College Culture Competencies and the Health and Wellness Coach
An Informed Approach for Health & Wellness Coaches
Course Description:
This 12-hour advanced training prepares NBHWC-certified coaches to confidently support college students navigating one of the most formative transitions of their lives. Emerging adulthood is a unique period of growth, independence, and vulnerability, where patterns around health and wellbeing are often established. This course blends student development theory, behavior change strategies, and the realities of campus life to provide a comprehensive understanding of student needs. Coaches will learn how to support common challenges such as sleep disruption, substance use, and disordered eating, using practical, ethical, and student-centered approaches.
Target Audience:
NBHWC-Certified Health & Wellness Coaches seeking to strengthen their knowledge and skills in supporting college students and emerging adults navigating health, wellness, and behavior change within the context of college and university environments.
Course Overview
Estimated Course Length: 12 Hours
Proposed CE Credits: 12
CE Information:
NBHWC CE Approval: Pending
Course Number: Pending Approval
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe commonly used student development theories.
- Identify common structures seen at 2- and 4-year institutions.
- Apply student development theory and common challenges seen on college campuses to common coaching tools.
- Integrate trauma-informed and culturally humble strategies when supporting college students
- Identify common challenges faced by current college students
- Apply ethical guidelines and learn how to make appropriate referrals.
Course Outline:
(12 Hours Total)
Module 1: Foundational Understanding of the College Population (1 hr)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Basics of Student Development Theory
- Identity formation, autonomy, values exploration
- Common stressors: academic, social, financial, existential
Core Competencies: 1.4, 2, 5.2.3
Module 2: Technology, Social Media, and Wellbeing (2 hrs)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Screen time and attention fragmentation
- Social comparison and body image
- Sleep disruption
- Coaching around mindful use (not elimination)
Core Competencies: 3.1.9, 5.2.6, 5.2.10
Module 3: Mental Health and the College Student (2.5 hrs)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Common mental health concerns of college students
- Mental health and its academic impact
- Breaking the stigma, let’s talk about it
- Staying within scope and mental health concerns
Core Competencies: 3.4, 3.5, 4.2, 5.2.8, 5.3.
Module 4: Nutrition, Body Image, and Disordered Eating (1.5 hr)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- College as a high-risk time
- Irregular eating patterns (skipping meals, late-night eating)
- Diet culture, body image concerns and social comparison
- Dining hall dynamics and budget-friendly nutrition
Core Competencies: 4.2, 5.2.2, 5.2.3, 5.3
Module 5: Substance Use, Harm Reduction, and Recovery (1.5 hrs)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Alcohol use culture (binge drinking)
- Vaping, cannabis, stimulants (academic misuse)
- Harm reduction vs. abstinence approaches
- Scholastic Recovery
Core Competencies: 4.2, 5.2.8, 5.3
Module 6: Gambling and the College Student (1 hr)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Gambling basics & connection to wellness
- E-Sports, what are they
- Sports betting and the college student
- Gaming and the college student
Core Competencies: 2, 3.4, 3.5, 5.1
Module 7: Sleep, Stress, and Nervous System Regulation (1.5 hrs)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Irregular schedules, all-nighters, common sleep disorders
- Technology use and sleep hygiene
- Impact on focus, mood, cognition, and appetite
- Simple regulation tools
Core Competencies: 5.2.6, 5.2.7, 5.3
Module 8: Relationships, Boundaries, and Wellbeing (1 hr)
Format: Pre-Recorded Lecture
- Peer dynamics and belonging
- Dating, consent, and communication
- Boundary-setting skills
- Loneliness and social anxiety
Core Competencies: 3.4.7, 3.8, 5.2.9, 5.2.10
Instructional Format & Assessment
- Pre-recorded Lectures/Webinars:
- Video Content: Instructors record lectures, presentations, or demonstrations that learners can watch at their convenience. Including slides, visual aids, and pre-recorded demonstrations of coaching techniques through demonstrated client coach role plays
- Narrated PowerPoints: Similar to video lectures, these are often PowerPoint presentations with synchronized audio narration by the instructor.
2. Reading Materials
- Case Studies: Written scenarios that describe client situations, allowing learners to apply theoretical knowledge to practical coaching challenges.
Course Assessment Criteria:
To successfully complete the course and demonstrate mastery in an asynchronous learning environment, participants will be evaluated on the following:
- Completion of all modules: All assigned course modules and associated learning activities must be fully completed.
- Successful completion of each module posttest (requiring a score of 80% or higher).
Instructional Method:
Asynchronous/On-Demand
Participation Costs: $400
Instructor Qualifications:
Jessica Estok, LCDP, CADC, CCTP, MA
- Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional, Delaware
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Delaware
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
- Presenter at Association for Recovery in Higher Ed National Conference (2023, 2024)
- ARHE National Award – Outstanding Service 2024
- Former Co-President ARHE Advisory Council
- Co-Author Ethical Considerations for the Collegiate Recovery Professional
Christopher S. King, MS, NBC-HWC
• National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach
• M.S. in Palliative Care, University of Maryland, Baltimore
• B.A. in Psychology, University of British Columbia
• Executive Director, Faculty & Mentor, Toivoa Coaching Academy
• Experience in clinical research and evidence-based practice in behavioral health
• Health and wellness coaching expertise, including veteran-centric coaching and experience within the VA healthcare system
Accessibility Accommodations:
Closed captioning of all audio and video components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email: CKing@toivoacoaching.com