This program has been moved to Nursing
Coaching is a one-on-one conversation between a coach and a client that guides and motivates the client to make behavioral health & wellness changes. A coach acts as a champion, personal resource, and accountability partner, thus inspiring the client to achieve more than they could alone. Coaches strategize with clients in order to discover the most productive and sustainable ways to enhance the client’s overall wellness in the areas of fitness, nutrition, stress, and time management.
— Kyle Versalle, past UofL Get Heatlhy Now Wellness Coaching Intern
Health and Wellness Coaches partner with clients seeking self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values, which promote health and wellness and, thereby, enhance well-being. In the course of their work, health and wellness coaches display unconditional positive regard for their clients and a belief in their capacity for change, and honoring that each client is an expert on his or her life, while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non-judgmental. [WWW.NCCHWC.org/organizations/]
Wellness Coaching is an emerging profession that has roots in applied behavioral science and adult development, and more recently has embraced positive psychology. Behavioral scientists have shown that one-on-one coaching is among the most effective approaches to helping people make and sustain improvements in their lives.
The relationship between a coach and client offers a profound level of support, guidance, and encouragement to making changes, without being judgmental. A coach enables change by focusing on a client's stated needs, values, vision, and goals and helping to bring out his/her personal best. (Per the International Coaching Federation (ICF) website).
Download the Wellness Coaching flyer [PDF]
Expert faculty from these five academic disciplines at UofL collaborated to create the Wellness Coaching Minor:
The culminating experience of the Wellness Coaching Internship pulls together all of the knowledge of the minor and gives the intern the opportunity to practice wellness coaching with real-life clients and reflect on this experience.
Paula Kommor, MEd, CPA, Interdisciplinary Wellness Coaching Minor Chair
We are interdisciplinary - doing together what none of us can do separately.
UofL's Interdisciplinary Wellness Coaching Minor was featured in the October 2011 edition of the Wellcoaches Newsletter. View the excerpt. [JPG]
"I had the great privilege of interacting with several undergraduate wellness coaching students at a Wellcoaches workshop held at the University of Louisville in 2011; I was thrilled with the engagement and caliber of these students! I am impressed with not only the Interdisciplinary Wellness Coaching Minor curriculum, but also with the expert team of interdisciplinary faculty (Health & Sport Science, Social Work, Psychology, Human Resource Development, and Public Health Advocacy) involved with the Wellness Coaching Minor, and the corporate partnerships U of L is creating to increase job placement for its wellness coaching graduates.
"Students are engaged in improving their critical thinking skills and translating science into coaching practices. Embracing the application of science in helping coaching clients improve their mindsets is a unique aspect of the program, one that strongly links the university's academic mission with the Wellcoaches mission and contribution. The University of Louisville is at the cutting edge in teaching wellness coaching at the undergraduate level."
Margaret Moore
Founder & CEO, Wellcoaches Corporation
Co-Director, Institute of Coaching, McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School
The Wellness Coaching Minor requires 18 credit hours (12 core and 6 elective). Course Curriculum [PDF]
For details about program curriculum, visit the Undergraduate Catalog.
Entrance Requirements -- Declared major in HSS, PSYCH, Social Work, or Nursing.
2.50 GPA is required in the Wellness Minor. Only one "D" will be accepted in HSS Courses.
No double counting courses for Major and Minor for HSS Majors.
Paula Kommor, MEd
Get Healthy Now Wellness Center at Humana Gym
601 Presidents Blvd.
Room 205
502-819-8005
Past wellness coaching interns hired by:
Wellness coaching skills give students a marketable edge when entering the work force--leading to a multitude of career opportunities.
A few of the types of organizations that are now hiring wellness coaches are: corporations, physician's offices, health management companies, wellness centers, and fitness facilities.
Wellness coaching students will be capable of working in the following capacities:
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Get started today!
![View the excerpt. [JPG]](/education/degrees/files/m-wc-wellcoaches-feature.jpg){kind=link}