Scope of practice

Kindness Project: The Role of Health and Wellness Coaches

The role of Health and Wellness Coaches at the Kindness Project is twofold: to offer client-centered, evidence-based coaching and to facilitate the co-creation and implementation of a coaching plan in conjunction with the client and other Kindness Project health care providers.

Our coaches’ Primary role is to hold space for our clients, offering unconditional positive regard in a safe space that is empathetic, non-judgmental, and open-minded. The sessions are client-centered in order to encourage client autonomy, empowerment, and self-confidence. They are also evidence-based, using proven coaching skills and techniques to identify motivation, grow self-efficacy, and support long-term lifestyle behavior change. Our coaches’ will operate within the Scope of Practice established by the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), and as such will not “diagnose, interpret medical data, prescribe or de-prescribe, recommend supplements, provide nutrition consultation or create meal plans, provide exercise prescription or instruction, consult and advise, or provide psychological therapeutic interventions* or treatment.” (for a full copy of the NBHWC Scope of Practice, visit https://nbhwc.org/scope-of-practice/)

Our coaches’ Secondary role is to facilitate the co-creation of a coaching plan by assisting the clients to explore and identify self-determined health goals, connect the client with other Kindness Project practitioners in alignment with the client’s goals, map out a coaching agenda and maintenance plan to support the client in implementing any care plans suggested, and offer accountability and support throughout the process.