life easier and more delicious!"

CHEF Coaching Articles Spice up Your Cooking to Cut Down on Salt  - Harvard Hart Letter  Culinary Medicine: A Recipe for Better Health  - US News & World Report  Your new Rx for patients health: a good home-cooked meal  - American Medical Association  Culinary Medicine: A Prescription for Healthier Eating - Scientific American Practice Culinary Medicine in Your Own Kitchen  - Heraldtribune Beans: tools to improve health  – Vascular Medicine  Chef coaching – Joslin Diabetic Center Blog CHEF Coaching – translating nutritional  science  into practical tools  - Alternative and Complementary Therapies The Art of Cooking for Health: Culinary Medicine  – American Society for Nutrition Is there a doctor in the kitchen ? Proto, Massachusetts General Hospital  Home Cooking – Good for Your Health  – Harvard Health Publishing  Culinary Medicine: A Collaboration Not Competition Between Physicians and Dietitians – Today’s Dietitian  Food For Thought  - National Culinary Review  CHEF Coaching Graduates in the News Culinary Medicine Program Debuts at MedStar Health , Fox5 Learn to Cook Healthy , Boston Daily Democrat  Living the Good Life: Lifestyle Changes for a Healthier You , Los Angeles Public Library

Patient Outcomes Explore selected studies on the impact of culinary coaching interventions across various patient populations and their potential to improve outcomes. Innovation in Diabetes Care: Improving Consumption of Healthy Food Through a “Chef Coaching” Program: A Case Report A case report describing the outcomes of the first culinary coaching program, delivered in 2014.  We concluded that a culinary coaching program could help people with diabetes improve their culinary skills, nutrition, and overall self-care and health.  Improving patients' home cooking - A case series of participation in a remote culinary coaching program This case series presents a positive outcome of the culinary coaching program on participants' home cooking. This program might be a viable response to the need for effective and scalable health-related culinary interventions. This publication also includes the definition of culinary coaching.  Improving Adherence to Mediterranean-Style Diet With a Community Culinary Coaching Program: Methodology Development and Process Evaluation This report examines the feasibility of a Community Culinary Coaching Program to improve residents' nutrition in communal settlements. The residents, central kitchens, preschools, and communal dining rooms were identified as areas for intervention. Evaluation included goal accomplishment assessed by food purchases by the central kitchens, and residents' feedback through focus groups.  Improving the quality of foods available in a rural kibbutz cafeteria in Israel to align with a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style diet through a community culinary coaching programme This report examines the impact of a community culinary coaching programme on cafeteria food alignment with a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style diet, and diners' consumption habits and satisfaction. Intervention cafeteria food improved significantly in all Mediterranean index categories except nuts, and in the proportion of ultra-processed and unprocessed or minimally processed foods categories of the NOVA classification.  The Impact of a Culinary Coaching Telemedicine Program on Home Cooking and Emotional Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic A study that found a positive impact of the culinary coaching telemedicine program on emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Culinary coaching via telemedicine may be an effective intervention for teaching home cooking skills and promoting self-care as a coping strategy during times of stress.  Expectations from a Home Cooking Program: Qualitative Analyses of Perceptions from Participants in "Action" and "Contemplation" Stages of Change, before Entering a Bi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial. The purpose of this report is to explore the expectations of participants in different stages of change from a culinary coaching program. While action group participants were looking to expand existing knowledge and techniques, contemplation group participants were focusing on acquiring culinary knowledge and skills. This can potentially contribute to developing effective, personalized nutrition interventions. Personalized Culinary Medicine: Qualitative Analyses of Perceptions from Participants in Action and Contemplation Stages of Change Through a One-Year Bi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial This paper assesses participants' perceptions of accomplishments, challenges, and needs up to 1 year after a culinary medicine program, according to their stage of change at entry. Perceptions were related to (1) acquire culinary and nutritional knowledge; (2) improve culinary and self-regulatory skills, (3); and (4) address the sustainability of health changes. This information can help reform effective personalized culinary medicine programs. Medical education outcomes Explore selected studies about the impact of culinary coaching medical education interventions, and learn about their potential to improve trainees' self-care and competencies to deliver culinary medicine interventions.  Innovation in medical education: a culinary coaching tele-nutrition training program This study describes the positive impact of the first Clinicians CHEF Coaching training (CHEF Coaching the basics together with Beyond the Basics) on health coaches’ confidence in delivering culinary coaching programs up to 6 months after the training, including high use of culinary coaching principles and tools in patient programs. This suggests that the culinary coaching model can be successfully expanded to health coaches, thus improving nutritional care. Cooking Online With a Chef: Health Professionals’ Evaluation of a Live Culinary Coaching Module This report presents and evaluates the live online “cooking with a chef” module that allows health care professionals to deliver cooking workshops from their own kitchens. The module was well received by self-selected health care professionals. Training Physician Assistant Students to Provide Evidence-Based, Holistic, Patient-Driven Care: a Novel Curriculum This paper describes and evaluates the implementation of a novel Whole Health/lifestyle medicine (WH-LM) education initiative that includes a culinary coaching module for physician assistant (PA) students embedded within a clinical rotation at the VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS). Students demonstrated increased knowledge of WH-LM principles and greater self-efficacy in applying them following training. Evaluation of a Whole Health-Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum for Physician Assistant Students: a Mixed Methods Analysis This paper extends previous quantitative findings from the Whole Health-Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum, including a culinary coaching module, and reveals positive qualitative changes in PA student language and approach to clinical vignettes.  Culinary Medicine publications The CHEF Coaching team also contributed several studies that advanced the field of culinary medicine. To learn more about our contribution here.

