When I meet with a client for their first session, 9 times out of 10 one of their goals is a wellness coaching issue. Maybe it’s to “become more fit” or “to loose 15 pounds”, but it makes me realize that if someone wants to become a weight loss coach there arw more than enough clients to stay busy. What are the key ingredients to a successful wellness coaching practice, and what is the quickest way to become a weight loss coach?

Wellness Coaching Requires You to Discover the True Needs of Your Client

To become a weight loss coach, you need to find out what your clients really want. They may say that they want to wear a size 6 or weight 120 pounds. It may sound reasonable, and they may be convincing. But what they really want is to fulfill a need or get their needs met at a higher level. As in any other type of wellness coaching, the key is to find out what your clients really ‘need,’ as in certainty, variety, love & connection, or significance.

To Become a Weight Loss Coach You Must Find Out What Has Been Keeping Your Client From Meeting Their Goal

The next step to become a weight loss coach who goes beyond average wellness coaching results is to find out what is keeping your clients from moving toward their goals? More specifically, which needs are your clients afraid of loosing if they achieve their goal.  For example, does losing weight mean they lose love and connection because their peer group or family is overweight and they won’t fit in? Is food the only way they connect with, and nurture themselves? Help your clients clearly see what is keeping them from their goal.

Get to the Point to Provide More than the Average Wellness Coaching

The last key to become a weight loss coach, who does more than provide accountability for diet and exercise, is to let your clients know what the problem is. Go beyond average wellness coaching and get straight to the point. For example, “You’re trying to gain certainty through eating, because you know how you’ll feel if you overeat…which is comfortable and satisfied, yet that’s the only area in your life where you are comfortable and satisfied because you’re not fulfilled in these other areas of your life.”

Before you become a weight loss coach who can really transform your clients’ lives, you’ll need to get some leverage. How will you feel when you achieve your goals? How will you feel if you don’t? What will you miss out on? And what will you gain? Then, use that leverage to empower your clients to move forward using your wellness coaching skills.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach