Your client's biggest barrier isn't knowledge. It's how they think about setbacks.
They know they should exercise. They know what to eat. They've started a dozen times. But the first missed workout, the first bad week, the first setback — and they're done. Not because they lack willpower, but because they lack the mental frameworks to navigate difficulty without quitting.
This course teaches you to recognise maladaptive language patterns in your clients and help them build five adaptive mindsets that make behaviour change sustainable.
My client quits at the first setback
They say things like 'I always fail at this
One bad day erases weeks of progress in their mind
They have the knowledge but not the resilience
By the end of this course, you'll have:
Five adaptive mindsets for lasting change
Learn how GLP-1 receptor agonists work, their safety profiles, common side effects, and what your clients are experiencing — explained for coaches, not clinicians.
The ability to hear maladaptive language
Understand exactly where coaching ends and medical advice begins. Learn how to support clients confidently without overstepping your professional boundaries.
Grounding in the research
Learn specific nutrition, exercise, and behaviour change approaches that complement GLP-1 therapy — including navigating sensory shifts, plateaus, and the transition off medication.
Practice through applied case studies
Develop language and coaching approaches for discussing weight stigma, medication shame, body image, and the complex emotions your clients may be experiencing.
What's inside the course
This course teaches you to recognise the language patterns that signal your client is thinking in ways that undermine their progress — and gives you five adaptive mindsets to help them build the resilience that makes habit change last.
Start With the Science of Mindset
Begin with foundational research on growth mindset — one of the most influential psychological frameworks of the last three decades. This video explores the difference between fixed and growth mindset, how mindset shapes responses to difficulty, and the evidence for mindset interventions in health and behaviour change contexts.
Download the full program overview
Why learn this from us
Grounded in research
This course starts with foundational work on growth mindset — one of the most influential psychological frameworks of the last three decades — and applies it specifically to health coaching contexts.
Language pattern recognition
A unique feature of this course: you'll develop the ability to hear maladaptive language in real time and know exactly how to respond.
Specific Frameworks
Each of the five adaptive mindsets is a specific, research-supported thinking pattern with practical coaching applications. This is structured skill-building, not motivational speaking.
Connects to the full MHC series
Adaptive mindsets work hand-in-hand with the Reframing course (which teaches how to restructure specific thoughts) and the Tiny Experiments course (which gives clients a resilience-friendly approach to action).
Is this course right for you?
This course is designed for:
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Health coaches and professionals working with clients who quit after setbacks
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Coaches interested in the psychology of behaviour change resilience
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Fitness and wellness professionals who want mindset coaching tools
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Healthcare professionals working with patients on long-term behaviour change
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Anyone who wants to understand and apply growth mindset research in coaching
This may not be the right fit if:
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You're looking for clinical psychology or therapy training
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You want a full coaching certification (see our upcoming program)
Meet your instructors
Sean Locke, PhD
Lead Instructor · Professor of Behavioral Science
Isabelle Hill, MSc, PhD(c)
Lead Instructor · Health Behaviour Scientist
Enroll Now
Adaptive Mindsets
CA$99
one-time
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Learning video covering five adaptive mindsets, maladaptive language recognition, and coaching techniques (40–60 minutes)
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Applied case study — identify maladaptive mindsets and coach a client struggling with diet after hockey, with personalized feedback
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Additional resources: Videos, posts, blogs, articles and coaching resources.
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Ongoing access to all course materials
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HHC Mastering Health Communication: Adaptive Mindsets Certificate upon completion
Questions about which plan is right for you? Get in touch
Frequently asked questions
Is this just about growth mindset?
Growth mindset is one of the five adaptive mindsets covered, but the course goes well beyond it. You'll learn five distinct mindset patterns, how to recognise their maladaptive counterparts in client language, and specific techniques for facilitating shifts in each.
How is this different from the Reframing course?
Reframing teaches you to restructure specific unhelpful thoughts (like 'I'm too lazy to exercise'). Adaptive Mindsets teaches broader thinking patterns that determine how clients respond to difficulty over time. They're complementary — reframing is a tool, mindsets are the foundation.
How long does the course take?
Approximately 70 minutes for core content (videos + readings). The case study adds another 30 minutes. Fully self-paced with ongoing access.