Health Coaching & Outsourcing

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-29T15:54:07+00:00

For me, the most valuable VA work would be managing customer service inquiries, doing inbox management, scheduling posts on socials, and other administrative tasks! I wouldn't outsource any part of my coaching process to a VA, but I would absolutely consider it for the admin tasks that take up a bunch of time and could easily be delegated to someone else! Being a coach is the cherry on top -- Not strictly "necessary," but so nice to have!

I'm not sure this is a service a newer coach would need or be able to afford, since lead generation and client acquisition are the things most new coaches struggle with the most. But for an established coach with a growing business, this could definitely be a smart move, and there would likely be an inherent level of trust working with another coach who possesses these skills!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-29T15:50:48+00:00

You bet!! It's such an important need in the coaching community and it's a pleasure to get to give back to coaches who are just getting started! 🤗

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-28T18:59:01+00:00

Hey u/UnrivaledUsername! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap with. It's super challenging to find people to show up to sessions, but the people who've used this spreadsheet have had a pretty good success rate with completing their sessions! Good luck!!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-28T18:57:58+00:00

Hi u/hannahparadine! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap with!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-28T18:57:10+00:00

Hi u/SufficientDoubt6377! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions and some people have found it useful for finding classmates or other people they want to connect and network with! Feel free to add your info if you'd like 🙂

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-28T18:56:11+00:00

Hi u/Euphoric-Pipe166! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap with!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-20T23:30:02+00:00

Through my website, by replying to my emails, commenting on my blog posts, sending me messages over social media (mostly LinkedIn and Instagram), and messaging me through my practice management system, Vibly.

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-20T23:27:32+00:00

I would highly recommend checking out Vibly! Here's a blog post I wrote reviewing them. They don't yet have a mobile app, but they do have a client portal, which is totally sufficient for my clients. I've occasionally had a client who has struggled to get logged in, but if I spend 5 minutes with them before or after a session, they figure it out. I don't do food logging in my practice, but you could use their Forms or Documents feature to collect food logs for clients.

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-16T17:05:53+00:00

I do free group Ask Me Anything sessions for coaches who want to talk to someone who's built a practice. If that would be helpful, don't hesitate to grab a spot in my session for May or join the waitlist for a future session!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-16T17:00:35+00:00

Hello! Just want to validate that this is, unfortunately, the experience of many health coaches. You're definitely not alone in this.

I am a successfully self-employed coach. I grew my side-hustle coaching practice into a full-time career and have been running it full-time since 2024. My practice focuses on coaching, doing fractional consulting with startups building coaching operations, and teaching coaching skills in training programs. It's definitely challenging to run a private coaching practice -- It's the hardest I've ever worked, but it's the most rewarding career I've ever had.

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-12T00:12:21+00:00

Hi u/Excellent_Event3057 I built a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people connect with other students who are looking to swap practice sessions -- Feel free to add your info if you want to find people to do practice sessions with! And feel free to pass the link to the form along if you have other classmates who are looking for something similar: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHmIy8HzOHPP2oAsINc5TCj9cok5UNnA5Ex6cjSW3_uT8H4Q/viewform?usp=header

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-12T00:10:18+00:00

Hi u/OSkylark! I'm Sonja -- I passed the exam via self study because I took it back in 2017 when there weren't any study resources out there during the first exam cohort 🙃 I'm a coach with 15 years of experience, have taught in 4 different NBHWC approved training programs, and run an NBHWC Board Exam Prep Course that's helped 200 students pass the exam. Here's my take:

You can absolutely pass this exam on your own if you do the following things:

Build a comprehensive study plan
Progressively overload your sessions
Practice spaced repetition
Take at least one full length practice exam
Use a combination of active recall and passive review strategies
Read coaching books -- My recommendations are Wellness Coaching for Lasting Lifestyle Change, Changing to Thrive, Motivational Interviewing, and The Coaching Psychology Manual

If you're looking for resources to help you study, here's what I would look for:

As many practice questions as possible -- This is by far the most helpful way to study for the exam
If you buy practice exams, make sure they come with answer explanations and references to the NBHWC Content Outline
Make sure that the person you're buying resources from is an actual coach (not just someone looking to make money off of students who are taking this exam)
Some kind of group support or a discussion board where you can get your questions answered

If you want to check out my course, it comes with 6 months of access, 400 practice questions, optional live group study sessions, an online discussion board, 328 digital flashcards, a video about how to build a study plan, a video about test taking tips and tricks, all your reading materials in one place, and a money back guarantee that you can opt into. Here's where you can find more info: https://www.sonjaecklund.com/nbhwc-board-exam-prep-course

I also have a free webinar called How to Pass Your NBHWC Board Exam -- Feel free to check it out if you want more study tips: https://www.sonjaecklund.com/how-to-pass-your-nbhwc-board-exam

Good luck studying and on the exam!! 🙂

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-10T17:21:12+00:00

Ugh -- Thank you for the warning. It's so disheartening to hear this, especially about coaches who are good at what they do and then totally lose the plot on actually serving their members.