This is a sample timeline, assuming the student begins in a January cohort. Please note we launch cohorts every month, so the timeline would adjust accordingly.

Left to right, Simon Matthews, Susan Benigas, and Dean Ornish Felicitations to the 2025 ACLM Fellows ! A special hurrah to the Wellcoaches community members amongst them!: Qadira Ali, MD, MPH, DipABLM, FACLM , Deborah Chielli, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C, FACLM , Amy Comander, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, MSCP , Sarah-Ann Keyes, EdD, PA-C, DipACLM, FACLM , Simran Malhotra, MD, DipABLM, CHWC, FACLM , and Shanna Mello, EdD, MS, DipACLM, FACLM . Congratulations to UNT Health Fort Worth, Debbie Gillespie , & Misti Zablosky !  Wellcoaches is proud to be their partner and provide the coaching component for their Master of Science in Lifestyle Health Sciences & Coaching  degree program. At LM2025 they were awarded ACLM’s Special Recognition Award in the Graduate Category.  Presenting the award on behalf of the Awards Committee, Sami Bég said, “Drs. Zablosky and Gillespie showed remarkable vision in bringing lifestyle medicine into the academic setting with this first-of-its-kind program. Their leadership is playing a pivotal role in advancing lifestyle medicine as the future of healthcare and educating the next generation of professionals.” Margaret Moore and Joe Sage At his Candid Medical practice in Oregon, Wellcoach  Joe Sage  (Dr. Joe) provides individual coaching and lifestyle medicine.  He also uses his Wellcoach training and physician leadership training to help healthcare teams with workplace well-being.  At LM2025 he shared his wisdom regarding the latter in his LM2025 presentation, “Longevity and Legacy: How to Practice Medicine without Burnout.” Sage described how “work culture, work practices, and personal resilience interact as a framework for professional fulfillment.”   Conference attendees can access his presentation’s slides through the conference’s website.  ( Other Wellcoaches who have also made their presentation slides available include Ziya Altug & Wendy Farnen-Price, Melissa Reznar, Simon Matthews, Kara Tibbe, and Michelle Crawford. Plus, you can see the slides for Margaret’s “Coaching is Healthcare: Next steps for Medical Practices.”)   You’ll be able to learn more about Dr. Joe on an upcoming Wellcoaches Inside podcast episode! Rani Polak and Margaret Moore   Also at LM2025 were poster presentations by several Wellcoaches, and we have been given permission to share the posters with you.  Along with colleagues from Sheba Medical Center, our faculty person Rani Polak  conducted a study on “ Coaching for individuals with end stage lung disease ” – both coaching to help prepare for lung transplantation, and coaching to help improve outcomes afterwards. Their 24-month RCT compared individuals who participated in a Health Coaching Telemedicine Program with a control group who was simply given lifestyle-related reading material.     Wellcoach Sylvia K. Perry, DNP  and Elizabeth Abraham, RN  shared their poster presentation  on a study they conducted about the impacts of a lifestyle medicine program – PAVING the Path to Wellness - on healthcare workers’ well-being.  The study looked at the program’s impact on two cohorts, one of clinical research staff and one of advanced practice providers.  PAVING the Path  was originally developed by Wellcoach alum Beth Frates, MD  and has been supported by Amy Comander, MD , Michelle Tollefson, MD , and Valeria Tivnan .  Beth originally developed PAVING to use with stroke survivors, Amy adapted it to use with breast cancer survivors, and Sylvia and Elizabeth adapted it to use in the workplace.

Polypharmacy is defined , usually though not formally, as regular, concurrent use of five or more medications. Meeting this definition is relatively easy for older adults who, on average, take four daily medications.  15% of older adults are taking eight or more meds!  This is not a problem confined to those over 65. The young and middle-aged often take prescription medicines to treat depression, pain-remediation, risk factor mitigation, and disease control.  We can easily imagine a patient with hypertension and diabetes having a daily management regimen exceeding five prescriptions. Over-the-counter medications can add to the medicinal pile-up as they may also interact with prescribed meds. Polypharmacy is often necessary  and appropriate to treat multiple chronic diseases.  However, it is also possible for polypharmacy to be inappropriate and result from years of medical treatment without regular, careful reevaluation of patient status. The consequences of polypharmacy  are many and can be seen at the systemic, societal, and individual levels. Excessive medication costs and greater hospitalization burden the healthcare system, while patient debilitation can strain families, friends, and communities. A patient can suffer from a multitude of adverse effects of medicines, ranging from loss of appetite to decreased interest in usual activities and potentially mental confusion. There is also danger in poor adherence to essential medications when so many pills are to be remembered and juggled daily. Recognizing the adverse effects of polypharmacy  is not easy because many of the signs and symptoms can be attributed to other aspects of illness and disease. Notwithstanding that, some adverse effects of polypharmacy can be sleeplessness, decreased alertness, GI problems, depression, and greater incidents of falls.  In fact, taking four or more medications is known to be associated with a greater likelihood of falling.   Health and well-being coaches (HWC) are impactful  in helping people with multiple conditions improve their health. Coaches can also help patients take responsibility for adhering to their medication regimens.  Studies show that HWC can support a patient’s goals regarding medication adherence by facilitating coaching conversations that include discussion about a client’s medications.  The alert and caring HWC can encourage a patient to recognize the risks of polypharmacy and support the patient’s efforts to engage with their physicians on reducing these risks.  Coaches working with patients managing polypharmacy in clinical settings and integrated into patient care teams will need to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills to effectively support polypharmacy discussions with patients.  