You’re working hard, but lately your energy feels low. Stress is building, motivation is harder to find, and healthy routines are slipping through the cracks. If you recognise yourself in this, you’re not alone. And it’s exactly where a health and well-being coach can make a real difference.
A health and well-being coach helps people take small, sustainable steps toward better health. They guide you in building healthier habits, managing stress, and boosting resilience before challenges turn into burnout.
Britt Slief, psychologist and health and well-being coach at OpenUp, has supported hundreds of people in strengthening both their mental and physical health. She explains:
“In my work, I often see people wait until stress has already become overwhelming. A health and well-being coach helps people take small, sustainable steps earlier, before burnout sets in.”
For individuals, the benefits are clear: better health, more energy, and greater resilience. For organisations, it means fewer sick days, improved morale, and higher productivity.
In this article, you’ll learn what health and well-being coaches do, who they support, and why their impact matters for both personal and workplace well-being.
Britt reminds us that from a psychological perspective, prevention is more powerful than crisis management. By building healthier habits early, people not only protect their mental health but also boost focus and motivation at work.
What is a health and well-being coach?
A health and well-being coach (sometimes called a health coach or wellness coach) is a trained professional who empowers people to make lasting improvements to their physical and mental health. Instead of prescribing a one-size-fits-all plan, they work alongside you to clarify your goals, strengthen your confidence, and create healthy routines that actually stick.
For example, a coach might:
- Support someone in managing stress and improving sleep during a demanding project.
- Work with a team to build energy and prevent burnout during a busy season.
Britt explains it this way:
“Think of a health and well-being coach as your guide rather than a lecturer. They don’t just hand you advice, they help you discover what works for you, and support you in sticking with it.”
In essence, they help you take control of your own health by focusing on behaviour change, confidence-building, and small, achievable steps that lead to long-term results.
Defining the role and scope
The role of a health and well-being coach is broad and flexible, designed to adapt to the needs of each person or group. Their work often includes:
- 1:1 coaching sessions to explore personal challenges and set goals.
- Group workshops on topics like stress management, resilience, or sleep.
- Goal-setting and habit change, using evidence-based techniques to build sustainable routines.
- Connecting clients to resources such as community groups, nutrition classes, or mental health support.
As Britt puts it:
“There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to well-being. Some people thrive in the depth of 1:1 coaching, while others gain energy and motivation from group workshops. A good coach knows how to adapt to what you or the team really needs.”
Health and well-being coaches work in a variety of settings: from healthcare and community programmes to workplace wellness initiatives.
How does a health coach differ from a therapist?
It’s easy to confuse health coaching with therapy, but they serve different purposes.
- Therapists focus on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, often helping people heal from past trauma or emotional distress.
- Health and well-being coaches focus on proactive lifestyle change, guiding people to build the future they want through healthier habits, stress management, and resilience.
Britt clarifies:
“As a psychologist, I often explain the difference like this: therapy mostly helps people heal from the past, while coaching supports people in building the future they want. Both are valuable, just at different stages of the journey.”
For businesses, this distinction is important. While therapy may be necessary for individuals facing clinical challenges, coaching provides preventive, skills-based support that can be scaled across a workforce.
What does a health and well-being coach do?
A health and well-being coach can support and guide you to discover healthier routines that fit into your life. Rather than prescribing what you “should” do, they walk alongside you, helping you uncover your own solutions and giving you the tools to make them stick.
Their work usually centres on 3 key areas:
- Supporting behaviour change for lasting impact
- Co-creating personalised health and lifestyle goals
- Providing motivation, accountability, and confidence
Whether it’s one-to-one sessions focused on stress management, or group workshops on resilience and energy, their role is to help you translate:
“I know I should” into “I’m really doing it.”
Supporting behaviour change for lasting impact
If building new habits was simple, no one would be Googling “how to stick to healthy routines.” That’s where support makes the difference.
Coaches understand this and use proven techniques to make change manageable.
Britt explains:
“Research shows our brains resist sudden, drastic change. That’s why we use techniques like motivational interviewing and habit-stacking. When new habits connect with existing routines, change feels natural and sustainable.”
In practice, this might look like:
- Swapping one meeting each week for a walking call.
- Building a short mindfulness break into your calendar right after lunch.
- Replacing the late-afternoon sugar crash with a 10-minute stretch.
Small shifts like these can compound into big results over time.
Setting goals and creating personalised care plans
One size never fits all when it comes to health. Coaches work with you to set goals that actually feel achievable in your context, not vague resolutions you’ll abandon in 2 weeks.
Psychology shows that when you feel ownership of your goals, motivation skyrockets. That’s why coaches ask, listen, and co-create.
In a workplace setting, this might mean:
- Managing energy during a high-pressure project.
- Reducing stress through better recovery routines.
- Building small health wins into daily work-life balance.
It’s not about the perfect plan. It’s about the right plan for you.
Providing motivation, accountability, and confidence
Even with clear goals, following through is tough. That’s where accountability comes in.
Coaches provide gentle but consistent motivation, the check-ins, tracking, and encouragement that make it easier to keep going. This is often called patient activation: building the confidence and skills to take charge of your health.
