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4 Life-Changing Skills You'll Learn In mbg's Health Coaching Program

Author:

Ximena Araya-Fischel, M.A

May 23, 2023

Food & Nutrition Writer

By Ximena Araya-Fischel, M.A

Food & Nutrition Writer

Ximena Araya-Fischel, M.A, is a journalist, IIN graduate integrative health coach, E-RYT 500 lead yoga teacher, and 500-Hour certified Pilates instructor.

Image by Guille Faingold / Stocksy

May 23, 2023

As global awareness turns toward the importance of preventing the root cause of disease, functional health experts are more important than ever. That's why I was thrilled to take mindbodygreen's Health Coaching Certification Program (HCC) earlier this year.

Training to become a health coach with mbg's program has been transformational for me. With its 360-degree approach to health, functional nutrition, and behavioral change, mbg's coaching curriculum has equipped me with the tools I need to advance my health training and offer a full spectrum of support to others along their unique wellness journey.

I've rounded up four essential coaching skills I learned from HCC, to give you a sense of what you'll take away from this world-class health coaching program.

Effective communication

Learning how to express and exchange information efficiently is essential for aspiring health coaches—and mbg's Health Coaching Certification helps hone these skills. From developing powerful nonverbal communication strategies to practicing active listening, being an effective communicator is pivotal for creating and maintaining a successful coach-client relationship.

When you tune in, listen, and pay attention to those you serve without judgment, you will pave the way for greater empathy and trust-based interactions that foster a positive coaching atmosphere.

"The way the HCC class is structured allows you to learn the basics of coaching (nonviolent communication, positive reinforcement, motivational interviewing, etc.) in a classroom setting and then practice coaching in front of professors who provide suggestions in real time," program graduate Katya Alvarez writes of her experience learning these skills. "This part of the program was so valuable, and it gave me the confidence that I could actually work with clients."

A person-centered approach to nutrition

Following an individualized, anti-biased approach to health and nutrition empowers patients and health coaches alike. mbg's one-of-a-kind curriculum emphasizes cultural humility and implicit bias within the wellness realm, which will help educate you on these multidimensional concepts. It will also equip you with the tools to better serve clients on an individual level by teaching you to seek the underlying causes of disease based on each person's unique biochemical, genetic, and lifestyle background.

Holistic thinking

Interconnectedness is a vital element of functional medicine. Seeing the body as an integrated, dynamic ecosystem through a science-backed lens enables you, the coach, to focus on improving function rather than treating symptoms. A well-informed coach will take a more profound, macro look at how external and internal factors contribute to an individual's behaviors and health.

"Going into this course, I thought I was going to learn how to coach people (by giving advice), but what I learned far exceeded my expectations. The skills and strategies that I learned will help me to support clients and empower them to make changes based on their own knowledge, intuition, and personal skill set," HCC graduate Deborah writes. "It's hard to summarize the magic of this course."

Continuous education & curiosity

Coming up with ideas, questions, strategies, and solutions that support individuals throughout their health journey is an essential coaching skill. And what better way to foster this ability but to remain curious, adaptable, and open-minded yourself!

Amid the infinite, fascinating universe of health education, insights, and research, mbg's coaching program harnesses and distills this precious wisdom in practical, actionable ways. It helps bolster your existing health and functional nutrition education, gives you a fantastic foundation of knowledge, and prepares you to continually assimilate cutting-edge nutrition findings in the future.

The takeaway

By enrolling in mindbodygreen's Health Coaching Certification program, you will learn not only the basics of functional medicine, but also how to effectively communicate with others, practice critical thinking, and kickstart a successful, rewarding career helping people. Read more about what makes this program so special here, and learn how to sign on for the next cohort here.