This can be accomplished on the job or in training programs consistent with the HWC scope of practice. Patient-driven behavior change, as supported by the HWC , can lead to health improvements. Changing physical activity and diet patterns, loss in body weight, and improved mental outlook (e.g., reduced anxiety) can all change the need for prescription medications.  The vigilant HWC recognizes this possibility and supports patients' understanding that changing their lifestyle behavior can also affect their medication needs  HWC's scope of practice  must be carefully considered when assisting a client who is potentially dealing with the adverse effects of polypharmacy.  The HWC should not undertake responsibility for a client’s compliance with their prescriptions.  Instead, the coach should enable patients to be self-accountable for managing their medications.  The coach can be familiar with their clients’ prescriptions but not responsible for tracking them.  The National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches and the law are clear: unless authorized by license (e.g., MD, NP, PA), a HWC can never prescribe, adjust, or recommend any changes to a client’s medications.  Directing a client to alter medication can be a life-threatening action while also putting the HWC in a legally dangerous situation. The HWC can help  clients identify resources to increase their medication literacy and understand each of the medications they are taking.  HWC can collaborate in the development of the client’s plan for following their medication regimen.  And importantly, the HWC can support the clients’ preparation for visits (list of all meds, symptoms) with the prescriber. HWC promotes self- efficacy by encouraging clients to voice concerns, ask questions, and have conversations about medications with healthcare providers.  Empowering clients to care for themselves is a central role of the HWC.  In summary , the HWC needs to operate within the HWC’s scope of practice while assisting clients who are negatively impacted by polypharmacy.  The HWC who is working with a patient with comorbidities needs to be effectively integrated within the patient’s health care team.  While a HWC has no role in medication prescription, if properly trained the HWC can effectively coach clients to understand potential adverse impacts of polypharmacy and to self-monitor themselves for such adverse effects. Through empowerment and referral to education and care coordination resources, the HWC can help clients in their medication optimization efforts.  The coach’s client-centered approach makes them a valuable ally in the healthcare team’s efforts to enhance patient well-being while mitigating the risks of polypharmacy.  On a broader scale, these efforts can help alleviate patient suffering, reduce healthcare utilization, and lower the overall costs associated with widespread polypharmacy in our healthcare system. Bibliography Dusetzina SB, Besaw RJ, Whitmore CC, et al. Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence and Desire for Medication Cost Information Among Adults Aged 65 Years and Older in the US in 2022.  JAMA Netw Open.  2023;6(5):e2314211. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14211 Halli-Tierney AD, Scarbrough C, Carroll D. Polypharmacy: Evaluating Risks and Deprescribing. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jul 1;100(1):32-38. PMID: 31259501. National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches.  Scope of Practice.  https://nbhwc.org/scope-of-practice/ Tsang JY, Sperrin M, Blakeman T, Payne RA, Ashcroft D. Defining, identifying and addressing problematic polypharmacy within multimorbidity in primary care: a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2024 May 24;14(5):e081698. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081698. Varghese D, Ishida C, Patel P, et al. Polypharmacy. [Updated 2024 Feb 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532953/ Whitman STK, Westervelt K, Weinand RL, Sibold J, Thompson TL, O'Farrell KD, Wolever RQ. Health and Wellness Coaching in Clinical Care: A Call to Action. J Integr Complement Med. 2025 Oct 30. doi: 10.1177/27683605251392361 Wolever, R.Q. and Dreusicke, M.H., 2016. Integrative health coaching: a behavior skills approach that improves HbA1c and pharmacy claims-derived medication adherence.  BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care ,  4 (1), p.e000201.

Curiosity, Concern , or Contribution? Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a distant or merely possible concept in the coaching world. It is here. Now. AI in Coaching: Here and Now Over the past few years, discussions about AI in coaching have broadened and deepened. The questions being asked about AI reflect the same level of concern about any new technology which might upend the status quo: Will it remove value from a practice built on empathy and human connection? Will it compromise the essence of coaching? Will it displace coaches altogether? Could private information be inadvertently (or even deliberately) exposed? Will bias and skew become “baked in” to AI algorithms? The research and the blogosphere conversations reflect both excitement and caution. Some see AI as “democratizing”—making coaching more accessible, affordable, and scalable. Others discuss the risks of overreliance, arguing that the nuances of human intuition, trust, and presence cannot be replicated by a machine. Regardless of the views we all might have, the truth is that the technology is here, and the coaching profession needs to decide how best to engage with it. What AI Does Well (and maybe not so well) Some recent systematic reviews and other empirical studies point to AI coaching tools being effective for specific well-defined tasks such as goal setting and attainment, behavioral change processes and supporting psychological well-being. In fact, some of this research suggests that AI matches the efficacy of human coaches in these areas 1 2 3 . Perhaps unsurprisingly, AI currently appears to fall short of the mark in areas of coaching engagement which depend on deep engagement, highly individualized attention and the formation of a strong coaching alliance 4 5 . I speak, teach and write extensively about the role of coaching alliance in behavioral change (and in a therapy framework, the complementing “therapeutic alliance”). Common Factors Theory 6  tells us that the factor which accounts for most of