Examples of how accountability might look:
- Progress tracking apps to visualise your wins.
- Regular 15-minute check-ins to keep momentum.
- Group activities, like step or sleep challenges, that help people build healthier habits together.
As Britt puts it:
“Ongoing support isn’t about pressure, it’s about momentum. Once people see small wins, their confidence grows and that confidence fuels lasting change.”
How can a health and well-being coach help in the workplace?
For many organisations, stress, absenteeism, and turnover are familiar challenges. A health and well-being coach can shift that dynamic by giving employees the tools and confidence to take care of themselves and by extension, the business.
The impact is twofold:
- Reduced absenteeism: When employees manage stress, sleep, and energy better, they take fewer sick days.
- Higher productivity: Healthier routines sharpen focus and improve daily performance.
- Better morale and retention: People feel valued when their employer invests in their well-being, and they’re more likely to stay.
Britt explains:
“As a psychologist, I’ve seen how even small improvements in well-being ripple through a team. A single employee who learns how to handle stress better often inspires healthier habits across their colleagues.”
Workplace coaching isn’t just about perks like yoga or fruit baskets. It’s about measurable outcomes that connect directly to business performance. When people feel well, they show up fully and that lifts the entire organisation.
How health and well-being coaches work in primary care
Health and well-being coaches don’t just belong in workplaces. They are also an important part of primary care teams, where they focus on prevention, lifestyle change, and long-term support.
Integration into primary care networks
Within primary care networks, coaches work alongside GPs, nurses, and mental health specialists.
Their goal is to help patients build healthier habits, set realistic goals, and gain the skills to manage conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or respiratory issues.
Social prescribing and community connections
Coaches also act as connectors. They link individuals to local resources such as walking groups, nutrition classes, or peer support networks.
Britt shares:
“Sometimes the most powerful step for your health is connecting with your community, whether that’s a walking group, a nutrition class, or a support network. Coaching helps people find those resources and use them.”
Reducing GP workload and improving outcomes
By focusing on prevention and behaviour change, coaches ease the pressure on GPs.
Employees and patients in general, become more confident in managing their own health, which means fewer repeat visits.
As Britt notes:
“Health coaching doesn’t replace medical care, but it helps you take proactive steps that reduce the need for constant GP visits.”
For businesses, the lesson is clear: the same principles that make health coaches effective in healthcare such as prevention, empowerment, and self-management can also transform workplace well-being.
Qualifications and training requirements
When you’re considering working with or hiring a health and well-being coach, one question matters: can I trust their expertise?
The good news is that credible coaches follow clear training standards and professional supervision. That’s what ensures their guidance is safe, effective, and evidence-based.
Britt has seen how important this is in her sessions:
“When you know your coach is properly trained and certified, you’re more likely to engage openly and commit to the process.”
Recognised certifications and training programmes in the UK
In the UK, many coaches complete qualifications such as the RSPH Level 3 Certificate in Health Coaching or accredited programmes through the Personalised Care Institute (PCI).
These credentials signal that a coach understands health behaviour change, motivational interviewing, and the psychology of habit-building.
Skills and approaches that matter
The best health coaches are not only certified, they’re skilled communicators.
They listen actively, ask the right questions, and use evidence-based approaches like motivational interviewing or habit-stacking.
In workplace contexts, these tools translate directly into better resilience, stronger team performance, and healthier routines.
Regulation and professional standards
Unlike therapists, health coaches are not strictly regulated by law. That makes vetting credentials essential.
Employers and individuals should always check whether a coach has been trained by a recognised body and follows ethical guidelines. Doing so protects both trust and outcomes.
When credentials and compassion come together, coaching becomes more than advice, it becomes a partnership that drives lasting change.
What to expect in your first coaching session
Starting with a health and well-being coach can feel a little uncertain at first. What happens in that first conversation?
Here’s what you can expect:
Initial assessment and personalised goal setting
Your coach will begin by getting to know you: your routines, your challenges, and your hopes for change.
In workplace programmes, this might also involve a well-being survey to align personal and organisational goals.
Creating a collaborative action plan
Together, you’ll design a plan that feels realistic. Maybe it’s building better sleep habits, managing stress during a project, or finding more energy through nutrition.
The key is that it’s co-created, not prescribed.
Follow-up sessions and ongoing support
Progress doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why coaches provide regular check-ins, track progress, and adjust the plan as you go.
Britt describes it like this:
“Ongoing support builds momentum. Tracking progress not only improves personal outcomes but also creates measurable KPIs for HR, like reduced absenteeism and higher engagement.”
That first session often feels like a relief.
For many, it’s the first time they’ve had space to talk openly about their health, without stigma or judgment.
How effective are health and well-being coaches?
Yes, coaching works and the evidence is clear. Whether it’s helping individuals manage chronic conditions or supporting workplace resilience, the data shows health and well-being coaching delivers real, measurable results.
Evidence and research on their impact
- In Sweden, a large-scale randomised controlled trial found that implementing health coaching reduced hospitalisation rates by 12%, showcasing its capacity to reduce acute care usage.
