Scope of Practice

What Health Coaches CAN and CAN'T do:

	CAN	CAN'T
Conditions	Work with people who are generally healthy with mild health concerns such as: Headache Fatigue Sugar cravings	Say that we can cure disease or work with people with complex, advanced diseases such as: Cancer Kidney failure
Age	Work with adults. To work with children written authorization from a legal guardian is necessary	Work with minors without written authorization from their legal guardian.
Medical	Suggest a client: To ask their doctor about alternatives to medication To get a second doctor’s opinion if they’re unsure	Suggest clients stop or change prescription medication or stop seeing their doctor.
Diet	Suggest ways to ‘crowd out’: Caffeine, sugar, alcohol, tobacco, junk food, dairy etc	Exclude major food groups or recommend extreme detox programs.
Supplements	Recommend: Superfoods Multivitamins Mineral supplements	Recommend controversial supplements or very high doses.
Exercise	Encourage clients to begin gentle, low-risk exercise changes such as walking.	Encourage vigorous exercise without consulting their physician.
Relationship	Give people time to talk about their important relationships and promote participation in social events to meet new people.	Promote divorce or conflict with friends and family.
Career	Recommend that clients explore new hobbies and interests.	Recommend clients to quit their job.
Spirituality	Advise clients to engage in self-reflection and experience more of nature.	Advise clients to change religious affiliation.