the beneficial variance in coaching and therapy outcomes is the client’s own resources, skills, abilities, beliefs, attitudes, values, supports, learnings, knowledge, motivations, networks, tools, role models and personal narratives. The next most influential factor is the coaching alliance. For me, it’s unsurprising that coaching can be so effective – coaching directly harnesses the most powerful factor in change! And… for AI to harness the power of common factors, it must be able to learn about the individual resources of the client at hand and not simply rely on a generic pool of skills and talents that individuals may have. (If you’d like to read more about common factors in coaching, the work of Erik de Haan is essential 7 8 9 10 ) Within this broader discourse, there is a promising application for AI which stands out (to me at least!): AI as a training aid for coaches. Simulation and Feedback for Coach Training For trainee and newly certified coaches, practice is essential. Opportunities to coach “real” clients can be scarce – trainees typically harness existing networks which often means that family, friend and acquaintances offer assistance. And that’s the challenge – the “client” in this instance is engaging not because of their own need for personal change but because of a desire to support their friend or family member. In my experience as a coaching educator, this often leads to a situation where the client is “going easy” on the coach by being very compliant, or they’re acting as a challenging client, in the mistaken belief that this will aid development. (This is a little like a driving instructor giving a novice student challenges like controlling a car on an oily road or in the midst of heavy, high-speed traffic). Peer coaching, role-plays, and a small number of volunteer clients are helpful, but they typically don’t provide enough volume or variety to build strong skills quickly. Unlike aviation and medicine, where simulations are standard for training, coaching has lacked an equivalent. Until now. Simulated coaching conversations with AI-generated “clients” are feasible and can offer a way to practice in a safe, low-risk environment. Coaches can rehearse, make mistakes, and try again—without worrying about harming a client relationship. Beyond role-play clients, AI can also be used to provide mentor like feedback. Frameworks already exist for assessing coaches against established competencies 11 12 , and these same frameworks can be used to teach AI models what they should be looking for in coaching performance.  The key benefits which I see in using AI to support coach training are that accessibility to practice is increased: coaches can practice anytime, anywhere, without needing to coordinate schedules; transcripts and recordings of simulated sessions can be deconstructed during supervision and/ or mentoring; and, there is a “failsafe” inherent in the process. It is impossible to precipitate distress or harm in another person using a simulation. Of course, the AI simulation practice itself is of little value without an opportunity for reflection and learning which can be strengthened through a supervisory or mentor relationship. In this way, as far as I can tell at the moment, human coaches will always need to be a part of the process. This mirrors the aviation environment in which simulations can be used for training, and aircraft can be flown using the Autopilot function, but always with the presence and attention of a human pilot. As more coaches test these tools, I believe attitudes will continue to shift. Beginning with the premise of AI not as a replacement for human clients or mentors, but as a supplement—the technology can be harnessed as a practice ground that strengthens the ability of coaches to show up fully in real conversations. At the same time, the limitations are clear. Emotional nuance, intuition, and the lived complexity of client stories are not easily simulated. Feedback from AI is structured and consistent and currently also lacks the deep resonance of human mentoring.  Human-led Coaching, with AI as Support The ultimate solution is likely one of integration. Coaches can use AI to gain more practice, accelerate learning, and receive structured feedback, while still engaging in real human interactions for the depth, empathy, and presence that define excellent coaching. Students can benefit from extra practice opportunities, and certified coaches can use AI mentors alongside human mentors to continue refining their skills and perspectives. The broader coaching community continues (and should continue) to debate the role of AI. In my view, the training and development pathway already looks practical and promising. By situating AI as a practice partner and a means of providing mentor like feedback, coaches at every level can extend their learning without compromising the human essence of their work. The future of coaching won’t be about coaches versus  AI—it will be about coaches with  AI. And those who learn to use these tools thoughtfully will find themselves better prepared, more confident, and ultimately more effective in serving their clients. PS…I’ve received ethics approval to conduct a study on the feasibility and usability of AI in learning coaching skills. If you’re currently enrolled in the Wellcoaches Core Coach Training program, you’ll be shortly receiving an invitation to participate in the research. Citations 1 Passmore, J., Olafsson, B., & Tee, D. (2025). A systematic literature review of artificial intelligence (AI) in coaching: insights for future research and product development. Journal of Work-Applied Management.   2 Terblanche, N., Molyn, J., De Haan, E., & Nilsson, V. (2022). Comparing artificial intelligence and human coaching goal attainment efficacy. PLoS ONE, 17. 3   Aggarwal, A., Tam, C., Wu, D., Li, X., & Qiao, S. (2023). Artificial Intelligence–Based Chatbots for Promoting Health Behavioral Changes: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25. 4 Plotkina, L., & Ramalu, S. (2024). Unearthing AI coaching chatbots capabilities for professional coaching: a systematic literature review. Journal of Management Development 5 Bachkirova, T., & Kemp, R. (2024). ‘AI coaching’: democratising coaching service or offering an ersatz?. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 18, 27 - 45. 