- Another study on health coaching on a rehabilitation ward in Hampshire reported an estimated £3 million saved in rehabilitation costs.
- More broadly, coaching improves behaviour change, self-efficacy, engagement in treatment, and clinical outcomes like HBA1c levels among people with chronic conditions (england.nhs.uk).
- An experiment in East Sussex using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM®) showed a 24% improvement in long term health conditions, correlated with lower hospital usage.
Real-world evidence and ROI at OpenUp
OpenUp’s workplace coaching programmes show real gains:
- 83% of participants experienced improved well-being
- 84% felt better equipped to meet challenges
- 74% reported heightened productivity
Britt emphasizes:
“When you track these numbers, you see what coaching really does, it creates resilient individuals and inspires teams to bring their best.”
Measuring success: KPIs that matter to people and organisations
Coaching isn’t guesswork. Success is tracked using reliable metrics such as:
- Well-being and activation scores
- Sickness absence and productivity rates
- Employee engagement and retention trends
Britt puts it simply:
“What gets measured gets improved and with health coaching, results become visible for both individuals and leadership.”
Taking the next step toward better health and resilience
You don’t need to wait until stress, fatigue, or health challenges overwhelm you.
Working with a health and well-being coach gives you the tools, confidence, and support to build healthier habits that actually last.
For individuals, it can mean more energy, better sleep, and greater resilience. For organisations, it translates into fewer sick days, stronger engagement, and a more motivated workforce.
Britt shares:
“What I see most often is relief. Relief that people don’t have to do this alone and hope that small steps can create lasting change.”
At OpenUp, our health and well-being coaches are certified professionals who work with employees across 2,000+ organisations in 40+ languages. Whether it’s nutrition, sleep, resilience, or fitness, our coaches help people move beyond quick fixes and towards sustainable routines that fit their lives.
👉 Curious to see how this works in practice? Explore our Physical Health Coaching page to learn more about how our coaches support healthier living every day.
FAQs about health and well-being coaches
What is a health and well-being coach?
A health and well-being coach is a trained professional who helps people make sustainable improvements to their physical and mental health. They work through collaborative goal setting, lifestyle adjustments, and building healthier daily habits. In this article, “health coach” and “well-being coach” refer to the same role. Coaches work in healthcare, private practice, and increasingly in workplaces to support employees and teams in thriving both personally and professionally.
What do health and well-being coaches do?
They guide individuals or groups through identifying health goals, creating action plans, and building long-term healthy habits. This includes areas like nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and resilience. In the workplace, coaches can deliver one-to-one support, run group workshops, and design well-being programmes that help employees maintain energy, prevent burnout, and perform at their best. This proactive approach makes it easier for people to build lasting resilience before stress becomes overwhelming.
How effective are health and well-being coaches?
Research and real-world results show that health and well-being coaching can significantly improve both personal and organisational outcomes. In one programme, 83% of participants improved their well-being, 84% felt better equipped to handle future challenges, and 74% reported higher productivity. For businesses, these gains translate into reduced absenteeism, stronger engagement, and better retention rates.
How can a health and well-being coach help my business?
A health and well-being coach can be a powerful asset to workplace performance and culture. They help reduce stress-related absences, increase employee resilience, and support healthier daily habits that boost energy and focus. For hybrid or high-pressure teams, coaching offers personalised strategies to manage workload, maintain mental health, and sustain productivity. The result is a healthier, more engaged, and more loyal workforce.
What services can a health and well-being coach provide to a company?
Common services for businesses include:
- 1:1 coaching sessions for employees
- Group workshops on stress, sleep, nutrition, and resilience
- Well-being challenges and engagement campaigns
- Support for managing chronic conditions in the workplace
- Tailored programmes for hybrid or shift-working teams
- These services can be designed to align with HR objectives and measure outcomes such as engagement, retention, and absenteeism.
What qualifications do you need to be a health and well-being coach?
While the UK has no strict legal requirements, most coaches complete accredited training. Popular pathways include the RSPH Level 3 Certificate in Health Coaching or certification from the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. Skilled coaches are also trained in motivational interviewing, behaviour change techniques, and inclusive communication — essential for building trust and achieving results in a workplace setting.
What is health and well-being?
Health and well-being cover the overall state of a person’s physical, mental, and social health. It’s not just the absence of illness but the ability to function well, handle challenges, and enjoy life. In a workplace context, fostering health and well-being involves creating supportive environments, encouraging healthy habits, and giving employees access to resources like coaching.
What is health coaching?
Health coaching is a collaborative process where a coach helps someone take charge of their health through personalised strategies and ongoing support. It focuses on empowering the client rather than prescribing a rigid plan. In businesses, health coaching can target workplace-specific challenges such as reducing stress, improving focus, and creating sustainable energy for high performance.
How much does a health and well-being coach cost?
In the UK, NHS-employed coaches typically earn £26,000–£35,000 per year (Bands 5–6). For private or corporate services, costs vary based on experience, delivery format, and scope — from hourly rates to programme-based pricing. While engaging a coach is an investment, businesses often see returns through improved productivity, reduced absenteeism, and stronger employee retention.
