Health coaching is an evidence-based approach that empowers individuals to make the best decisions for their health and well-being. With an emphasis on accountability, health coaching helps people take control of their lives and manage their behaviors in a way that supports their personal wellness goals.
While basic health coaching methods can have an impact, research shows that advanced methods may be more effective in the long term. This means coaches need to explore a wide range of techniques that may benefit their clients.
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling method that helps people improve their intrinsic motivation by relying heavily on OARS listening skills: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing. As noted by Psychology Today, motivational interviewing is a practical, short-term technique that can serve as an effective part of a client’s broader care plan. For more complex cases, it may need to be combined with additional therapeutic methods to achieve lasting results.
Motivational interviewing is a valuable tool for helping clients explore and strengthen their motivation to change, but it’s not always enough on its own. For instance, clients who are already motivated but struggling to make progress may require additional therapeutic approaches to address deeper barriers and sustain long-term results.
According to the Effectiveness of Health Coaching book, the key health coaching outcomes to target include:
In addition, health coaches should identify the personal goals of their clients, which helps them develop plans tailored to achieving those goals.
Motivational interviewing (MI) serves as the foundation of any health coaching strategy, requiring coaches to be well-versed in the leading MI practices.
MI is often used by counselors and health coaches to improve chronic disease self-management and promote lasting behavior change. It works to uncover the reasons why clients want to change, helping them strengthen confidence and set realistic goals that align with their personal values.
Motivational interviewing can help eliminate ambivalence, or mixed feelings/uncertainty, particularly among individuals who have been working tirelessly to meet personal goals but aren’t getting results. It can help them reframe their mindset and become more committed to changing behaviors to achieve the most desirable outcomes.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals overcome negative thoughts and move forward in a way that is meaningful and productive.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, these key ACT processes can be used in health coaching:
ACT practices align well with brief coaching, a solution-focused approach that emphasizes setting and achieving specific goals. For instance, a coach might use implementation intentions to help clients clarify what they want to accomplish and recognize how their choices impact progress. By integrating ACT’s core processes — such as values clarification, mindfulness, and committed action — health coaches can enhance brief coaching sessions and support clients in making meaningful, lasting changes.
To see lasting results, individuals working with a health coach need to understand their own personal values and the role that those values play in their daily lives. Values clarification is a process that allows a health coach to help an individual identify and understand their core beliefs.
Through self-reflection and intentional values clarification, health coaches can help their clients become more aware of what matters most in their own lives. With this information, they can help build the intrinsic motivation necessary to make crucial behavior changes.
Clarifying personal values lays the groundwork for lasting behavior change. Through values clarification, individuals can identify what truly matters to them and use those insights to build a deep, sustainable commitment to change — one they can maintain in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
Psychological resilience and adaptability are needed to enable behavior change and support long-term adherence. Health coaches must work with their clients to develop the skills for psychological flexibility.
Mindfulness and defusion drills are powerful tools in health coaching, helping individuals observe their thoughts and emotions without being controlled by them. For example, the urge surfing technique, a mindfulness approach highlighted by Positive Psychology, teaches clients to view cravings as passing waves rather than commands that must be obeyed. By practicing mindfulness and defusion, clients can reduce impulsive reactions, make more intentional choices, and strengthen their self-regulation skills.
Change is rarely comfortable, especially when it involves breaking long-standing habits or adopting new health behaviors. Health coaches can guide clients in recognizing and accepting discomfort as a natural part of growth, helping clients build both flexibility and resilience.
Behavior design and adherence strategies require health coaches to develop scientific, evidence-based solutions to meet the specific needs of their clients.
According to Psychology Today, changing small yet manageable habits can have a larger impact on health outcomes than more intrusive approaches. Environment shaping, such as removing distractions or temptations from the home, can promote behavior change adherence over time.
Health coaches need to collect and monitor data to develop evidence-based behavior design and adherence strategies for their clients. Data-driven insights help refine coaching approaches over time, ensuring each client’s plan remains personalized, effective, and responsive to their progress.
Health coaches can integrate MI and ACT seamlessly to create comprehensive, evidence-based coaching strategies for their clients, regardless of their individual goals or desired outcomes.