6 Asay, T. P., & Lambert, M. J. (1999). The empirical case for the common factors in therapy: Quantitative findings. In M. A. Hubble, B. L. Duncan, & S. D. Miller (Eds.),  The heart and soul of change: What works in therapy  (pp. 23–55). American Psychological Association. 7 de Haan E, Duckworth A. The coaching relationship and other ‘common factors’ in executive coaching outcome. In: de Haan E, Sills C, eds. Coaching Relationships: Relational Coaching Field Book . Faringdon: Libri; 2012:185-196 8 de Haan E, Duckworth A, Birch D, Jones C. Executive coaching outcome research: the predictive value of common factors such as relationship, personality match and self-efficacy. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research . 2013;65(1):40-57. 9 de Haan E, Grant AM, Burger Y, Eriksson P-O. A large-scale study of executive and workplace coaching: the relative contributions of relationship, personality match, and self-efficacy. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research . 2016;68(3):189-207. 10 de Haan E, Gray DE, Bonneywell S. Executive coaching outcome research in a field setting: a near-randomized controlled trial study in a global healthcare corporation. Academy of Management Learning & Education . 2019;18(4):581-605. 11  https://coachingfederation.org/credentialing/coaching-competencies/icf-core-competencies 12 https://www.ukihca.com/images/2024-UKIHCA-Standards---COMPETENCIES---ALL.pdf

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) designates Wellcoaches as a provider of continuing education. Our courses and classes are for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) seeking to develop and enhance occupational skills and meet continuing education contact hour (CECH) requirements. Our courses are evidence-based and will encourage individuals, families, and communities to maximize and maintain healthier lifestyles. Learn more about our NCHEC approved courses and classes below. MCHES® & CHES® Continuing Education Approved by NCHEC Core Coach Training: Module 1 - 38.5 CECs Attend in our virtual classroom with real-time instruction Begin the journey to become a certified health coach, enhancing your impact as a health educator. Cost: $1785 virtual classroom Completion of Module 1 (including 100% attendance, completion of all lesson feedback surveys and a score of 80% or greater on quizzes) is required for course completion and to receive a Certificate of Attendance. ​ See all upcoming classes . Lesson topics include:​ ​​Differentiating the coach from the expert How to establish growth-promoting relationships Coaching presence Expressing compassion through empathy Building positive emotions for resilience Eliciting motivation Building self-efficacy Readiness to change Building powerful visions Crafting designs for behavior experiments Creating generative (ah-ha!) moments Appreciative goal review Coaching habits e-course “Collaborating with Wellcoaches School of Coaching has transformed our institutional approach to supporting physician well-being. The physicians who underwent training and certification are newly empowered to walk this journey toward meaning, purpose, and engagement with their colleagues, and with themselves. They are well prepared to work 1:1 with their colleagues and are also engaging in small and large group coaching which has been invaluable for improving system-level issues within the institution.” - Kerri Palamara McGrath, MD, Director of the Center for Physician Well-being at Massachusetts General Hospital Wellcoaches Member Classes - 1 CEC/hr (must be pre-approved) Attend in our virtual classroom with real-time instruction Cost: $30/month (that's only $7.50 per CE!) Our Wellcoaches Membership enables you to be well-informed and up-to-date on the latest coaching science, theory and practice so that you are continually upgrading your skills. Each class offers an opportunity to expand your tools and resources while being inspired by thought leaders. Our business development-focused classes prepare coaching entrepreneurs to build their business in alignment with their vision and values. In our Perspectives series we will expand your framework for what it means to be healthy, what it means to be human, and what it means to be a coach for all. This is the easiest and most cost effective way to earn the continuing education credits needed for your Wellcoaches and National Board recertifications! Our Wellcoaches Membership comes with several one-hour classes each month including: 1. Coaching demonstrations 2. Practical coaching skills 3. Business development and start-up 4. Town Hall discussions on hot topics 5. Access archive of more than 80 past member classes. Sample classes: How to Have a Good Day with Caroline Webb How to Uncover What You Are Really Selling with Debbie LaChusa Self-Compassion in Action with Ellen Albertson A "Certificate of Attendance" is provided following class attendance, completion of a feedback survey and a score of 80% or greater on a knowledge assessment. "This is a wonderful program with so many fabulous people. The membership could not have served me better" - Gail Garcia Lifestyle Medicine for Coaches - 21.5 CECs Self-paced, self-directed e-course Cost: $435 Lifestyle Medicine Coaches partner with clients seeking self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values, which promote health and wellness and, thereby, enhance well-being. They support clients to engage in the practices of lifestyle medicine, such as healthy diet, regular exercise, good sleep and stress management, in order to become healthier and happier. See overview of curriculum and world-renowned faculty . To earn a "Certificate of Attendance", students must view each of the lessons in full, complete the six knowledge assessments with 80% accuracy, and complete a course survey. "Establishing a standard for health coaches in lifestyle medicine will help ensure that crucial information is consistently of the highest caliber. Coaches reach an enormous number of people, and, with standardized training in lifestyle medicine, they'll have an enhanced ability to promote health and prevent disease. The public can be confident that certified coaches are practicing at a high standard and providing evidence-based guidance. Certified Health and Wellness Coaches who specialize in lifestyle medicine will become integral members of the lifestyle medicine practice team, contributing importantly to the treatment and even reversal of disease." - David Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, FACLM, Past