Wellness Consultant Job Description

Lifestyle Coaching with Health Consultants

The benefits of regular exercise and strategies to deal with stress are offered by health educators, also known as the wellness consultants. There is a growing focus on preventative medicine and the role of diet, exercise and stress reduction in maintaining personal health. Consultants who specialize in a particular area like nutrition, exercise or stress management may offer advice on all areas of health and well-being.

Others offer advice on lifestyle issues. Smoking and fitness for new mothers are some of the fields that a consultant may tackle. Corporate wellness consultants are in charge of implementing employee health programs.

The focus is on getting employees to exercise, eat right, seek medical and psychological care when needed, and other preventative measures to ensure they are happy and healthy. Corporations will hire consultants to provide individual or small group counseling. Large-scale educational programming is often provided by the consultants.

A seminar on exercises employees can do at their desk or in their office to prevent muscle fatigue is offered by a wellness consultant. Corporations hire consultants to provide health education for their employees. The company's Employee Assistance Program or EAP can be used to refer individuals for counseling.

Some consultants represent hospitals at special events. A health promotion program is implemented by a consultant. Consultants who specialize in fitness can work in a fitness center where they provide assessments and training.

A Qualification in a Field of Wellness Specialists

People with health and fitness goals can be helped by a wellbeing specialist who works for schools, local governments, companies or other organizations. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is one of the types of concerns. A specialist can often advise people on their lifestyle and diet and may even refer them to a doctor for serious health concerns.

A degree in a related discipline is what a wellness specialist usually has. Many positions require on-the-job training and certification from accredited organizations, such as the International Association of Wellness Professionals. The topics that the specialists research are tailored to the audience.

They must be able to communicate well and have a personality that can motivate people to change their lifestyles. Some specialists work in the area of stress management or healthy eating. They should be knowledgeable in their fields.

Corporate Wellness Consultants

Corporate wellness consultants who want to go into business for themselves may invest in a variety of courses. There are no courses for becoming a corporate wellness consultant, but using effective marketing tools can help grow a business. Liberty University's Master of Science in Human Performance - Nutrition combines two areas that are natural fit in the field of health and wellbeing to give you a deep understanding of the role nutrition plays in maximizing athletic performance.

The hiring process for corporate wellness consultants is done by entities that are in charge of establishing the criteria. Corporate wellness consultants can provide credentials to back up their training, which is what most businesses are looking to hire. Someone who works for a corporate health and well being company has no need for a license.

Once they have attained status as a registered dietitian, those who have a bachelor's degree in Nutrition can apply for a state license. Half of the states require a licensed dietician. Corporate consultants use aholistic approach to their work.

There is a need for personalization as no two companies are the same. Innovative thinking is usually required when evaluating a company's wellness plan. Stretch management practices could be incorporated with healthier food options.

Corporate wellness consultants are often in transit because it is a job that requires a lot of on-site interaction with the specific client. It is more convenient to be on location to evaluate a company's health status since the organizational culture could have an impact on company-wide health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not include corporate wellness consultants in its annual tally of salary amounts.

A Health Education Specialist

People who want to achieve optimum health are educated by counselors who help them to lead a healthier lifestyle. They help people who have overcome illnesses or injuries due to repetitive use of sports and cars, and help them improve their health. Alternative, non-pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment plans can be offered by a wellness counselor.

New mothers in need of an appropriate fitness program and people who want to stop smoking can benefit from consulting with a counselor. The role of diet, exercise and stress reduction in maintaining personal health is explained by the counselors. They help clients choose behaviors that encourage personal health.

The use of supplements, weight management, and the importance of exercising are some of the issues that the counselor may address. The counselor may recommend yoga and meditation for spiritual and stress reduction. Counselors can teach clients how to deal with chronic health conditions.

They design and perform periodic evaluations of their programs. In some cases, an employer may prefer to hire people who are certified health education specialists, even though certification is not required to be a wellness counselor. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing offers certification to those who pass a written or computerized exam on the basics of counseling.

If you have a bachelor's degree in a health-related field, you may be able to take the certification exam. If you are within 12 weeks of completing your undergrad program, you may be able to sit for the exam. You will have to complete 70 hours of continuing education every 3 to 5 years to maintain certification.

Certified Wellness Consultants

Communication and approachability are important for any consultant working in the health field since they must be able to connect on a personal level in order to be effective. A certain amount of trust is needed in order to assess the client's strengths and weaknesses and then offer suggestions without causing the client to feel defensive. Weight concerns and mental health problems are some of the topics addressed in a program.

Consultants who make clients feel uncomfortable are often unable to get good results. To become a certified wellness consultant, an individual must complete a number of courses and take an exam. Requirements vary from place to place in several different certification programs.

There are some science courses that may be necessary. A student must be certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If you are considering hiring a consultant to help your employees with their health, make sure to check their credentials very carefully.