A Proven Path to Becoming a Health & Wellness Coach
Our Health and Wellness Coach Training is a comprehensive NBHWC-approved 75-hour program that blends 80% live, interactive sessions with 20% pre-recorded modules to give you both flexibility and real-time practice. You will learn evidence-based skills such as Motivational Interviewing, neuroplasticity, positive psychology, and holistic lifestyle coaching, all grounded in neuroscience and bio-psycho-social principles.
Upcoming Start Dates: Dec 8, 2025 · Feb 16, 2026 · Mar 16, 2026 · May 11 , 2026 · Jun 15, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026
What is Pain Coaching & Why is It Needed?
Pain coaching is a personalized, evidence-based practice that empowers clients with tools and strategies to better manage chronic pain.
Pain Coaching is a young profession, but it is on a remarkable growth trajectory. The awareness and demand for Pain Coaches is rising fast. With over 52 million adults in the United States alone living with chronic pain, the need for compassionate, skilled Pain Coaches will only continue to increase.
At Pain Coach Academy, students learn the essential skills needed to become a Pain Coach through hands-on in-class practice, lectures from experienced chronic Pain Coaches, and personalized one-on-one mentoring. Each element is designed to build confidence and enhance each coach’s unique gifts and strengths. Our training combines insights from leading published experts in the field with the real-life coaching experience of some of the earliest chronic Pain Coaches.
Become a Coach in 3 Steps…
The Training
Our Health and Wellness Coach Training is a comprehensive NBHWC-approved 75-hour program that blends 80% live, interactive sessions with 20% pre-recorded modules to give you both flexibility and real-time practice. You will learn evidence-based skills such as Motivational Interviewing, neuroplasticity, positive psychology, and holistic lifestyle coaching, all grounded in neuroscience and bio-psycho-social principles.
Small class sizes ensure you receive personal attention, with one-on-one mentoring from experienced instructors and interactive practicums built into every class. The combination of live teaching, pre-recorded lessons, and individual coaching creates a dynamic and supportive learning environment proven effective by the powerful testimonials of our graduates, who consistently highlight why this program sets the standard in health and wellness coaching.
*Actual income varies based on factors such as employment type (working for a business or self-employed), location, and experience. Some apprenticeship positions may pay less, while in higher-cost areas and with more experience, rates can reach considerably more per hour.
FAQs
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Coaching is a non-judgmental partnership that focuses on strengths and solutions rather than weaknesses and barriers. Pain Coaching specifically supports people living with chronic pain by combining coaching skills with pain neuroscience education. It is built on trust, rapport, and confidentiality.
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A Pain Coach partners with clients to help them live more fully, despite pain. Rather than providing medical advice, a Pain Coach helps clients:
Understand how pain works in the brain and body
Explore new coping tools and lifestyle strategies
Build resilience, confidence, and hope
Take ownership of their health decisions
Reconnect with activities and purpose that matter to them
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A Pain Coach partners with clients to help them live more fully, despite pain. Rather than providing medical advice, a Pain Coach helps clients:
Reduce fear and catastrophizing
Improve sleep, mood, and daily habits
Strengthen supportive habits like movement and stress management
Find renewed purpose and quality of life
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Pain Coaches work with individuals living with chronic pain, including conditions like arthritis, cancer-related pain, CRPS, fibromyalgia, joint pain (lower back, neck, etc), migraine, neuropathy, and more. Coaches also support caregivers, family members, and people adjusting to life with long-term health challenges.
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17 weeks of training
2 live, virtual classes per week (2 hours each)
Approximately 75 hours total
Curriculum includes 7 books, the neuroscience of pain, and coaching skills
Classes are small (around 25 students), encouraging personal interaction
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The training is intentionally designed to be rigorous but manageable. Most of our students work full-time and have families. With live classes scheduled in advance and strong faculty support, the program is structured to mirror real-life circumstances.
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We understand that things come up along the way. You may miss up to 6 classes in the Health and Wellness training . All sessions are recorded, and you are required to review the recordings for any missed sessions.
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Graduates qualify to sit for the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches exam, and many opt to complete our Advanced Pain Coach Training.
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Historically, students have an average of 90%+, well above average compared to other programs.
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Our program is a $3,500 investment. With live training, small class sizes, and a high-quality learning experience—plus industry-leading NBHWC exam pass rates and strong career opportunities—most students find the value far exceeds the cost.
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Students will be introduced to core theories of coaching, including positive psychology and the stages of change, while exploring evidence-based approaches to facilitate client growth.
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Students will examine how the brain processes and maintains pain, with a focus on neuroplasticity and its role in recovery and resilience.
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Students will develop professional communication techniques such as active listening, OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries), and structured strategies for engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning in coaching conversations.
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Students will investigate the interplay between physical health, emotional well-being, and cognition, practicing tools such as mindfulness, relaxation, and self-compassion to promote lasting behavioral change.
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Students will apply ethical principles, explore case scenarios, and integrate coaching theory into real-world practice through guided exercises and discussions.
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Students will engage in supervised practice sessions with classmates, fostering skill development and confidence in a collaborative learning environment.
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Each student will receive one-on-one mentoring from highly trained coaching professionals, ensuring personalized feedback, professional modeling, and individualized academic support.
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Students will complete open-book reading exams designed to reinforce comprehension, provide practice with Q&A style questions, and confirm mastery of key curriculum content.
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Students will learn how to design and conduct professional coaching sessions — including flow, structure, and progression — to ensure they enter the field with clarity, confidence, and readiness for practice.
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Students will be trained to recognize and skillfully respond when clients feel resistant or stuck, using evidence-based strategies to maintain progress and empower sustainable change.
Testimonials
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"The instructors in this course were very knowledgable and cared that we were not only learning but understanding the concepts of coaching. They helped me get more comfortable with how to leave space in a conversation and offer reflections that challenge a person to look deeper inside themselves."
- James L.
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"This was a great course! I feel so much more confident in my coaching skills after experiencing the great instructors, course content, and extremely helpful mentoring sessions. Whether you're a brand new coach or have been coaching for years, this course will set you up for success and take your coaching to a new level."
- Michaela A.
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"When I first started with Pain Coach Academy, I had some coaching experience, but not a lot. My confidence in being able to help others was pretty low. After completing the course, I feel I am better equipped to listen, and guide my clients to reach whatever goal they are seeking. Thank you for helping me on my own journey to becoming the coach I want to be!"
- Karla B.