President of the ACLM Behavior Change Agent - 5.5 CECs Self-paced, self-directed e-course Cost: $195 Improve relationships at work and at home by shifting just a few key behaviors. Based on the most important concepts in our full Health and Wellness Coach Training, this abbreviated course is designed to provide you with essential skills needed to have engaging and influential conversations personally and professionally. The course includes six videos (50-60 minutes each) which explore the cultivation of connection, autonomy, self-compassion, positivity, motivation and confidence. The videos include lecture from Wellcoaches Faculty member, Michael Scholtz , as well as student discussions and coaching demonstrations. A "Certificate of Attendance " is provided following course completion, feedback survey and a score of 80% or greater on a knowledge assessment. Wellcoaches Habits - 10 CECs Self-paced, self-directed e-course Cost: $175 The 10-hour habits course includes 8 collections of self-paced video lessons to explore common growth edges that hold us back as leaders and professionals, our signposts for new insights and wisdom. The Wellcoaches habits system is designed for any coach, team or organization that aspires to a culture of coaching where everyone is growing and thriving together. The course includes a Habits Library with several collections to choose from. Our collection includes: Behavior Change Communication Connection Leveraging Emotions Cultivating Capacities Burnout Prevention Transformational Leadership The Declipse Technique ™ (preview here) Each habit (70+ habits to choose from) comes with a 5-10 minute video, resources, reminders and tracker. A "Certificate of Attendance " is provided following course completion and feedback survey for all eight content collections. Professional Coach Training - 95 CECs Attend in our virtual classroom with real-time instruction and two on-site sessions Cost: $4100 Once you have completed our Core Coach Training & Certification program, start making plans to lift your coaching mastery to a galactic orbit with our nine-month advanced Professional Coach Training & Certification Program. This advanced program is specially designed for Certified Wellcoaches®, Nationally Board Certified Coaches or ICF-ACC/PCC/MCC Coaches only. This program is developing the future leaders of the health and wellness coaching industry. We built and continue to upgrade an innovative, science and neuroscience-based, robust coaching framework we call the "Onward & Upward Model" designed to enable Certified Wellcoaches® to help clients optimize mental and physical well-being. This is a hit-the-ball-out-of-the-park opportunity for Certified Wellcoaches®, Nationally Board Certified Coaches or ICF-ACC/PCC/MCC Coaches who want to be masterful coaches. The course includes: Two 2.5 day on-site sessions in January and September each year 32 ninety-minute virtual classes with the ability to practice new tools and skills in class, including 8 group coaching sessions. Six private mentor coaching sessions with feedback from coaching masters regarding the application of Wellcoaches protocols and International Coach Federation Competencies A reading list of over 20 carefully chosen books written by scientists and psychologists with a strong evidence basis A "Certificate of Attendance" is provided following class attendance, completion of a feedback surveys and all mentoring sessions. "The great thing about the PCT is not only the professional growth that you get from all of the tools and skills that you learn from all of the mentor coaching, and from all of the great Wellcoaches faculty, but the greatest value is the personal growth. The books that you read and the way that you process all of the new information is truly life-changing and transforming. It makes you a better professional but, more importantly, it makes you a better person." - Noah Gentner, PhD Module 2 - 10 CECs Attend in our virtual classroom with real-time instruction along with numerous e-course offerings. Cost: $215 Continue your journey of becoming a certified health coach. Module 2 was created to further deepen coaching skills through demonstration and practice opportunities. Participants will hone in on the specific topics: Organize Your Emotions, Organize Your Mind, Wellness Visions and Generative Moments A "Certificate of Attendance" is provided following class attendance, completion of 4 feedback surveys and a score of 80% or greater on all knowledge assessments. . NCHEC Continuing Education Requirements Once all requirements are complete, a Certificate of Attendance will be provided to the student. Wellcoaches will also report your name, and any hours you have earned to NCHEC. NCHEC receives reports 4 times per year in January, April, July & October. Have questions about a course? Your Coach Concierge, assigned by the first letter of your last name, is here to support you: Telephone: (866) 932-6224 (866 WE-COACH) Your Last name A - G : Julie Cummings [ext 712 ] Your Last name H - O : Joanna Thomas [ext 743] Your Last name P - Z : Angela Carter-Lanon [ext 742]

For students enrolled in cohorts beginning September 2025.

The professional lives of nurses demand the highest-ever levels of internal resources and well-being to meet the growing challenges faced by patients, as well as healthcare practices and organizations.   ​ As a Nurse Wellcoach ® , or health & well-being coach, you can become a new force for good - helping your patients, colleagues, and leaders tap into their deepest motivation, draw out their strengths, set their compass on their best selves, and shift their mindsets and behaviors to enable positive, lasting change.  ​ All the while, you will be transformed through your own self-coaching journey, rediscovering your deepest values and resources, and rising above the tide of burnout. ​ Why become a Nurse Wellcoach ® ? Improve your own well-being.  Learning about, and applying, key coaching concepts like self-compassion, growth-mindset, and wellness visioning will inevitably have a positive impact on your own life. Increase patient satisfaction and engagement.  Your patients will experience you as a more empathetic listener who delivers patient-centered care. Change the culture of your organization.  