Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching
Designed for Licensed or Certified Health-Care Professionals
2010 Program Underway — Now Enrolling for Spring 2011
Program Highlights
Research shows that health education alone is not enough to inspire people to change behaviors and make health-positive choices. As a result, health coaching — an evidence-based catalyst that can effect change — is emerging as a key competency for health-care practitioners.
Be at the forefront of this emerging field with a Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching. Enhance your current skills by learning how to empower your patients and clients to adopt attitudes and lifestyle changes most conducive to optimal health and healing.
Tai Sophia’s Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching is:
- Exclusively designed for licensed and certified health-care professionals
- Taught by nationally recognized leaders and innovators in the fields of health and wellness,
transformative leadership, and coaching
- Presented in an executive weekend format to accommodate working professionals
- 15 graduate-level academic credits delivered over 11 months (one weekend a month)
- Approved for continuing education units and contact hours toward licensure requirements
for select professions
- Eligible for federal financial aid
- Easily paired with a Graduate Certificate in Medical Herbalism
Course Descriptions
ISci 632: Foundations of Health and Wellness
This course provides a context for a wide variety of studies relating to perspectives on health and wellness by introducing basic health philosophies, history of the current healthcare system, proposed healthcare reform legislation, balance/imbalance in health, and the investigation of how these issues apply to an informed perspective on our current healthcare system. Concepts of wellness and sickness are discussed, including the role that language plays in supporting health and wellness. The foundations of health and wellness are further examined focusing on the current knowledge of the physiologic basis for wellness practices.
COA 601: Becoming a Healing Presence
This course focuses on exploring the implications that the rhythms of nature, life skills and language have on health and wellness. By observing their own ways of being, doing and speaking, students begin to embody the practices that guide them in becoming a powerful healing presence and a catalyst for change in others.
COA 610: Fundamentals of Health and Wellness Coaching
Students are introduced to theories and trends in health coaching. Contemporary coaching models are introduced and students begin to build a repertoire of coaching skills. This experiential course develops observation skills, active listening, the art of evocative questioning. and the ability to motivate change.
COA 611: Principles and Practices of Health and Wellness Coaching
This class delves deeper into the spirit and practice of health and wellness coaching using the theory and skills of Motivational Interviewing. Students receive practical skills for structuring a coaching session, planning, goal setting with clients, and insuring client accountability.
COA 620: Applied Healing Strategies
This class introduces students to modalities of complementary therapies, such as, acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, and energy medicine. Students will design a practicum to apply coaching principles and skills to their own specific field of practice. Students receive mentoring, coaching and feedback from instructor and peers as they develop the skills of mind and heart necessary to being effective health coaches.
Faculty (2010 Program Faculty. Click on name to view bio.)
Program Advisor and Core Faculty
Stephen T. Wegener, Ph.D., ABPP (Program Advisor)
Tom Balles, M.Ac., L.Ac.(UK), Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)
Robert M. Duggan, M.A., M.Ac.(UK), Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)
Katherine E. Johnson, Ed.D., MAT
Cheryl Walker M.L., MCC
Featured Program Faculty and Guest Lecturers
Karl Ardo, M.F.A.
James S. Gordon, M.D., FACP
Arlene Dalcin, R.D., L.D.
Marta Hanson, Ph.D.
Richard Silver, M.D., M.P.H.
Class Dates
ISci 632: Foundations of Health and Wellness
April 8-10, 2011
April 15-17, 2011
COA 601: Becoming a Healing Presence
May 14-15, 2011
June 4-5, 2011
July 9, 2011
COA 610: Fundamentals of Health and Wellness Coaching
July 10, 2011
August 13-14, 2011
September 10-11, 2011
COA 611: Principles and Practices of Health and Wellness Coaching
October 1-2, 2011
November 5-6, 2011
December 3, 2011
COA 620: Applied Healing Strategies
December 4, 2011
January 7-8, 2012
Plus Student-designed Practicum
All classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the exception of the opening course, which is held Friday-Sunday over two consecutive weekends. Class hours on Friday, April 8 and April 15 are 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Class hours on April 9-10 and April 16-17 are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Why Study at Tai Sophia?
Founded in 1974, Tai Sophia is a premier, accredited educational institution dedicated to the art and science of healing and wellness. For over three decades, Tai Sophia Institute’s pioneering founders, world-class faculty, and exceptional clinicians have redefined health, wellness, relationship, and community, setting the gold standard for relationship-centered care, transformative leadership and social change, and self care.
Each of Tai Sophia’s programs is powerfully rooted in the wisdom of nature, teachings from the world’s great healing and wisdom traditions, contemporary knowledge, and cutting-edge science.
Whether your ultimate goal is to coach your patients and clients toward optimum health and vitality, integrate herbs into your clinical practice or home life, become a master practitioner of acupuncture, or be a more powerful and effective leader on the job or in your community, as a Tai Sophia student you will become a keen observer of your own body-mind-spirit and its innate wisdom, and learn to be a healing and transformative presence through your thoughts, words, and actions.
While you pursue your chosen course of study, in partnership with your classmates and instructors, you will reveal and develop your unique gifts and talents, achieve greater clarity about your passion and purpose, and gain a deeper sense of community and service.
Health Coaching at Tai Sophia
Health coaching is an evidence-based process that empowers people to tap into their own inner source of motivation to restore and preserve health. A unique and essential component of Tai Sophia’s health coaching philosophy and curriculum is teaching people to become conscious of and listen to the body’s innate wisdom and regard their symptoms as teachers.
The curriculum encourages a wider view of the field of health and wellness in contrast to the current diseasefocused model. Among the core competencies of health coaching are building rapport; helping people clarify their health goals and then implement and sustain healthgenerating behaviors and attitudes; guiding people in health-maintenance activities; and managing progress and accountability.
Program Outcomes
- To encourage a wider view of the field of wellness in contrast to the current disease-focused model.
- To teach students to listen to the wisdom of their own bodies and learn to reconnect with the cycles of nature in order to teach clients to do the same.
- To develop both proficiency and excellence in the skills necessary to help clients adopt attitudes and lifestyle changes most conducive to optimal health and other issues that affect health.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must meet the following admission requirements:
- Have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution and submit an official transcript to verify completion.
- Submit official transcript of highest degree earned beyond a baccalaureate.
- Submit copy of professional license or certification in related health field(s).
Financial Aid
Federal financial aid is available for this program. To apply for federal financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Tai Sophia Institute’s school code for completing the FAFSA is G25784. A limited number of scholarships are also available. For additional funding options, such as private or alternative education loans, please contact Director of Financial Aid John Gay, Jr., at 410-888-9048 ext. 6628 or .
Tuition and Fees
Application Fee: $50
Matriculation Fee (due upon acceptance): $100
Tuition: $525 per credit for a total program cost of $7,875
To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at admissions@tai.edu or 410-888-9048 ext. 6647.