One of our goals at UHP is to equip our students with purpose-driven, vocational skills in an accelerated format. In our Integrative Health Coaching Course, students spend 16 days on campus learning and practicing the skills to successfully work with clients in accordance with the standards set by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Students graduate as a Certified UHP Integrative Health Coach, fully prepared to work as health and wellness coaches in various settings and eligible to take the national board exam.

What is an Integrative Health Coach? 

Integrative Health Coaches are behavior change experts who empower clients to take meaningful actions that are aligned with what really matters to them. Coaches are generalists trained to help with whatever the client brings to the table, such as lifestyle behaviors, stress management, relationships, life transitions, and career changes.

Market Demand

The market demand is growing for health coaching. LinkedIn identifies 53% hiring growth in the coming years and top wellness employers are projected to grow 7-18%. The global market is projected to grow from $14B to $25B+. Come be at the forefront of the movement to change the conversation from “what’s the matter with you” to “what matters to you” and equip yourself to help others achieve their best health and performance. Our graduates go on to start their own business as a health and wellness coach, integrate the skills learned into their role as a CPT, work in a corporate well-being program, or serve as a member of a healthcare team.

Course Content

The IHC course combines principles of motivational psychology and behavioral neuroscience to create long-lasting, sustainable change. The curriculum is composed of four main blocks of education covering Theory of Coaching, Practice of Coaching, Health and Wellness, and Ethics, encompassing a total of 85 hours. These areas are brought to life in an interactive setting that prioritizes a “learn by doing” approach, focusing on practical application of concepts needed to succeed as a health and wellness coach. Students build reps around UHP’s Think, Feel, and Lead pillars of learning, while also starting the day with physical training led by expert coaches to optimize the mind and body for learning.

Teaching formats include classroom instruction, experiential activities, practice coaching, master demos, and mentoring with expert board-certified coaches. Each student will practice their skills over the course of seven sessions with live post-session feedback. One of these sessions will be graded as the Practical Skills Assessment that results in a pass/fail grade and is based upon the NBHWC practical skills guidelines.

The course is taught by faculty who have earned the NBC-HWC designation and at least 200 hours of coaching practice or a master’s in the health and wellness field. The experience includes everything students love about UHP – daily physical training, Space, the 500-acre campus, quality curriculum, world-class coaches, and a supportive community of fellow Veterans.

Coaching Skills Covered

The course curriculum includes but is not limited to the following topics:

1. How to set the stage – Coaching presence, how to explore visioning with a client, distilling client values and strengths;

2. Communication skills – Mindful communication, how to leverage simple and complex reflections, powerful questions, acknowledging and affirming;

3. Advanced goal-setting strategies – how to make a goal truly SMART, setting effective action steps, how to address barriers, using ask-tell-ask to offer information, the importance of specific tracking and accountability;

4. How to work with ambivalence in a client – exploring perspectives, decisional balance, sustain vs. change talk, stages of change;

5. The curriculum also covers behavioral coaching theories, session structures, coaching ethics, NBHWC exam preparation, and how to apply IHC in the real world.

Students apply these skills in their personal life as well, reporting that they learned:

• Active listening, non-judgment, empathy
• How to be a better friend
• Finding out what is important to me, aligning my values and actions
• Understanding the impact I can have in the world
• The ability to Pause, Notice, and Choose
• How to communicate more effectively and get out of the way
• The ability to be a better listener and communicator
• How to hold space for someone

Application Process

1. Complete application
2. Schedule 20-minute zoom interview
3. Respond to acceptance email
4. Book travel and provide logistics information
5. Complete 2-hour pre-work

Course Requirements

1. 100% course attendance
2. Pass the Practical Skills Assessment

Board Requirements for Exam

1. Complete 50 IHC sessions in the community (each 20 min+)
2. Apply for and take the National Board Exam, more details at  https://nbhwc. org/