Gain valuable skills for communicating with colleagues and building trusting, and collaborative relationships. Enjoy your professional development and earn CEs. Module 1 of our Core Coach Training is approved for 38.25 CEs , and Module 2 for 10 CEs. Wellcoaches also supports nurse well-being through our affiliation with Nurses Feed their Young (NFTY). NFTY founder Teresa Sanderson created Thriving Nurse Network, a supportive and empowering community. If you are interested in joining it, learn more here . Curious about your own well-being? Wellcoaches has developed a validated inventory to support you in reflecting upon your own well-being in the areas of life, work, body, and mind. Take the Inventory or share it with a patient! Coach with confidence When you use our coaching tools, you can be assured that they work!  The Wellcoaches Protocol of health/well-being coaching is the most thoroughly tested coaching protocol in the healthcare and well-being domains, resulting in positive, statistically significant outcomes in all 22 peer-reviewed studies. 194 coaches, 30,984 patients/clients, 128,076 coaching sessions What you will learn The keys to improving patient well-being (and your own) How to differentiate the coach approach from the educational approach How to establish growth-promoting relationships Ways to display deep coaching presence Expressing compassion through empathy The value of building positive emotions for resilience Strategies for eliciting motivation The process for building self-efficacy The stages of readiness to change The protocol for building powerful visions Inquiries for crafting designs for behavior experiments What it takes to create generative (ah-ha!) moments Meet a Few of our Faculty and Team Members who are Nurses Kim Poyner, RN, PN, PCC, NBC-HWC 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 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. Darlene Trandel, PhD, RN/FNP, MSN, CPP, PCC, NBC-HWC With over 25 years of clinical practice, research and teaching background in the healthcare industry, Darlene is an experienced family nurse practitioner, professional coach, consultant, educator, and researcher. 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. 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 is a guest lecturer for the Science of Coaching courses at Harvard and a contributing team member for NBHWC. Beth Tansey Peller, RN, BSN, BS, NBC-HWC, PCC Beth is a Certified Professional Health and Wellness Coach, an ICF PCC, and National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She has served as a Wellcoaches Certification Examiner and Mentor Coach for many years, wrote Going from Beginner to Brilliant, A Practical Guide to Passing Your Practical, and contributed to our National Board Prep Exam and Lifestyle Medicine for Coaches modules. Beth is our Wellcoaches Student Enrollment Coach. She facilitated an affiliation with Nurses Feed Your Young and serves as a Coaching Expert for Thriving Nurse Network . Learn more about Beth at www.bewellwithbeth.com . Participating in the 4-day Wellcoaches training & certification process was a rewarding experience. The pace of the program was just what I needed as a busy mom with a demanding career in healthcare. The curriculum was well put together and the instructors were simply amazing. I loved that they offered real life experiences and presented the content in a manner that was easily understood. The self paced modules provided me with an opportunity to review them at my convenience, some of which I reviewed multiple times because the information was so intriguing. At the completion of the Wellcoaches training & certification program, I feel I have learned priceless skills that I can use in my everyday life as a nurse, leader, coach, and entrepreneur. I am thankful to have found such an amazing program that has provided me with a solid foundation to coach clients with confidence. Kai Lang DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CHWC Meet a Few of our Nurse Graduates Kathleen Kerstetter, Registered Nurse, MSN, NBC-HWC, DipACLM, Certified Wellcoach At  Beet Wellness , we offer a variety of  individual and group coaching options  to help you explore your path to wellness in a way that works best for you. Some thrive with one-on-one coaching, receiving personalized guidance and support. And for others, group coaching creates the perfect environment for motivation, connection, and shared learning. Either way, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Christine Buckley , DNP, Certified Wellcoach As a Professor of Nursing at  Endicott College, she focuses on integrating mindfulness and resiliency training into the formal education of nursing students as a tool to cultivate resiliency and mitigate burnout. She offers Mindful Wellbeing & Resiliency programs in academic and clinical settings and teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts. Her individual and group Mindfulness Based Health and Wellness Coaching fosters the creation of sustainable, personalized pathways for mindfulness and well-being. Elizabeth Peltz , RN, Certified Wellcoach , NBC-HWC Elizabeth lives in Wyoming and devotes one to two days per week to coaching. She has a strong interest in collaborating with primary care providers to support patients in making and sustaining lifestyle changes. Elizabeth also does pro bono coaching for  www.anisehealth.co , a startup created by fellow Wellcoaches graduate, Alice Zhang. Doretha Anthony Thomas , LPN, NBC-HWC, Certified Wellcoach Doretha is focused on caregivers to provide coaching to them as they navigate often challenging times. She works part-time as a nurse as she is building her coaching business.  Nancy Miller , BSN, RN, Certified Wellcoach After becoming a Certified Life Coach through Wellcoaches and AG Coaching, Nancy's dream of starting her own business became a reality when she took early retirement from being a School Nurse. Shawna Oliver , RN, Certified Wellcoach, NBC-HWC Shawna considers herself fortunate to be Wellcoaches certified and a member since 2012 . "The camaraderie from other members and the assistance from the leadership team is invaluable. The Wellcoaches curriculum positions members to be in an ideal place to sit for the National Board of Health and Wellness Coach Exam and its CEUs count towards that renewal. Above all, continuing educational classes provide opportunities that allow members to evolve as coaches and serve clients with the latest information on behavior change and to be informed on how to address current societal well-being issues."

