CHC Client-Centered Health Planning & Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client keeps canceling appointments and says they are 'too busy' to work on their health goals. Which coaching response best addresses this barrier?
- Tell the client that health must be their top priority
- Explore what 'too busy' means to the client and identify micro-goals that fit their schedule (Correct answer)
- Reduce session frequency until the client feels ready
- Remind the client of the health risks they face if they don't act now
Correct answer: Explore what 'too busy' means to the client and identify micro-goals that fit their schedule
Exploring the client's experience of busyness and co-creating flexible micro-goals respects their autonomy and removes practical barriers.
Question 2: Which element distinguishes a SMART health goal from a general health intention?
- It is written down by the health coach on behalf of the client
- It includes a specific, measurable action with a defined time frame (Correct answer)
- It focuses on outcomes the coach believes are achievable
- It requires physician approval before implementation
Correct answer: It includes a specific, measurable action with a defined time frame
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, converting vague intentions into actionable commitments.
Question 3: When a client shares sensitive personal health information, a CHC should primarily respond by:
- Documenting the information immediately to review later
- Acknowledging the disclosure with empathy and maintaining confidentiality boundaries (Correct answer)
- Sharing the information with the client's family for support
- Redirecting the conversation to stay on the scheduled agenda
Correct answer: Acknowledging the disclosure with empathy and maintaining confidentiality boundaries
Empathic acknowledgment validates the client's trust while upholding the confidentiality that is foundational to the coaching relationship.
Question 4: A client-centered health plan is MOST effective when it:
- Mirrors best-practice templates used across similar client populations
- Is co-created with the client based on their values, preferences, and readiness (Correct answer)
- Is designed by the coach and presented to the client for approval
- Prioritizes the highest-risk health behaviors identified in a clinical assessment
Correct answer: Is co-created with the client based on their values, preferences, and readiness
Co-creation ensures the plan aligns with the client's intrinsic motivations, increasing commitment and follow-through.
Question 5: Which communication style is MOST aligned with motivational interviewing in health coaching?
- Directing clients toward evidence-based health behaviors
- Asking open-ended questions and reflecting the client's own words back to them (Correct answer)
- Providing expert advice to fill gaps in the client's health knowledge
- Confronting ambivalence with factual data about health risks
Correct answer: Asking open-ended questions and reflecting the client's own words back to them
Motivational interviewing uses open questions and reflective listening to elicit the client's own motivation rather than imposing external direction.
Question 6: A health coach is working with a client who speaks limited English. The best approach is to:
- Simplify goals and use visual aids while arranging for a qualified interpreter if needed (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a coach who speaks their language
- Conduct sessions in writing via email to allow translation
- Focus only on health behaviors that don't require verbal explanation
Correct answer: Simplify goals and use visual aids while arranging for a qualified interpreter if needed
Using visual aids and qualified interpreters ensures the client fully understands their plan while respecting cultural and linguistic needs.
Question 7: When reviewing a client's health action plan at a follow-up session, a CHC should FIRST:
- Identify which goals the client failed to complete and explore why
- Ask the client what they noticed or how things went since the last session (Correct answer)
- Present updated health information relevant to the client's goals
- Revise the plan based on the coach's observations from the previous session
Correct answer: Ask the client what they noticed or how things went since the last session
Opening with the client's own perspective honors their experience and provides insight into progress, challenges, and needed adjustments.
CHC Client-Centered Health Planning & Communication 2
A client keeps canceling appointments and says they are 'too busy' to work on their health goals.
Which coaching response best addresses this barrier?