Managing Mental Health with Long COVID:
A CBT-Informed Approach for Health & Wellness Coaches
Course Description:
This 12-hour course equips National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches with knowledge and skills to support individuals experiencing Long COVID and related mental health challenges. Emphasis is placed on psychoeducation, behavior change strategies, and CBT-informed tools to promote psychological flexibility, emotional regulation, and value-driven goal setting. Content includes pacing strategies, cognitive and behavioral approaches, and coaching within scope across varied Long COVID symptom presentations.
Target Audience:
This 12-hour continuing education course is designed for National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWCs) and other health professionals who support individuals managing Long COVID. The target audience includes coaches and care team members working in primary care, integrative health, behavioral health, public health, and community-based settings. It is ideal for those working with patients experiencing persistent symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, depression, or post-viral disability. This course is well-suited for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of Long COVID and apply evidence-based coaching strategies to support recovery, resilience, and long-term symptom management.
Course Overview
Estimated Course Length: 12
CE Credits: 12
CE Information:
Toivoa Coaching has been approved by the NBHWC to provide continuing education for National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches.
Course Number: CEA-100118-1
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the course participants will be able to:
• Identify and explain key symptoms and psychosocial impacts of Long COVID
• Apply core CBT concepts such as cognitive distortions, defusion, and behavioral activation
• Facilitate client-centered values clarification and goal setting
• Use pacing and behavioral strategies for symptom management
• Support clients experiencing cognitive, fatigue, and emotional symptoms
• Apply coaching strategies within scope of practice
Course Outline:
Module 1 (2 hours)
Overview – Definitions, Subtypes, & Impact
- Definition and symptom spectrum
- Long COVID presentations
- Psychosocial impact
- Coaching scope overview
- Symptom variability
Module 2 (2 hours)
Long COVID Mechanisms & Management
- Overview of biological factors influencing Long COVID
- Fatigue and energy management
- Pacing strategies
- Coaching within physiological limits
- Behavior change support
Module 3 (2.5 hours)
Understanding Persistent Symptoms
- Cognitive and emotional symptom patterns
- Brain-body interaction concepts (within coaching scope)
- Stress and symptom interaction
- Coaching assessment considerations
Module 4 (2.5 hours)
Support Strategies for Persistent Symptoms
- Cognitive strategies (reappraisal, defusion)
- Behavioral activation
- Approach-oriented behaviors
- Values-based action
- Goal setting strategies
Module 5 (1 hour)
Maintenance & Relapse Prevention
- Identifying goals of maintenance
- Troubleshooting plateaus
- Managing flare-ups
- Sustaining behavior change
Module 6 (2 hours)
Coaching Applications & Scope of Practice
- Coaching workflow
- Case examples
- Scope of practice review
- Referral considerations
- Integration of pacing and CBT strategies
Instructional Format & Assessment
- Slide decks for each module.
- Case studies and client scenarios
- Knowledge checks (5–10 multiple choice/short answer questions per module).
- Quizzes per module
- 80% pass required
- Post-course feedback survey.
Instructional Method:
Asynchronous/On-Demand
Participation Costs: $400
Instructor Qualifications:
• Dr. Alex Kirk, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
• Dr. Brenda Buffington, EdD, NBC-HWC
• Christopher King, NBC-HWC
Accessibility Accommodations:
Closed captioning of all audio and video components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email: CKing@toivoacoaching.com