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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.
- Bi-monthly practice calls with peer small groups. Several of these triad calls are faculty-led with live, 1:1 feedback.
- Experiential practice in a full series of health coaching sessions, as Client and Coach
- Coaching a standardized patient in a simulated virtual environment 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, September 2025. Apply online now.
Sample Curriculum Plan
Week | Module | |
Week 1 |
| |
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 Humility 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 | Course Exam | |
Week 34 | 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 nursing continuing professional development activity has been provided with 153.95 ANCC contact hours by the VUMC ANCC Provider Unit.
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 Commission on Accreditation.