Physicians are leaders in addressing the root causes of chronic diseases in primary care and establishing reimbursed Health and Well-being Coaching Services. Physicians who are trained as coaches are pioneers who will shape the future of healthcare. Why become a Physician Coach? Improve your own well-being. Learning about, and applying, key coaching concepts like self-compassion, growth-mindset, and wellness visioning will inevitably have a positive impact on your own life. Increase patient satisfaction and engagement. Your patients will experience you as a more empathetic listener who delivers patient-centered care. Change the culture of your organization. Gain valuable skills for communicating with colleagues and building trusting, collaborative relationships. Where are our Physician Coaches? Wellcoaches has trained and supported hundreds of physicians as coaches through Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins, Stanford University Hospital, Emory University Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital, and members of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine community. Curious about your own well-being? Wellcoaches has developed a validated inventory to support you in reflecting upon your own well-being in the areas of life, work, body, and mind. Take the Inventory or share it with a patient! Additional Resources on Physician Coaching The American Medical Association's Coaching in Medical Education  (contributions by Wellcoaches CEO Margaret Moore) Foundations in Lifestyle Medicine Board Review Course  (contributions by Wellcoaches Chief Coaching Officer Erika Jackson) Two Randomized Controlled studies of Wellcoaches coaching for physician burnout show robust efficacy Coaching for primary care physician well-being: A randomized trial and follow-up analysis .  Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2020 Physician Coaching by Professionally Trained Peers for Burnout and Well-Being: A Randomized Clinical Trial , JAMA Network Open, 2024 AAFP Lifestyle Medicine Course (coaching content developed by Chief Coaching Officer Erika Jackson and presented by Faculty Member Charles Inniss) Mayo Clinic Proceeding study defining physician coaching competencies (contributions by Wellcoaches CEO Margaret Moore "I am incredibly proud to shared that I am now a certified Health and Well-being Coach thanks to the fantastic  Wellcoaches  certification program. I started this journey in December 2023 and admittedly took my time to soak in everything I was learning. Margaret Moore and her team have created the gold standard for understanding personal motivation and the coaching relationship! I highly recommend this to all other family physicians who want to encourage their patients in lifestyle based preventative care." - Jill Haltigan, Family Physician

The Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine recently published “ Compendium of Health and Wellness Coaching: Addendum 2023 .”   This is the eagerly anticipated third installment of the Compendium, and it brings us a comprehensive look at the recently published health and well-being coaching (HWC) research literature. This article adds to the original compendium  publication and the 2019 Addendum . This collection of three review papers that we call the Compendium of HWC Literature covers research from 2000-2023, and provides an evidence-based anchor for the profession.  Wellcoaches supported the recent compendium effort as Margaret Moore (CEO) and Gary Sforzo (Research Advisor) were co-authors on the team publishing the paper.  Gary led the first two installments, which were supported by Wellcoaches and our vision to properly track the entirety of the HWC literature. Looking at the Compendium publication numbers (see the table) it becomes clear that HWC is a growing field with new research adding depth of knowledge while also expanding the HWC scope of practice. Many articles for using HWC intervention were added to the well-established diabetes (42 new papers) and obesity (46 new papers) categories.  Just as remarkable, 18 articles were added to the newly emerging categories of Respiratory Disease and Chronic Pain.  It was also impressive that the number of Compendium studies on patients with cancer more than doubled (from 10 to 27) after counting the 2023 Addendum articles.  In all, the 2023 Addendum provided 204 (186 + 18 in new categories) new HWC research papers to the Compendium.  It is also noteworthy that in more than 20 years of researching HWC, the rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT) was used in the design of more than half of these studies.  Table.  HWC Compendium Research Totals Across the Years                  Year 2017 2019 2023 Condition RCT/Total RCT/Total RCT/Total RCT/Total Cancer 7/9 1/1 6/17 14/27 Cholesterol 9/14 2/5 0/3 11/22 Diabetes 14/32 4/12 28/42 46/86 Heart Disease 7/12 6/7 11/12 24/31 Hypertension 7/14 2/7 7/14 16/35 Obesity 13/31 10/27 24/46 47/104 Wellness 15/38 6/13 12/21 33/72 Miscellaneous NA 5/9 20/31 25/40 Pain and Respiratory (new) NA NA 5/18 5/18                   Total 72/150 36/81 113/204 221/435 RCT = randomized controlled trial  As important as the sheer quantity of information provided in the 2023 Addendum, the quality was also excellent.  The summarized knowledge from the new research again strongly supports the benefits of HWC when working with patients managing diabetes, obesity, cancer, hypertension, or heart disease.  These benefits include patient-centered outcomes (e.g., self-efficacy, quality of life) and health biomarkers (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body weight).  Healthy habits, such as performing more physical activity and eating more plant-based foods, were also enhanced by HWC.  By and large, “ HWC was found to be an acceptable, feasible, and effective intervention for improving clinical, surrogate, self-care outcomes, and quality of life outcomes. ”  The 2023 Addendum to the HWC Compendium also identified newly established areas of HWC research. Emerging as important areas of study, working with patients having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and working with those living with chronic pain.  Generally, patients with COPD benefited from HWC intervention by showing better self-management, including medication adherence.  Improved quality of life and mental health (e.g., depression scores) were also consistently observed in these patients after a coaching intervention.  HWC also helped patients with chronic pain who showed improved functional ability, reduced pain severity, and quality of life improvements.   These initial results are promising, but the Compendium authors added that further research is needed to better define the role of HWC in treating these patients.  The authors of the 2023 Addendum dutifully noted the impact of the COVID pandemic on HWC research efforts during the period under study.  While being a general impediment, the pandemic did not shut down research efforts.  In fact, this challenging period of time revealed, and possibly forced, a shift toward greater use of technology and telehealth methods.  Initial findings showed promising results for using digital technologies and platforms in combination with HWC.  Generally, HWC effectiveness was maintained and not impaired while employing remote applications.  Moreover, there was evidence found for HWC assisting with stress management and resilience, while fighting job burn-out during the COVID times of heightened societal stressors.  It is wonderful to observe an ability for HWC interventions to be flexibly administered and adapting to crisis, while still effectively helping patients. The authors indicated that this third installment of the Compendium will be the last in the current form.  We should not expect to see another addendum published in the future.  HWC is seen as a maturing field with numerous subtopic reviews being published yearly.  These are expected to inform HWC professionals well enough with no further need for a compendium-like collection to be maintained.  There is also the hope that advanced, AI-driven search engines will be able to maintain a living database of HWC literature.  Such a database, if periodically updated and housed on a prominent HWC web site, would well inform, serve, and carry the profession into the future.  The Compendium of HWC Literature, in its three installments (2917, 2019, 2023), provides a strong research evidence base for the HWC field.  HWC coaches and researchers alike should feel comfortable using this powerful source of knowledge to inform their efforts.  Bringing such information to practice will strengthen and enhance the HWC profession.