KBW | So You Want To Be A Health Coach? (You Should!)

Almost a decade ago, I made the life-changing decision to go “back to school” to become a health coach. But I didn’t do it for the reasons you might think (especially if you know about my thriving practice today). I decided to become a health coach to fix my own health and the health of my children. 

I Became a Health Coach For ME First

In my early 30’s, I had had enough. Enough of being constantly sick. Enough of going in and out of the ER with mysterious symptoms. Enough of the dozens of Drs I saw telling me they didn’t know how to help me. And enough of watching my children begin to walk the same road I did for the past 20 years. Rashes, fevers, fatigue, eczema, asthma, and on and on. 

That was it for me. I had tried conventional medicine for decades, and after getting absolutely nowhere but worse, I began to search for alternatives. It was that search that led me to the world of integrative and holistic health care, where what you ate and how you slept actually mattered (crazy thought, right?!). And it was through that path that I found IIN - The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I stumbled upon IIN because of all of the holistic Drs I started learning from via podcasts, books, and videos online….taught at IIN. Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Frank Lipman, Dr. Deepok Chopra - all of my favorite Drs to learn from about holistic health were part of this new school I had found for health coaches, and I knew then and there that I wanted to become a health coach so I could take back my health. 

Why I Chose IIN

I took my time choosing a school. Although IIN drew me in, I still researched all the health coach schools I could possibly find, I interviewed admissions staff, and I agonized over my decision, but ultimately I made what I strongly believe was the right choice. IIN isn’t just A health coach school; it is THE health coach school. IIN is an established institution that hasn’t been around for 30 years by accident! IIN was founded in 1992 and is the oldest health coaching program there is. They literally paved the way for the entire profession, a profession that is now a booming industry (according to Forbes, the health coaching industry is valued at around $7 Billion -  yes, with a B - and growing) Forbes. IIN is dual-licensed by the New York State Education Department and the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, which means their curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure that the content is both up-to-date and accurate. 

IIN lives up to its name of Integrative Nutrition and truly focuses on INTEGRATIVE health. Students learn from over 95 experts in fields ranging from public health, nutrition, functional medicine, spirituality, alternative healing modalities, business, marketing, coaching, and more. At IIN, I learned that finding true health requires an integrative approach. That’s why slapping some steroid cream on my eczema never truly fixed it…it always came right back when the cream stopped. I needed to learn about digestion, gut health, nutrition, sleep, stress management, toxins, and so much more to begin to heal myself and my family, and I learned about it all at IIN.

Why I Became a Health Coach for OTHERS Next

So that’s exactly what I did. I began to heal myself and my family, and everyone around me noticed. I initially went to IIN for MYSELF, but friends and family started asking me for advice and help on *all things health and wellness*, and eventually, I realized not only was I passionate about holistic health…I was good at it. That’s when I decided to open my practice as a health coach and help others. I later went back to school yet again to earn my Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition and Human Performance from Logan University, and all the while, my practice has grown tremendously. I now have several patented courses and programs, such as Heal from Within and The KB Code, and I’ve even written a book on sports nutrition Court to Kitchen, along with the Registered Dietitian for the NBA Portland Trailblazers and a Naturopath Doctor who’s also certified in Sports Nutrition. 

Why IIN is Ahead of the Rest

I never would have been able to accomplish any of this without starting at IIN, and for that, I am eternally grateful to that amazing institution. Whether you just want to heal yourself or your family, or you’re looking to heal the world, IIN is a fantastic place to start. 

Don’t be fooled by some of the other health coach programs out there that have no path forward. IIN has formed strategic partnerships with coaching organizations and higher education institutions, which open the door for future opportunities. IIN is an approved school by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) which allows graduates to take a National Board exam in partnership with the National Board of Medical Examiners to become a “Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach.” This door is not open to graduates of some of the other programs out there! (Learn more here). 

At the time I went to IIN I had three little boys, in Pre-K, 1st grade, and 3rd grade, and my husband was still in the NBA and traveling ALL the time. I never would have been able to go back to school if IIN wasn’t incredibly flexible thanks to their state-of-the-art Learning Center platform and mobile app and asynchronous classes (aka you can watch the modules whenever it’s convenient for you!). As long as you complete the program within 12 months and satisfy your graduation requirements, you can take go at any pace that works for you. The coursework only takes an average of 5 hours a week, so it’s completely doable for anyone at any stage of life. 

Why the World NEEDS Health Coaches

The world needs health coaches desperately. It’s estimated that between 25 and 45 million people in the US alone suffer from IBS (AboutIBS.org), anxiety impacts an estimated 31% of people in the US (adaa.org), and an incredibly dismal study in 2015 concluded that only 4% of people worldwide had no health problems (webmd.com). The researchers concluded that people are getting “sicker and sicker.” Yet physicians have less and less time to spend with their patients, which makes health coaches an instrumental part of the overall landscape of health and wellness. Health coaches can take the time that’s needed with these patients to help them set goals and make meaningful and lasting changes (ClevelandClinic.com). 

And the future for health coaches is only getting brighter by the day. The American Medical Association recently approved CPT codes for health coaching, paving the way for health coaching services to be covered by insurance. 

What Can You Do As a Health Coach?

Upon graduating from IIN, the possibilities are literally endless. Personally? I started out with an in-person practice and switched to virtual using the HIPAA-compliant software Practice Better. I’ve since gone on to create online courses housed on my website on Kajabi and self-publish a book on amazon! 

Other IIN graduates have gone on to:

• Partner with doctors in their private practices
• Up level their existing career with their health coaching knowledge
• Become a Health Coach for a wellness center, spa, gym, or health food store
• Open their own wellness centers, spas, gyms, or health food stores
• Create their own products in the food, beauty, or supplement industries
• Create their own podcasts and TV shows
• Write books such as cookbooks, how-to books, and self-help books
• And more!

To learn even more about some of the different career opportunities you would have after attending IIN, head over to this article, “How to Find Online Health Coach Jobs,” and you’ll see that your opportunities are truly endless. 

So What Should You Do? 

So…you’ve been thinking about becoming a health coach…. maybe to improve your own health or your family, or maybe you are looking for a whole new career, or maybe you’re looking to pursue health coaching as a part-time passion. 

Should you do it? Only you can decide your next steps, but I can wholeheartedly say walking this path is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my entire life (second only to raising my 3 boys!). I can also wholeheartedly say I recommend The Institute for Integrative Nutrition 100% to anyone looking to take that next step into the amazing world of health and wellness. 

Ready to check out IIN’s phenomenal curriculum? Head here today —> IIN Curiculuum Guide.