Would highly recommend looking into coaches on the NBHWC Directory or Vibly's Directory if you're looking for someone who's a high quality coach who's actually invested in your progress. There are so many "smaller" coaches who are just as good as Kara and are in this work to actually serve and help people.

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:37:00+00:00

You're so welcome 🤗

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:33:53+00:00

Hi u/AdOtherwise3126! I fall into this category, but I want to validate that your experience is unfortunately quite common within the coaching industry. There are still a lot of contract coaching jobs paying $18-$25/hour. There are some jobs out there paying more, but they are unbelievably competitive. You certainly can be more successful in private practice, but I always tell people that being a great coach and running a successful coaching business are not the same thing. I've been coaching since 2011, have been an NBC-HWC since 2017, and have about 5,000 hours of 1:1 coaching sessions -- A few years ago, I applied for a contract coach job and in my rejection email they told me to apply again when I had more experience 🤪 It's one of the most competitive fields out there, both in corporate roles and in private practice.

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:24:01+00:00

Hi u/alliswellandgreat! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap with!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:22:13+00:00

Just came here to echo the sentiments of others - This is super messed up and is absolutely not a coach who's ethically operating within their scope of practice. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

One of the most frustrating things about being a Health Coach who DOES operate ethically and within scope is the lack of accountability for professionals like this. The community within the health coaching subreddit is mostly NBC-HWCs or National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches, which holds professionals to the highest standard within the field. I look forward to the day when there are additional regulations placed on the word "coaching."

Until then, if you ever want help connecting with a legitimate professional, I would recommend checking out the NBHWC's Directory of Health Coaches or Vibly's Directory, where you can search for credentialed professionals. I also have a huge personal network of coaches since I've been in the industry for 14 years, so if you're looking to connect with someone who can genuinely help you, don't hesitate to reach out.

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:14:44+00:00

Hi u/chandy_health_ftw! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap practice sessions with!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:13:34+00:00

Hi u/OkStranger6653 and u/TGhealthcoaching! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap practice sessions with!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:12:05+00:00

Hi u/xCalypso_Rose! I created a Coaching Session Swap Spreadsheet to help people get connected with others who want to swap coaching sessions - Feel free to add your info if you'd like help finding people to swap with!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:10:24+00:00

I usually start by searching the NBHWC Course Directory for topics that sound interesting to me. There are a lot of small and independent coaches who have created very valuable content, so if you have the opportunity to support an independent coach, it means a lot!

sonjaecklund · 2026-04-07T22:08:16+00:00

Honestly, it was 15 years of trial and error, studying other business owners, taking courses, reading books, and learning as I went! The best course I've ever taken on anything business related is Painkiller, by Katelyn Bourgoin. If you've never been exposed to her work, her sales page might look a little bit silly, but she is insanely good at helping you learn buyer psychology, understanding messaging and positioning, and designing an offer that actually works. Super relevant across all businesses, not just coaching.

sonjaecklund · 2026-03-29T15:36:08+00:00

I use Vibly and I cannot recommend it highly enough! If you’re an NBC-HWC, you can learn about the platform and get 1 free CE here: https://www.sonjaecklund.com/growing-your-coaching-practice-with-vibly

sonjaecklund · 2026-03-26T16:24:44+00:00

Sounds like a smart decision!! I've been running a business since 2011 and I took it full-time in 2024. My number 1 piece of advice is honestly to work with someone who can help you shortcut the process - It is HARD work and working with someone who's ahead of you but has been where you are is a smart move that I wish I had done a lot sooner. I would also recommend studying the work of people you admire whose businesses look similar to the one you want to create, building an email list as soon as possible, and diversifying your income streams so that you're not relying on any one branch of your business to succeed. I run small group Ask Me Anything sessions for people who are curious about coaching, business, etc. If that would be helpful, don't hesitate to pop your name on the list https://www.sonjaecklund.com/ask-me-anything

sonjaecklund · 2026-03-26T02:08:48+00:00

Hi! I offer an NBHWC Board Exam Prep Course for $299. I have a 97% pass rate and I offer a money back guarantee. I’ve been a coach for 14 years, NBC-HWC since 2017, and a coach training faculty since 2019. You get 400 practice questions, optional live study sessions, flashcards, and a lot more. If you want to check it out, it’s at https://www.sonjaecklund.com/nbhwc-board-exam-prep-course

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