A session flow template provides a structured framework for health coaching, helping coaches plan each step of the process and determine the timing needed to reach specific goals and outcomes. This template can outline the sequence of activities within a session — from goal setting and progress review to skill building and reflection — ensuring that each meeting remains focused and productive.
Setbacks are inevitable, particularly when individuals are working toward behavior changes that improve their health. Whether an individual is having a hard time avoiding cravings or having difficulty giving up smoking, health coaches need to handle setbacks with grace and compassion. This helps keep their clients motivated to continue pushing toward their goals. In other words, coaches should focus more on progress than on perfection.
When working with specific populations, health coaches may have to take a more strategic approach to coaching and counseling. These are some special populations that health coaches often work with:
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, affect a large portion of the population. Chronic disease self-management is an integrative approach in which individuals work with healthcare providers and health coaches to create a collaborative care plan. Individuals are able to play an active role in their own treatment plan, which can help them feel more empowered and committed to the process.
Individuals who are suffering from mental health issues or substance use disorders may require advanced health coaching to address the complex nature of their health issues. Compassion-focused coaching is crucial for this population, and coaches should also work with healthcare providers and mental health professionals to protect the safety of their clients.
Health coaching is an evidence-based counseling approach, requiring coaches to document their clients' progress and monitor results.
The key to effective health coaching is to focus on the outcomes that matter most: improved physical health, improved mental well-being, and long-term behavior change. Health coaches should regularly assess progress toward these outcomes, using both quantitative data and client feedback to ensure that interventions remain relevant and effective.
When working with clients, health coaches should take concise, actionable notes that relate directly to the individual's progress. Documentation should capture observable behaviors, milestones, and next steps rather than personal interpretations or opinions.
Ethical standards anchor the health coaching profession, requiring coaches to provide compassionate and actionable services. Understanding ethical considerations can help health coaches deliver care that’s both safe and effective.
Health coaches play a specific role in collaborative care, and it's important that they focus solely on their tasks within the treatment process. While they may work with mental health professionals and healthcare providers, they should not provide or recommend specific healthcare treatment services.
Health coaches can collaborate with other members of the care team to update them on the client's progress and provide insight into the types of techniques and therapies that may best complement their lifestyle. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that everyone involved in the client’s care — such as physicians, dietitians, therapists, and nurses — works toward aligned goals.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) focuses on resolving ambivalence and strengthening motivation for change, while acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) goes a step further by helping clients take action even when faced with difficult thoughts and emotions. ACT emphasizes acceptance, cognitive defusion, and values-based commitment to promote lasting, values-driven behavior change.
Yes. Try a brief, structured format: a 3- to 5-minute values check, a 2- to 3-minute defusion drill, and a 2- to 3- minute committed-action plan that includes implementation intentions and a barrier strategy.
Reconnect them to their values by asking, “Why does this matter to you?” Then set one small, value-aligned action and practice coping with the first likely barrier. Emphasize tracking progress and effort over perfection.
Use defusion and urge surfing techniques — for example, guiding clients to consider, “I’m noticing the thought ‘I need this.’” Encourage a 90-second pause followed by a preplanned alternative action to redirect the impulse.
Incorporate self-efficacy scales, adherence streaks, and psychological flexibility questionnaires, along with client-defined outcomes such as improved energy, mood, or sleep quality. This provides a more holistic view of progress.
Refer to a licensed therapist if safety concerns arise — such as suicidal thoughts, signs of substance use disorder, or trauma symptoms that dominate sessions. When DSM-level issues exceed the coaching scope, pause coaching and make a warm, supportive referral.
On Monday, complete a brief values check and set one small, actionable goal. Midweek, follow up with a quick check-in and adjust for barriers. On Friday, review successes, acknowledge streaks, and plan the next week’s focus.
Health coaching can play a vital part in interdisciplinary care plans, empowering patients to take control of their own choices and work toward their personal health goals. In particular, advanced health coaching methods provide clients with personalized, evidence-based care that produces lasting results.
At Indiana Wesleyan University, the online Master of Science in Integrative Health degree program blends conventional medical practices with complementary therapies, equipping graduates with the skills required to provide whole-person care. The program explores the role of values-based coaching and familiarizes students with the advanced health coaching practices being widely used today.
Learn more about our degree programs, request more information about our Master's in Integrative Health, and apply today.
