CN Health & Wellness Coaching 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client says, 'I know I should eat more vegetables, but I just can't seem to make it happen.' According to motivational interviewing, what type of talk is this?
- Change talk with sustain talk elements (Correct answer)
- Pure resistance
- Precontemplation denial
- Discord in the coaching relationship
Correct answer: Change talk with sustain talk elements
The statement contains both change talk ('I should eat more vegetables') and sustain talk ('I can't make it happen'), a common ambivalence pattern.
Question 2: In the Transtheoretical Model, a client who plans to start a walking program within the next 30 days and has bought walking shoes is in which stage?
- Preparation (Correct answer)
- Contemplation
- Action
- Precontemplation
Correct answer: Preparation
Preparation is marked by intention to act within 30 days plus small concrete steps toward the behavior.
Question 3: Which coaching response best demonstrates a complex reflection?
- 'It sounds like family dinners feel like the one time you can connect, so changing them feels risky.' (Correct answer)
- 'So you eat dinner with your family every night.'
- 'Why don't you just cook healthier meals?'
- 'Have you tried meal prepping on Sundays?'
Correct answer: 'It sounds like family dinners feel like the one time you can connect, so changing them feels risky.'
A complex reflection adds meaning or emotion beyond the client's literal words rather than simply repeating content.
Question 4: A wellness coach notices a client repeatedly sets ambitious goals and abandons them within a week. What is the most appropriate coaching strategy?
- Collaborate to scale goals down to small, highly achievable steps to build self-efficacy (Correct answer)
- Set stricter accountability penalties for missed goals
- Take over goal-setting so goals are realistic
- Refer the client to a psychologist immediately
Correct answer: Collaborate to scale goals down to small, highly achievable steps to build self-efficacy
Small wins build self-efficacy, which Bandura identified as a key predictor of sustained behavior change.
Question 5: Which of the following falls OUTSIDE the scope of practice for a nutritionist acting as a wellness coach?
- Diagnosing a client's binge eating disorder (Correct answer)
- Exploring a client's ambivalence about exercise
- Helping a client set a SMART hydration goal
- Providing general education on fiber-rich foods
Correct answer: Diagnosing a client's binge eating disorder
Diagnosing eating disorders is reserved for licensed mental health or medical professionals; coaches should refer out.
Question 6: During a session, a client becomes tearful discussing emotional eating after her divorce. The coach's best immediate response is to:
- Acknowledge the emotion with empathy and assess whether a mental health referral is needed (Correct answer)
- Change the subject to keep the session positive
- Analyze her childhood attachment patterns
- Prescribe a structured meal plan to remove food decisions
Correct answer: Acknowledge the emotion with empathy and assess whether a mental health referral is needed
Empathic acknowledgment maintains rapport while screening for issues that exceed coaching scope and warrant referral.
Question 7: Which question is the best example of an open-ended question in a wellness coaching session?
- 'What would a successful week of eating look like for you?' (Correct answer)
- 'Did you track your meals this week?'
- 'Do you want to lose ten pounds?'
- 'Is breakfast your hardest meal?'
Correct answer: 'What would a successful week of eating look like for you?'
Open-ended questions invite elaboration and client-generated ideas rather than yes/no answers.
CN Health & Wellness Coaching 2
A client says, 'I know I should eat more vegetables, but I just can't seem to make it happen.' According to motivational interviewing, what type of talk is this?