What does becoming an advanced health and wellness coach look like to you?
Do you see yourself with private clients? Or, maybe you enjoy being a part of a larger corporation?
The good news is that a high-quality health coaching certification gives you the freedom to choose…
With the launch of the THSA Professional Health Coaching program, we’ve ramped up the research into the market for health coaches with some surprising results!
Not only are ICF accredited coaches in high demand in larger corporations (check out the results on Indeed), but you also have the freedom to choose between being self-employed, and working for someone else…
Keep in mind, your career path is YOURS. No one can tell you what’s right or wrong for you – but we wanted to help you weigh your options.
Read on to learn more…
How to assess your own health coaching career path…
It can seem easy to pick some goals out of the air and to try and apply them to your endgame. Unfortunately, it’s a tad more complicated than that.
You’ll need to take careful stock of your strengths and weaknesses before making any concrete plans.
First, it helps to write down what you ultimately want out of your health coaching career…
- Consider your “why” and who you’d like to help
- Think about your personal strengths and how they can help you professionally (are you a good public speaker? Do you have knowledge of marketing? And other things that can directly affect your ability to do business)
- Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your weaknesses
- Take a careful inventory of your finances to better assess your risks (it’s never a good idea to just quit your job without a steady stream of income!)
- Really think about your interests and how they’ll apply to your niche
- Ask yourself if career growth is important to you – and what it looks like to you
Then, you can get a better idea of what shape your health coaching career will need to take for you to feel both fulfilled and successful.
Once you feel good about this outcome, you can consider whether you should pursue a self-employed career path or look for a job working for someone else.
(The great thing is that you’ll have those options open to you!)
Setting up your own health coaching business vs. working for someone else
This is a topic we’ve covered in the past, but it’s always important to revisit when making future career decisions…
Many people dream of becoming their own bosses – and it truly is an amazing feeling! However, it’s also one that comes with a great deal of responsibility.
Whether you plan on working solo, or to hire a team for your business – you’ll still need to establish your company, figure out how to navigate taxes, achieve the proper licensing, and learn how to market yourself (not as complicated as it sounds).
All of this puts you in complete control of how you practice, who you help, what you charge, and how you position yourself professionally.
As an advanced health and wellness coach, this allows you to be more selective about the clients you work with and, ultimately, how much money you’ll be able to bring in.
As we’ve mentioned before, with ICF accreditation, you should be able to charge a MINIMUM of $150 per hour. Whereas working for someone else might put a cap on your earning potential.
If you choose to work for someone else, you’ll exchange much of this freedom for a ready-made client-base and (potentially) a regular salary. There are other considerations, such as taxes and insurance, that can sway your decision as well.
It really all comes down to your goals and what you want to get out of your health coaching career!
There is no right or wrong path.
Like we always say, personalisation is key. This is YOUR future, and you’ll have the education you need to choose any direction you’d like.
And remember, you can always change your mind once you’ve become certified and begin practicing…
Don’t let fear prevent you from achieving your goals…
Health and wellness coaching is an industry that’s seen steady growth over the last 5 years, and this trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.
Major companies are now listing ICF certifications as a requirement for new job postings – which puts anyone with an advanced health coaching diploma in a good position to land a great paying job.
However, you shouldn’t let fear be the deciding factor when choosing to apply for a job or to start your own business.
For many of us, the road to self-employment is paved with uncertainty and “what-ifs.”
“What if my business fails?”
“What if I’m not as good at coaching as I think I am?”
“What if…”
And that’s okay.
As human beings, we all have a tendency to seek safety and stability – and when applied to your professional life – can mean feeling trapped in a career you don’t necessarily love.
While it’s always a good idea to weigh the risks, it’s also important to consider the rewards…
Because what happens if you succeed?
Always take the time to shift your mindset towards growth. Be realistic, but don’t let fear of the unknown make decisions for you.
Ready to skyrocket your health coaching career?
The THSA Professional Health Coaching Program was designed to give you a world-class education and the power to choose your career path!
Eager to learn more?
Click here to take our Fundamentals of Health Coaching course (valued at $250) for free!
