What best defines a wellness coach?

• A. Doctor-patient medical model
• B. Fitness instructor
• C. Collaboration in a client-centered approach to facilitate achievement of goals for healthy living
• D. Counselor diagnosing disorders

Answer: (C)

Wellness coaching is best defined as a collaborative, client-centered process that helps someone set and achieve goals for healthy living. The coach partners with the client, honoring the client’s values, readiness, and autonomy, to create actionable steps and track progress toward well-being. This approach emphasizes behavior change, accountability, and ongoing support, rather than prescribing treatments or diagnosing conditions.

This fits because the essence of wellness coaching is guiding and empowering the client to make sustainable lifestyle changes through a supportive partnership. It’s not about diagnosing or treating medical conditions like a doctor-patient model, nor is it limited to exercise instruction like a fitness trainer, nor about clinical mental health assessment like a counselor diagnosing disorders.