Health Coaching Curriculum Plan

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, the VHCP Program Manager.

The next Cohort begins online, August 2024. 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.

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. Trainees will receive full agendas upon enrollment in the program.

This activity is eligible for nursing continuing professional development contact hours; however, the number of hours is yet to be determined. 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nursing Education and Professional Development, is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation.