Health coaching clinic
What is Health and Welness Coaching?
Health and Wellness Coaching is typically conducted in the context of health promotion, disease prevention and/or chronic condition self-management. Health and Wellness Coaching is suitable for interdisciplinary teams of health professionals within chronic disease prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and other self-management programs as well as to support optimal health and wellness.
Health and Wellness Coaching can be used as a stand-alone health behavior change intervention, and there is also a growing demand for health organizations to use dedicated clinical Health and Wellness Coaches as part of their disease management programs.
Health and Wellness Coaching techniques enable efficient use of consultation time by focusing on what participants can actively do to improve their health. Health and Wellness Coaches support participants’ responsibility for their own health management. Consultations can be face-to-face, telephonic, via videoconferencing, and within a group setting.
In summary, Health and Wellness Coaches motivate participants toward readiness to change, assist them to make real-world, long-lasting behavioral changes, inclusive of their actions, thoughts, and emotions, and empower participants to achieve better health outcomes.
The Health Coaching Clinic provides Health and Wellness Coaching services for individuals throughout the lifespan. Our Health and Wellness Coaches provide a continuum of services including disease prevention, illness management, and improving health and wellness. Additionally, the Health Coaching Clinic prepares student learners to become healthcare leaders, conducts research, and connects community members to studies. Our programs and services advance 21st-century health care via the integration of high-quality, Evidence-Based Health and Wellness Coaching practice into community, clinical, and organizational settings.
One of the Health Coaching Clinic’s objectives is to train high-quality, nationally recognized Health and Wellness Coaches through the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Health Coaching program. Our students have the opportunity to be involved in evidence-based, quality health and wellness coaching-related research and work with individuals as a part of our community-engaged health coaching services all overseen by board-certified Health and Wellness Coaches and Clinical Instructors.
- Train high quality, nationally recognized health and wellness coaches
- Engage in evidence-based, high quality research related to health and wellness coaching
- Provide community-engaged health and wellness coaching services, training, and mentorship
As part of the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences (HBNS) in the College of Health Sciences, the Health Coaching Clinic is a three-pronged program that integrates Health and Wellness Coaching training, research, and practice. Housed on STAR campus, the Health Coaching Clinic is a state-of-the-art coaching facility including counseling rooms with built-in observation technology, biometric assessment capacity, online, telemedicine format capabilities, patient simulation, healthcare theatre, and group coaching space. As part of UD Health, our facility has ancillary billing, electronic medical record, and scheduling support. The Health Coaching Clinic incorporates HBNS's nationally recognized Graduate Health Coaching Certificate program.
HEALTH COACHING RESEARCH
The Health Coaching Clinic is involved in a number of ongoing research efforts to study the effectiveness and enhance the training of health coaches as well as work with board-certified (NBHWC) coaches who are alumni of our program. Please contact us at 302-831-3891 or email health-coaching@udel.edu for more information.
ANEW (Aligning Nutrition Exercise and Wellbeing):
August 2017-Ongoing
This study focuses on an integrated, team-based health coaching model’s impact on health outcomes. ANEW is a program aimed at helping women improve their health through nutrition, exercise, and wellbeing group coaching sessions. Sessions focus on increasing overall understanding of personal nutrition and exercise and supporting healthy lifestyle change through targeted goal setting. Certified Health Coaches, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist present education in a group format with ongoing coaching support throughout the 10-week program.
The Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching at the University of Delaware provides students and professionals with the knowledge and skills to facilitate positive behavior change to promote health and reduce chronic disease risk and experience. Program training serves to develop health coaching skills that will:
● Help people clarify their health goals and implement and sustain behaviors, lifestyles, and attitudes that are conducive to optimal health
● Guide people in their self-care and health-maintenance activities
● Assist people in reducing the negative impact made on their lives by chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes
This graduate certificate program allows students to take courses (7 credit hours) specializing in health coaching to enhance their academic and professional experience. Students may work towards the graduate certificate while pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. Students may also enroll in this graduate certificate program solely for the purpose of personal and professional development. All students must achieve a cumulative 3.0 (B) grade point average in each graduate certificate course in order to receive the graduate certificate.
Courses in the Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching program are offered on campus face to face in late afternoons and/or early evenings to accommodate working professionals and students in other programs. Working professionals may complete the program in 9 months over the course of two semesters, fall and spring. The practicum is only offered in the spring and will be one credit (40 hours).
Upon completion, graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching Certification as a Health & Wellness Coach.
Admission to the Health Coaching Certificate Program is determined by the satisfactory completion of the following:
● A health-related undergraduate degree from an accredited institute of higher education (e.g. behavioral health, nutrition, exercise science, nursing, or related discipline(s).
● Health professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees may choose to participate in this program. Individuals with a non-health-related undergraduate degree but with commensurate and demonstrable experience in behavioral health and/or health care are also eligible to apply.
● Successful completion of the University of Delaware Graduate College application, including official transcript(s), three letters of recommendation, and an application essay. Applications are accepted until July 1 for fall admission.
Acceptance into the program will be determined by a faculty committee comprised of those who teach in the program curriculum. Qualifications of each applicant are assessed on the basis of a record of success in undergraduate work and potential for success in graduate-level work or demonstrated success in graduate work. If academic deficiencies are identified applicants may be required to take prerequisite courses prior to formal admission. Review of applications and admissions are conducted on a rolling basis.
Current Health and Wellness Coaching Programming
We provide a variety of Health and Wellness Coaching options for individuals who are in need or desire health coaching services. We also partner and take referrals from other health clinics and medical professionals to help better serve patients and achieve higher quality health outcomes.
Clients bring to the coach information and recommendations from their treatment providers and work with the coach to decide which ones to enact and most importantly how to do so in a way they can gain and sustain the skills necessary to improve their overall health outcomes. Our health and wellness coaches and coaches in training also help connect the client with both internal and external resources and referrals appropriate to the needs of the client. This program option is available on a limited basis.
A program aimed at helping individuals improve their health through nutrition, exercise, and wellbeing group coaching sessions. These sessions increase overall understanding of personal nutrition and exercise and support healthy lifestyle change through targeted goal setting. Certified Health and Wellness Coaches, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologists present education in a group format with ongoing coaching support throughout the 10-week program.
The clinic offers Health Coaching programs focused on physical activity, nutrition, and wellbeing in an employee wellness environment. Employees may participate in both wellness programming as well as individual health coaching.
Health and Wellness Coaches and coaches in training perform a basic biometric screen including blood pressure and a lipid panel (non-fasting blood glucose and non-fasting cholesterol). Screening results are discussed with the client and the remainder of the hour-long session is focused on client-driven goal setting for improved overall health outcomes. Referrals to appropriate health professionals may be offered if needed.
You can contact our clinic by emailing us at: health-coaching@udel.edu
PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH THE PreventT2 @ UD PROGRAM
What is the PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Program?
PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is proven to help people with prediabetes prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. As part of a PreventT2 group, you will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress. Being part of a group provides support from other people who are facing similar challenges and trying to make the same changes you are. Together you can celebrate successes and find ways to overcome obstacles. PreventT2 groups meet for a year — weekly for the first 4 months, then once or twice a month for the second ½ of the year to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. During each session, your lifestyle coach will teach a lesson and lead a group discussion.
PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
You can contact our clinic by emailing us at: health-coaching@udel.edu or calling us at: 302-831-3891
Clinic / Hours
To learn more about how you can connect with a health coach, schedule a coaching session, or see our various service options please contact us by emailing: health-coaching@udel.edu or calling us at 302-831-3891
Affiliated Faculty
Affiliated Faculty engage in research, teaching and/or service with the Health Coaching Clinic and Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching Program.
Tara Leonard, MS, NBC-HWC
Clinical Director
Tara Leonard is the Clinic Director at UD Health’s Health Coaching Clinic. She is a practicing Health Coach and a Clinical Instructor in UD’s Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching Certificate program in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. Tara holds an MS in Health Promotion and is a board-certified Health and Wellness Coach through the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC). Within the Health Coaching Clinic, Tara works collaboratively with researchers, clinicians, and community partners to offer health and wellness coaching services to individuals seeking improved health outcomes, and trains student learners to become healthcare leaders.
Laura Lessard, PhD, MPH
Laura Lessard, PhD, MPH is Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. Her work focuses on the implementation and impact of policy interventions in child care settings, including health and wellbeing policy. She co-leads the Child Care Workforce WellBeing Initiative, which includes the Shining the Light on You program for family child care educators. Shining the Light on You uses Health and Wellness Coaching principles, practices and is co-facilitated by Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches.
Marc Lodyga, PhD
Dr. Lodyga is the Assistant Chair of Teaching and Undergraduate Studies and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. He earned his B.S and M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University and his Ph.D in Health Education from Southern Illinois University. He is also a Certified Health Education Specialist and holds a Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching. His research interests are health behavior theory, health coaching best practices, and multi-level program planning. He is especially interested in examining constructs of motivational and behavioral theories with special consideration to evidence-based interventions that decrease risky health behaviors.
Elizabeth M. Orsega-Smith, PhD
Dr. Orsega-Smith, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. He earned his B.S. In Exercise and Sports Science from the Pennsylvania State University, M.S. from East Stroudsburg University, and PhD in Biobehavioral Health from The Pennsylvania State University. Her program of research focuses on the psychosocial determinants of health,specifically in the older adult population. Additionally her research is grounded in community engagement working with partners such as local senior centers and cooperative extension..She has presented at a wide variety of national conferences including Society of Behavioral Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, and Gerontological Society of America.
Laurie Ruggiero
Laurie Ruggiero, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. She is a clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist. Her work focuses on developing/tailoring and evaluating health behavior change interventions designed to promote healthy lifestyles, especially in underserved populations. She has developed and tested multiple health behavior change interventions, incorporating motivational and behavior change theory and strategies focused on diverse areas and populations, such as diabetes self-care, healthy coping, diabetes prevention, weight loss, and smoking cessation.
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Tower at STAR: 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE 19713 | Health Sciences Complex: 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 chs-info@udel.edu Phone: 302-831-1060