Wellness Coaching

This experiential course introduces the theory and practice of wellness coaching. Students will demonstrate the skills and qualities of a wellness coach as they create alliances with clients who are aiming to achieve high-level wellness and to manifest their full potential in life. Key concepts include: core coaching values and beliefs, essential wellness coaching concepts, skills and processes.

Course Content

Core Coaching Values to the Coaching Process

• Views people as creative, resourceful and whole
• Values excellence, realizing maximum human potential
• Acts upon the principles of self-determination and self-efficacy

Essential Coaching Concepts

• Co-Active Coaching
• Active collaboration, alliance between coach and client
• Fulfillment, balance and process
• Integration, application and vision

Core Wellness Concepts, Principles and Models  to the Coaching Process

• Defining wellness and wellness coaching
• The tenants of wellness
• The Illness / Wellness continuum
• Dimensions of wellness
• Wellness models and related theories (Ardell’s Model,  Hetler’s Model, Travis’ Model)
• The Lifestyle Improvement Model

Wellness Coaching Skills and Qualities, as Distinct from Counseling

• Establishing a relationship based upon authenticity and connection
• Levels of listening (I, II, and III)
• Curiosity
• Powerful questions & metaphor use
• Challenging and  counter-offers
• Blurting, championing, bottom-lining
• Asking permission
• Designing a partnership, collaborating to achieve optimal potential
• Holding the client’s agenda and moving action forward
• Wellness mapping:  assessment, planning, support and evaluation

Coaching Specialties in Relationship to Various Human Service Practices

• Explore wellness coaching  niche areas (health, workplace wellness, positive psychology, entrepreneurship)
• Design a possible niche as a coach (health, workplace wellness, positive psychology, entrepreneurship)
• Discuss the application of a niche to ones field of human service practice (appropriateness, limitations and rationale).
• Analyze ethical issues as they relate to the application of a niche to ones field of human service practice.

Learning Activities

• Lecture/discussion
• Role play coaching and feedback
• Media

Means of Assessment

This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations.  Typical means of evaluation would include a combination of:

• Tests
• Written assignments
• Leadership presentation

This is a letter graded course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• apply core coaching values to the coaching process
• analyze essential coaching concepts
• apply core wellness principles to the coaching process
• demonstrate wellness coaching skills and qualities, as distinct from counseling
• explore coaching specialties in relationship to various human service practices.

Textbook Materials

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.