Health & wellness coaches support clients in activating internal strengths and external resources to make sustainable and healthy lifestyle behavior changes. Health coaches use a client-centered approach wherein clients decide their goals, engage in self-discovery or active learning processes, and self-monitor behaviors to increase accountability, all within the context of an interpersonal relationship with a health coach. Whatever goal the client sets, the health coach ensures that they are supported until the desired outcome is achieved. National Board-certified coaches display an unconditional positive regard for their clients and have trained to the highest standards in the profession which means that they have the skills and knowledge to walk alongside you on your path to your healthiest self.

As a Health Coach, we do not diagnose, treat, prescribe, interpret medical results, write food plans, nor recommend supplements. Keeping within the scope of practice simply means we are our client’s accountability partner and educator to help collaborate and navigate through the plans of the professional.

Short answer = No See above... 🙂

Functional Medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, with a goal of optimal wellness. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to an individual’s illness, and Functional Medicine looks beyond the symptoms to identify why illness occurs in the first place. This approach empowers patients, doctors, and health coaches to work together to resolve the complex underlying causes of disease to restore health through diet and lifestyle change.

Short answer = Yes! The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) recognizes the critical importance of following best-practice with regards to client/patient privacy and data confidentiality when handling client/patient information and records. The NBHWC recognizes that local, state, and federal regulations, as well as policies pertinent to individual employment settings, may dictate additional guidance and/or policies and procedures. As a general rule, the NBHWC holds the position that health and wellness coaches should manage client/patient personal health information and records according to the policies and procedures as established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). More specifically, health and wellness coaches should familiarize themselves and comply with, “Title II: HIPAA Administrative Simplification.” Given the relative complexities and broad utilization of this legislation, it is recommended that coaches first familiarize themselves with “HIPAA for Individuals” and then “HIPAA for Professionals.” This information is provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is further recommended that health and wellness coaches pursue training and education germane to HIPAA compliance. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also provides access to a number of free training and education resources, and this information can be found on their website. The NBHWC further recognizes that the setting within which health and wellness coaches provide services may dictate additional compliance-based rules and regulations. For example, coaches providing services within an educational environment may be required to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The U.S. Department of Education provides specific information and additional links here. They also provide free sector-specific training videos. Regardless of the domain within which one practices health and wellness coaching (including those that are self-employed, practicing outside of health care, and/or in educational settings), it is the position of the NBHWC that all health and wellness coaches should educate themselves and comply with applicable best practices.

Here is a list of some podcasts and blogs on various topics to check out. Dr. Jockers - drjockers.com/tag/podcasts Fasting Dr. Minday Pelz - drmindypelz.com/resetter-podcast Hormones and Fasting for women Dr. Tyna Moore - drtyna.substack.com/podcast Strength / Metabolic Health for women Chris Wark, "Chris Beat Cancer" - www.chrisbeatcancer.com What every cancer patient needs to know... Dr. Will Cole - drwillcole.com/podcast Gut health Dr. Kelly Brogan - Holistic Psychiatrist "Reclamation Radio podcast" - ReclamationRadio Blog - www.kellybroganmd.com/blog Dr. Carrie Jones - Functional Medicine Health and Hormone Doctor "The Root Cause Medicine Podcast" - the-root-cause-medicine-podcast Blog - www.drcarriejones.com/blog Dr. Dan Purser - Root Cause Wellness "CHATS with Dr Purser" Podcast and Facebook Live events - danpursermd.com/podcasts Health Blog - danpursermd.com/blog Dr. Mark Hyman - Advocate for Functional Medicine, and dedicated to transforming our food and agriculture system through policy. #FoodFixCampaign "The Doctor's Farmacy" podcast - drhyman.com/blog/category/podcasts Dhru Purohit - Health and Wellness - Inner workings of the brain and body CEO of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, MA, specializing in treating chronic disease through personal wellness Podcast - dhrupurohit.com/category/podcast

Yummiest Biscotti recipe is in here! My family is addicted to them, no clue they are actually vegan, they could care less LOL "Veganomicon", by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hop Romero www.amazon.com/dp/156924264X In Chris Beat Cancer, Wark describes his healing journey, exposes the corruption and ineffectiveness of the medical and cancer industries, and shares the strategies that he and many others have used to heal cancer. "Chris Beat Cancer", by Chris Wark - Chris-Beat-Cancer-book "Beat Cancer Kitchen", by Chris and Micah Wark - Beat-Cancer-Kitchen-book Dr. Mark Hyman is here to set the record straight. In Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? -- his most comprehensive book yet -- he takes a close look at every food group and explains what we've gotten wrong, revealing which foods nurture our health and which pose a threat. From grains to legumes, meat to dairy, fats to artificial sweeteners, and beyond, Dr. Hyman debunks misconceptions and breaks down the fascinating science in his signature accessible style. "Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?", by Mark Hyman, MD - Food-what-should-i-eat-book More books by Dr Hyman - drhyman.com/about/books Dr. Will Cole's book about a (mostly) pland-based plan to burn fat, boost your energy, crush your cravings, and calm inflammation. "Keto*tarian", by Dr Will Cole - ketotarian-book Some pretty darn delicious recipes in here! "The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet", by Alicia Silverstone - the-kind-diet-book

Plan to Eat - www.plantoeat.com meal planning calendar, handy grocery list creator, recipe clipper/organizer (digital or print out) ... more to come!