I'm so excited you have decided to make this investment in your professional and personal development! In this Welcome section you'll find details and tips that will support your learning experience.
Module Description
In today’s complex healthcare landscape, professionals are tasked with helping clients not only heal physically, but also adopt long-term behavior changes that support wellness and quality of life. The Coach Approach offers a powerful, collaborative method for enhancing client motivation, engagement, and outcomes—especially when traditional interventions alone fall short. “Coaching Fundamentals in Healthcare” introduces learners to the foundational elements of coaching and how they can be seamlessly integrated into various clinical roles and settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and telehealth. By exploring what coaching is (and isn’t), identifying core coaching characteristics, and understanding how to define and implement a Coach Approach, healthcare providers can begin using these strategies immediately to support clients facing challenges such as chronic disease, mental health conditions, and lifestyle barriers. This course is ideal for clinicians looking to improve communication, foster client autonomy, and expand their therapeutic toolbox to include coaching-informed practices.
Module Description
Successfully implementing a Coach Approach in healthcare requires more than just adopting new communication techniques—it requires clarity, structure, and shared understanding between clinician and client. “Building Clarity: Defining the Coaching Process” guides healthcare providers through foundational components that make coaching effective, including differentiating it from other therapeutic modalities, clearly communicating its purpose to patients, and establishing mutual agreements through coaching contracts. Drawing from evidence-based frameworks and coaching models, this course helps clinicians build confidence in structuring coaching conversations and introduces practical tools to support clarity, accountability, and client ownership. Designed for providers working in various care settings—from outpatient rehab and hospitals to school-based services and telehealth—this course empowers clinicians to elevate their impact through more collaborative, goal-oriented interactions that support sustainable behavior change and improved outcomes.
Module Description
Coaching is not just about asking the right questions—it’s about showing up with the right presence. “Listening & Mindset: Applying the Foundations” helps healthcare providers move beyond problem-solving and solution-delivery to develop the listening and mindset skills essential to a coaching conversation. Clinicians often default to giving advice, but impactful coaching requires the ability to listen reflectively and cultivate a mindset grounded in curiosity, humility, and partnership. In this course, providers will explore two essential coaching mindsets—the Amateur and the Discoverer—and learn to recognize and shift away from habits that hinder deep listening. These foundational skills enhance client engagement, support behavior change, and can be applied across diverse settings including outpatient clinics, schools, home health, and telepractice. This course empowers clinicians to bring more presence and purpose into every client interaction.
Module Description
True client-centered care requires more than setting goals—it demands an understanding of what truly matters to the client. “Diving Deeper: Understanding the Client’s Perspective” equips healthcare professionals with practical communication strategies to uncover client motivations, challenge assumptions, and support meaningful change. Clinicians will learn to ask clarity-driven questions, courageously share observations, and use powerful silence to expand awareness and perspective. These techniques are grounded in evidence-based coaching models and support the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Core Competencies. Designed for Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists, this course helps providers in any setting—outpatient, inpatient, school-based, or virtual—foster trust, collaboration, and deeper therapeutic impact through dialogue that goes beneath the surface.
Module Description
Healthcare professionals are often looked to for answers—but what if the most sustainable solutions come from the clients themselves? “Exploration in Action: Guiding Clients Toward Solutions” empowers clinicians to step back from prescribing and instead support clients in uncovering their own pathways forward. Drawing from Self-Determination Theory, Adult Learning Theory, and the Stages of Change model, this course introduces evidence-based coaching techniques that prioritize client autonomy, build self-efficacy, and foster deeper motivation. Providers will learn how to balance their clinical expertise with a coaching mindset, observe obstacles that may derail progress, and use tools like the DIVE IN Goals™ framework to anchor goal-setting in values and personal meaning. This course equips Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists to apply coaching strategies in a variety of settings—including hospitals, outpatient care, and telehealth—to enhance outcomes and client engagement.
Module Description
Effective coaching doesn’t end with insight—it concludes with intentional reflection and a commitment to forward movement. “Summing Up & Taking Action” equips healthcare professionals with practical tools to bring closure and clarity to each coaching conversation while empowering clients to translate insights into meaningful action. This course introduces the final two steps of the Dive Into a Coach Approach® framework: Sum Up and one last coaching technique: "Make a request", alongside two additional coaching mindset metaphors: the Environmentalist and the Olympian. Learners will explore how to guide clients through reflective closure, co-create specific next steps, and embody mindsets that protect client autonomy and promote accountability. Designed for Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists across all settings, this course ensures that coaching conversations lead to real-world progress and sustained behavior change.
Module Description
Integrating coaching into clinical practice requires not only understanding the techniques, but also knowing when and how to apply them effectively. “Bringing It All Together: Coaching Framework and Application” serves as the capstone in the coaching series, helping healthcare providers synthesize their learning and gain confidence using a Coach Approach in real-world settings. This course explores when coaching is most appropriate based on client and clinician readiness, and applies the Dive Into a Coach Approach® framework to real coaching interactions. Through video-based observation, reflection, and practice planning, learners will see how powerful questions, mindset, and structured dialogue come to life across different stages of change. Designed for Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists, this course supports practical implementation in diverse care environments, including outpatient, home health, school-based, and telehealth settings.
Module Description
In fast-paced healthcare settings, providers often need to make a meaningful impact within a limited time. “Laser-Focused Coaching” offers a structured, efficient approach to client-centered conversations that fit into a typical 10–15 minute window. Building on the Dive Into a Coach Approach® framework, this course introduces the concept of Laser-Focused Coaching—an intentional, time-bound conversation model that helps clients gain clarity, uncover motivation, and identify actionable next steps. Clinicians will observe coaching demonstrations, learn how to set focused session goals using the “Set a Contract” technique, and practice integrating all four steps of the coaching framework in a concise format. Designed for Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists, this course supports effective coaching implementation in outpatient, inpatient, school-based, and telehealth environments.
To receive your Level 1 Certificate of Completion, you must submit the Learning and Feedback Form below.
Once submitted, your certificate will be automatically generated and emailed to you as a PDF.
The next two items are optional—they’ll help you showcase your accomplishment and celebrate your learning.
Curious how the Coach Approach shows up in real-world healthcare? This curated collection of articles brings the evidence to life. Each entry includes a short summary, links to the DICA techniques or framework steps, and a guiding mindset.
Use this section to:
Reinforce your learning
Reflect on how research supports coaching-based care
Explore where coaching principles are being applied—in OT, PT, nursing, and beyond
💡 You’ll also see how coaching can be delivered across contexts—including telehealth, parent coaching, and team-based care. Each article links back to your Dive Into a Coach Approach® journey—whether you're just beginning or considering future levels.
Thank you for being part of this journey. By choosing to deepen your understanding of the coach approach, you are playing a critical role in shifting healthcare from the inside out.
Your commitment to continuous learning, self-reflection, and compassionate care has a profound impact on the lives of your clients, patients, and colleagues. As you apply these techniques, know that you are not just enhancing your own practice, but also contributing to a broader movement that prioritizes holistic, client-centered care.
Stay connected, keep learning, and continue making a difference. Together, we are creating a ripple effect of positive change.
With deep gratitude,
Hélène and the Function First Coaching Team