The Vanderbilt Health Coaching Program requires a significant amount of time, course work, and skills practice. The program is divided into two phases.
- Phase I: An intensive 8-month educational program with over 25 online learning modules, peer discussion, and facilitated practice. In addition, there are:
- Two Weekend Intensives that help deepen your knowledge and allow for real-life practice under the direction of our expert faculty.
- The online and Intensive learnings are reinforced with bi-weekly practice calls with peer small groups. Several of these triad calls are faculty-led with live, 1:1 feedback.
- Coaching a standardized patient in a simulation lab and receiving personalized feedback.
- Complete a personal change project. You will share how the Health Coaching Process transformed your own life during the course!
- Phase II, or Practicum: Each participant must complete at least 70 documented practicum coaching sessions and pass a practical skills exam for full completion of the program.
- Trainees are allowed one year from the end of Phase I to complete the practicum coaching and pass the practical exam. However, most students complete Practicum in less time.
- During the first 6-8 months of Practicum, participants will participate in at least five mentorship sessions and provide at least two recordings of their coaching for faculty and peer feedback.
- More information regarding practicum coaching will be available once the course starts.
Have more questions? Reach out to Kelli, our VHCP Program Manager.
The next Cohort begins online, Spring 2022. Click the Application link on the sidebar to apply now!
Sample Curriculum Plan
Week |
Module |
Week 1 | Module 1: Overview of Health Coaching |
Week 2 |
Module 2: Patient-Centered Care- The relationship |
Week 3 |
Module 3: Foundational Health Coaching Skills: Active Listening, Reflecting, and Summarizing |
Week 4 |
Module 4: Foundational Health Coaching Skills: Open-Ended Questions, Acknowledging and more |
Week 5 |
Module 5: Motivation |
Week 6 |
Module 6: Overview of the Health Coaching Process |
Week 7 |
Module 7: Health Coaching Application: Individual Health Coaching Sessions: Introductory Session |
Week 8 |
Virtual Intensive Preparation |
Intensive Day 1: Friday |
|
Intensive Day 2: Saturday |
|
Intensive Day 3: Sunday |
|
Week 9 |
BREAK |
Week 10 |
Module 8: Health Coaching Application: Individual Health Coaching Sessions: Session #2 |
Week 11 |
Module 9: Health Coaching Application: Individual Health Coaching Sessions: Follow-up Sessions #3 and beyond |
Week 12 |
Module 10: Behavior Change Theory |
Week 13 |
Module 11: Advanced Coaching Skills: Successful Coaching in the Clinical Setting: Precontemplation and Contemplation |
Week 14 |
BREAK |
Week 15 |
Module 12: Positive Psychology: Gratitude |
Week 16 |
Module 13: Behavior Change: Introduction to Neuroplasticity |
Week 17 |
Module 14: Behavior Change: Motivational Interviewing |
Week 18 |
Module 15: Advanced Coaching Skills: Shifting Perspective, Metaphor, and Powerful Questions |
Week 19 |
BREAK |
Week 20 |
Module 16: Positive Psychology: Strengths |
Week 21 |
Module 17: Cultural and Structural Competence in Health Coaching |
Week 22 |
Module 18: Advanced Coaching Skills: Brainstorming, Bottom-lining, Interrupt/redirect, and Naming |
Week 23 |
BREAK |
Week 24 |
Module 19: Health Coaching and Literacy |
Week 25 |
Module 20: Self-Care |
Week 26 |
Module 21: Health Coaching for Nutrition |
Week 27 |
Module 22: Health Coaching for Physical Activity |
Week 28 |
BREAK |
Week 29 |
Intensive Weekend Preparation |
Intensive Day 1: Friday |
|
Intensive Day 2: Saturday |
|
Intensive Day 3: Sunday |
|
Week 30 |
Break |
Week 31 |
Module 23: Regulation, Scope of Practice, Referrals, & Ethics |
Week 32 |
Module 24: Advanced Coaching Skills: Energetic Intentions and Associated Tools |
Week 33 |
Module 25: Research |
Week 34 |
Course Exam |
Week 35 |
Course completion (Modules, assignments, exam, projects, etc.) |
Please email: Healthcoaching@vumc.org for more information.
*Course faculty TBA
In order to keep the course up to date and provide the best possible learning experience, topics and dates are subject to change. The above is merely a sample course schedule.
The target audience for this CME activity are Individuals with a health care license (psychologists, physicians, nurses, etc).
After participating in this CME activity, participants should be able to describe and discuss:
- Techniques for identifying a patient’s readiness for change based on the stages of change model
- Approaches for using the eight key health coaching skills in the clinical encounter
- Strategies for incorporating health coaching into a busy clinical practice
This activity is listed as an introductory instructional level.
Sponsored by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Tennessee Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval valid through May 28, 2022.
Participants who successfully complete the entire activity will earn 86.0 contact hours.
No partial credit may be awarded.
All course directors, planners, and speakers indicated no financial relationships to disclose.
This educational activity received no commercial support.
Credit for physicians (CME) and psychologists (CE) will be awarded for live sessions only.
CME credit
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 48.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
After participating in this CME activity, participants should be able to describe and discuss:
- Techniques for identifying a patient’s readiness for change based on the stages of change model
- Approaches for using the eight key health coaching skills in the clinical encounter
- Strategies for incorporating health coaching into a busy clinical practice
CE Credit
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Vanderbilt University Medical Center maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Vanderbilt University Medical Center designates this educational activity for 48.0 CE credits toward the continuing education of psychologists.
No partial credit may be awarded.
After participating in this CE activity, participants should be able to:
- Define Health Coaching and its use in the clinical setting or a stand-alone practice
- Describe the basics of behavior change
- Describe Cultural and Structural Competency in Coaching
- Demonstrate the eight key health coaching skills
- Identify patient stages of change and utilize learned skills based on stage of change
- Demonstrate an ability to facilitate: a patient-centered approach, a self-discovery process, exchange of information, design of goals, actions, and patient self-monitoring
Instructional Level: Introductory
It is the policy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center not to discriminate against any person on the basis of disabilities. If you feel you need services or auxiliary aids mentioned in the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to fully participate in this continuing education activity, please speak with someone at the registration desk.
Activity Director/Speaker: Ruth Wolever, PhD, NBC-HWC
Planners/Speakers: Colin Armstrong, PhD; Linda Manning, PhD; Blaire Morriss, APRN. NBC-HWC
Course Faculty indicated they have no financial relationships related to the content of this activity to disclose with the exception of the following:
- Ruth Wolever, PhD, NBC-HWC – eMindful Chief Scientist – Consultant and Shareholder
- Ruth Wolever, PhD, NBC-HWC– Nokia – Consultant
- Ruth Wolever, PhD, NBC-HWC– Veritas Collaborative – Shareholder
Vanderbilt CME has determined that there is no conflict of interest.
This educational activity received no commercial support