Able Best Practices | Able: Coaching Center

Code of Conduct

Scope of Practice and Best Practices

Build rapport - this helps to solidify your relationship with the client to make them feel comfortable with you which can lead to an enhanced coaching relationship that ultimately helps them to excel.
Care about client retention and experience. We aim to optimize the chat experience to be second to none.
Go above and beyond to exceed client expectations and never let the client leave because the conversation goes off script or the client enquires about a special meal plan or similar. Be creative, work around inquiry, and do your best to satisfy the client.
Give recommendations based on their data -> food journal, intake form, and profile. If the client doesn’t track their info - dig deeper, and encourage them to so that you can help them achieve their goals faster.
Review client journals regularly and touch base with the client as often as possible. E.g you saw an unhealthy meal in a client's journal. You immediately sent a tip - how about replacing it with X or Y? Do you want me to share a healthy recipe? Or if it's a client's favorite meal then probably just tweaking a few ingredients would be a win too.
Cheer clients up for every small win/implemented change/multiple days of focusing on foods/increasing their movement and steps per day etc. Positive reinforcement can make all the difference!
As health coaches, we do not offer clients any clinical or medical advice.
We are here to guide and support the client, not to prescribe to them. Only share suggestions (on issues within the scope of practice) if the client explicitly asks for them, or if you have asked first. For example:
1. “Are you open to hearing some ideas that might help you reduce snacking?”
2. “Would you mind if I shared some indoor exercise ideas with you that you could try?”
3. “Would you mind if I shared some indoor exercise ideas with you that you could try?”
We do not share suggestions for any clinical issues, under any circumstances. If the client asks for advice for an injury, medical condition, mental health struggle, etc. then we must re-direct them to their physician. This includes potential diet or weight-related conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.
We do not contradict the opinion of the client’s primary care doctor, GP, or specialist consultant. If you feel that the client could benefit from a second opinion, this can be posed as a suggestion. For example:
1. “You still seem a little unsure, despite your doctor’s advice. Could it be helpful to reach out to another doctor for a second opinion?”
2. “It sounds like you are still struggling with this issue, despite following all your doctor’s advice. I’m wondering if it could be beneficial to reach out to them again, or seek out a second opinion from another doctor?”
We cannot suggest to the client any particular doctor’s surgery, clinic, or practice. We can offer specific government/charity help locally to them when it comes to mental health, disordered eating, drug/alcohol abuse, etc. These will vary by country and US State.
As every person is different, the best practice is to use speculative language, e.g., “may”, “might”, “could”, “can”, and “suggests”. For example, You must exercise more to lose weight” vs “To reach your goal, it can be helpful to add some exercise to your routine. What are your thoughts on this?”
Accountability. A lot of people need someone who can hold them accountable at the initial stages when implementing change. We have found that some clients like the assurance that you are that helping hand. Frequent and short check-ins can really help a client to feel like you are holding them accountable.
Use short messages, more like a WhatsApp style, rather than long ones to make the whole experience more friendly and native.
There’s a reason why we don’t have a calorie counter -we don’t count calories! It’s not about calories in vs. calories out and it’s also not about having a calorie deficit in order to lose weight - the body just doesn’t work that way long term. Instead, we focus on eating whole foods with fiber, good fats, and high-quality proteins. There is no such thing as a low-fat, low-calorie avocado!
DO NOT send any personal affiliate links, or make any specific recommendations for vitamins or supplements.
DO NOT ask your client for their personal contact details including email or phone number or contact them outside of Able’s platform. You will be banned immediately from coaching on our platform (see section 9 in the Terms of Service for Coaches).