Wellness Coaches
Wellness coach refers to an individual who is actively working on personal wellness and who is designated to collaborate with others to identify their personal strengths and goals within the eight dimensions of wellness (spiritual, occupational, intellectual, social, physical, environmental, financial, and emotional).
Roles and Responsibilities of a Wellness Coach
- Role model wellness behaviors and actively work on personal wellness goals
- Apply principles and processes of coaching when collaborating with others
- Facilitate wellness groups
- Conduct motivational interventions
- Practice motivational interviewing techniques
- Provide referrals to community resources for nutrition education, weight management, Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, and other wellness-related services and resources
- Create partnerships within the local community to enhance consumer access to resources that support wellness goals
- Raise awareness of wellness initiatives through educational in-service and community training
- Elevate the importance of wellness initiatives within the organization
- Promote a culture of wellness within the organization for both consumers and staff.
- Respect the scope of practice and do not practice outside of it, referring people to appropriate professionals as needed.
Educational requirements include: A behavioral health related associates degree or two years of field experience; and/or an active certification and/or license within the behavioral health field (such as PRSS, Case Management, LBHP, LPN, etc.)
For information on Chapter 17 and the Wellness Coach credential in community mental health centers, please click here.
[Within Chapter 17, see 450: 17-5-145]
For information on Chapter 27 and the Wellness Coach credential in mental illness service programs, please click here.
[Within Chapter 27, see 450: 27-9-6]
Credentialing
The Wellness Coach Training does NOT offer CEU’s but rather the credential of “Behavioral Health Wellness Coach, (BHWC)” which is obtained upon passing the exam given at the end of the training.
To maintain your Wellness Coach credential, you must receive 6 wellness related CEU’s each year. After your training, you have until December 31st of the following year to get 6 CEU’s. You must keep up with receiving 6 CEU’s every year to retain your Wellness Coach credential.
- For example, if you are trained, pass your exam, and are credentialed as a Wellness Coach in January (or any month) of 2021 you have until December 31, 2022 to obtain your 6 wellness CEU’s. Then, you have until December 31, 2023 to receive 6 wellness CEU’s again . . . and so on.
- You must obtain your 6 CEU’s in the same year as your renewal.
- Approval for wellness credit can be requested on a case by case basis for trainings provided within agencies. Please submit a completed CEU request form to the Wellness Division at least two weeks prior to the training date for processing and approval.
CEU Opportunities
- Health Literacy
- Escape the Vape
- Tobacco Free Support Group
- Tobacco Cessation Special Populaions
- Well Body Training
- Diagnosing Tobacco Use Disorder
- Wellness Coach Kids Track
- Seeking Safety
Additional wellness focused trainings may come available and will be announced through the Training Institute.
Renewal
Instructions:
If you DO have an account and a completed Wellness Coach application:
- Log on to ODMHSAS Access Control and click the Registration icon.
- Select the Wellness Coach application, and then click on the Advance to Registration button.
- Once opened, review and update your information if needed.
- Enter your CEU’s on the CEU Information tab.
- Once you have verified your information go ahead and select the Submit button.
- You should receive an email saying that your information has been updated.
- If you have any IT questions feel free to contact our IT Helpdesk at 405-248-9000.
If you DO NOT have an account or a completed Wellness Coach application:
- Go Create an account at: https://ww4.odmhsas.org/approvalregister/CreateAccount.aspx?AppName=&AppId=0
- After the account has been created, you will login and view a list of icons.
- Select the Registration icon.
- Select the Wellness Coach application, and then click on the Advance to Registration button.
- Once opened, please fill out all applicable fields provided on the screen on each tab.
- Enter your CEU’s on the CEU Information tab.
- Once you have verified your information go ahead and select the Submit button.
- You should receive an email saying that your information has been updated.
- If you have any IT questions feel free to contact our IT Helpdesk at 405-248-9000.
You will know your CEU’s went through after you hit submit and your table shows that it is completed and you receive a confirmation e-mail.
You will receive an e-mail from the Wellness Division the first week of January with your updated official BHWC certificate.
