Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching

Do Health Coaches and Lab Testing go together? Or should coaches completely avoid discussions about labs? At FMCA, we think there is a viable middle ground. Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, unpacks the pros and cons of coaches working with labs and clarifies how to navigate the Lab Testing Revolution. Bonus Resource: As a Forbes Councils Member, Dr. Sandi recently published "The Lab Testing Revolution: How Health Coaches Can Serve Clients, Support Physicians And Create Better Health Outcomes" Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.

Join Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, and Ellen Rudolph, Founder + CEO at WellTheory and FMCA graduate, as they delve into supporting women with autoimmune diseases. Embracing whole-body care, education, and community is the support that enables them to become the best version of themselves. WellTheory is on a mission to reverse the autoimmune epidemic. Combining food as medicine, community care, and personalized insights from health data to build a membership experience that supports women in their autoimmune journey. Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.

FMCA graduate draws on health coaching as she specializes in strategic and organizational development.   Join Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, and Rebecca Thieneman, Vice President, Nutrition of Monj Health, in this inspiring conversation about the ever-expanding landscape of health coaching. FMCA recently partnered with Monj to offer Continuing Education Units to our alumni community. MonjCOOKS™ for Coaches is the perfect course to keep coaching credentials current while learning how to make healthy food taste delicious from Chopped Champion Chef Eliza Martin. Plus, get the scoop from our Head of Coaching on how to level up coaching skills beyond motivational interviewing, and help clients reach their food goals. Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.

How does "reimbursable value" drive the expansion of the health coaching industry?  Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, with Leigh-Ann Webster, the Executive Director of The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) give an inside view of the Category I CPT code with reimbursable value for the health and wellness coaching industry. The NBHWC recently applied for the Category I code and is set to present its case to the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Panel Review.  As a reimbursable service, the health and wellness coaching industry is projected to be widely recognized in healthcare, industries, employee health plans, unions, digital health companies, technology, school systems, government entities, all branches of the military, and entrepreneurial businesses.

There’s never been a better time to train as a health coach and enter this rewarding profession. As of 2022, there were approximately 23,000 health coaches in the United States. This figure will increase rapidly, as health coaching is poised for tremendous growth. Choosing where to train can be confusing, as the number of programs keeps growing. Currently, 114 schools earned approval from the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Many other programs offer certification but are not NBHWC-approved. Although most of these schools share some standard features, such as remote learning, their philosophies, type of training, and the overall quality of the educational experience vary widely. Join Dr. Sandi as she identifies the most important questions to ask when choosing the best program for you. "At the end of the day, YOU know which program feels right. Find a program that aligns with your values, one that resonates with your passions and goals." – Dr. Sandi

Can the impact of health coaching shift the worsening trend of physician burnout? Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, with Dr. Robyn Tiger, lead faculty and stress management subject matter expert for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and founder of StressFreeMD, join perspectives on the documented value of health coaching. The inhibitor in our current system is not seeing the human as the whole person. Re-imagining the basis of "what's the matter with you?" toward the more empowering "what matters to you?" is the catalyst. We're on the same team, how can we help each other? – Dr. Robyn Tiger Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.

Community is the force multiplier, and the health coach gets to launch that into the stratosphere. Join Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, and Cait Zogby, Keep Company Co-Founder and Head of Coach Training, as they approach the complexities of the caregiver's needs. Recognizing that work and care life are interconnected, providing a more sustainable path forward requires a focus on inclusivity, achievement, and belonging. Connect with Cait Zogby at cait@keep-company.com, and explore individualized and sustainable solutions. Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.

Research continues to support the feasibility and effectiveness of health coaching. The results are suggesting a greater level of immerging value.  Listen as Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, summarizes three studies (RCTs) with health coaching as the intervention addressing lifestyle factors: improving risk management and combatting chronic conditions. Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies. FMCA is providing this podcast as a public service, but it is neither medical advice nor a statement of FMCA policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by FMCA. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed during the podcast do not necessarily reflect the view of FMCA or any of its officials.

The acceptance and growth of the Health Coach industry is credited to the influx of research. The value is clear when you provide impact evidence supporting the effectiveness of coaching intervention. But, how do you know which study or journal is a trusted resource? Listen as Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, provides insight into evaluating reports and why it's significant. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are considered the gold standard because they deliver the highest level of evidence, due to their potential to limit bias and subjective influence. References 1. Effectiveness of Short-Term Health Coaching on Diabetes Control and Self-Management Efficacy: A Quasi-Experimental Trial https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00314/full 2. A personalized multi-interventional approach focusing on customized nutrition, progressive fitness, and lifestyle modification resulted in the reduction of HbA1c, fasting blood sugar and weight in type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36419152/ 3. Effectiveness of a Health Coaching Intervention for Patient-Family Dyads to Improve Outcomes Among Adults With Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36374502/ Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.

With Health Coaches, your patients feel respected and heard, versus being told what to do. Dr. Paula Kruppstadt and Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum emphasize the impact of lifestyle changes, especially nutrition, and sustainable treatments through the inclusion of Health Coaches. Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.