Continuing Education Offerings

The Center for Spirituality & Healing is now offering a Continuing Education option in health coaching for healthcare professionals.

Health Coaching is a new profession designed to meet the needs of people actively seeking to improve their well-being in the midst of complex and often confusing healthcare options. It is practiced from a holistic perspective that sees each person as intrinsically healthy, whole, wise, and the ultimate expert in his or her healing journey.

As Health Coaching is being brought into a multitude of delivery settings, there is great benefit for many different kinds of providers to be familiar and comfortable with the core principles and practices of health coaching. These include the four pillars of health coaching, motivational interviewing, authentic communication practices, behavioral change theory, mind/body skills, stress management tools, and others. Basic information about the integrated use of complementary and conventional therapies is also included in the curriculum. Individuals may incorporate these health coaching perspectives and tools into existing practices, transforming those practices into more holistic offerings. Students will also learn the critical differences between health coaching and other clinical practices, and gain understanding of how all of these approaches can best be integrated into client-centered healthcare.

Who is eligible for these classes? Any healthcare professional, including those in nursing, counseling, therapy, social work, nutrition, medicine, case management, disease management, health education, etc… Additionally, those executives or leaders who work in healthcare areas, but do not provide direct client/patient care themselves, may also benefit; such as hospital or clinic administrators, human resource directors, and leaders in employee assistance programs.

Essentials of Health Coaching I is offered annually in the fall, and consists of two 4-day weekends, one in early October, another in mid-November. Reading materials and optional web resources are available for use between September and December, and are elective.

Essentials of Health Coaching II is offered annually in the winter/spring, with two 4-day weekends, one in February and one in April. Reading materials and optional web resources are available for use between January and May, and are elective. Completion of Essentials I is required for participation in Essentials II, but does not have to be done in the same year.

Please submit a document, titled with your name and email, via email to cmantel@umn.edu that includes the following information:

• Post-high school education and degrees
• Any non-academic certifications in the health care arena
• Current license(s) in the healthcare field
• Current area of professional work
• A brief paragraph on why you are interested in health coaching and what you hope to gain through your experience in this program.

This information will be reviewed and if there are any questions/concerns, you will be contacted via email. Once application has been submitted, you may proceed at any time to register by clicking the following link.

Register Online Now!  Please call 612-624-5166 for more information.

Application deadline for fall admission for Essentials of Health Coaching I is September 8; and for spring admission for Essentials of Health Coaching II, December 15. *Early registration discount is available to those who register more than 1 month prior to final deadline (i.e. Aug. 8 and/or Nov. 15.) Participants must have taken Essentials I before Essentials II.  

For more information, please call 612-624-5166.