Mastering Health Communication:
Reframing Your Clients' Negative Self-Talk To Better Health
3 CE (HCA)
An evidence-based CEC course that teaches you the science and skill of cognitive reframing — so you can help clients break free from the thinking patterns that keep them stuck.
You hear it in every session
"I'll never stick with this."
What's the point? I always fail."
"I'm just too lazy to exercise."
You know the thought is the problem, not the person. Now you need a reliable, evidence-based framework to help clients see that for themselves — and the confidence to guide the conversation when it matters most. That's exactly what this course builds
By the end of this course, you'll have:
A clear understanding of cognitive reframing
Learn what reframing is, how it differs from positive thinking, and why it's one of the most evidence-supported tools in behaviour change.
Practical frameworks and scripts
Walk away with ready-to-use conversation guides and additional coaching resources for guiding reframing in real sessions.
The ability to spot thinking traps
Develop the skill to recognise common cognitive errors — all-or-nothing thinking, mental filtering, catastrophising — as they show up in your clients' language.
Experience practicing in context
Practice reframing in two different contexts and from both the client and coach perspective. You'll leave with the confidence to begin applying these techniques with your clients.
What's inside the course
This is a structured learning experience that moves from science to practice - so you leave with a skill you can use in your next session, not just a concept you read about.
Learn the Science of Reframing
Build your conceptual foundation for cognitive reframing: what it is, where it comes from, and why it works. You'll understand the specific thinking patterns that keep clients stuck — and the evidence behind reframing as an intervention.
Download the full program overview
Hear from coaches who've taken the course
Course Participant, 2025
Excellent course. The material is in-depth but easy to follow, and you'll walk away with something genuinely new and useful.
Course Participant, 2025
Insightful, engaging, and mentally challenging in the best way — it pushes you to think about the content in new ways. The instructors are clearly passionate about reframing and it shows in every part of the course."
Course Participant, 2025
The course was very informative, presented in a format that made complex content easy to understand. The live practice sessions were the highlight — working through reframing with the caoches helped me see how to apply this in my practice.
This course is built on our own peer-reviewed research
The strategy taught here has been tested, published, and refined through years of academic research by your instructors.
2019
Reframing negative thoughts
Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Examined how common "thinking traps" around exercise can be reframed to increase physical activity. The findings that form the foundation of this course.
2018
Cognitive errors in decision making
Journal of Health Psychology
Demonstrated how people rely on biased thinking when deciding whether to exercise — hyper-focusing on barriers while ignoring motivators.
2025
Reframing barriers for people with Multiple Sclerosis
Disability and Rehabilitation
A proof-of-concept study showing how reframing strategies help individuals with MS navigate barriers to physical activity
Is this course right for you?
This course is designed for:
-
Fitness and health professionals expanding their coaching skills
-
Health coaches seeking approved CE courses (HCA)
-
Dietitians, nurses, and physiotherapists
-
Anyone working in behaviour change who wants a stronger communication toolkit
This may not be the right fit if:
-
You're looking for a full health coaching certification (see our upcoming program)
-
You want clinical therapy training — this is a coaching skill, not a clinical intervention
-
You're looking for general wellness content rather than a professional development course
Learn from the researchers who built the science
Sean Locke, PhD
Lead Instructor · Professor of Behavioural Science
Health psychologist and behavioural scientist whose published research on cognitive errors in health and exercise decisions forms the scientific foundation of this course. Named Innovator of the Year (2025).
Isabelle Hill, MSc, PhD(c)
Lead Instructor · Health Behaviour Scientist
Health behaviour scientist with extensive experience working with individuals managing chronic health conditions. Her research merges behavioural science with real-world coaching techniques to improve health coaching approaches.
Choose Your Enrolment
All plans include full access to every course component — the learning video, interactive module, reframing practice manuals, live virtual practice session, knowledge check quizzes, and your HHC Mastering Health Communication Certificate in Reframing upon completion.
HCA-Coach Discount
CA$149.50
one-time
Open to anyone who holds current HCA-approved coach status. Verification required at checkout.
Everything included:
-
40-minute learning video
-
Interactive reframing module
-
Short-form and long-form practice manuals
-
Coaching resources
-
2-hour live virtual practice session with instructor feedback
-
Knowledge check quizzes
-
HHC Mastering Health Communication Certificate in Reframing
Most Popular
Early Bird
CA$179
one-time
Lock in the reduced rate before the enrolment window closes. Same full course, same certificate — just a better price for acting early. Limited spots per cohort.
Everything included:
-
40-minute learning video
-
Interactive reframing module
-
Short-form and long-form practice manuals
-
Coaching resources
-
2-hour live virtual practice session with instructor feedback
-
Knowledge check quizzes
-
HHC Mastering Health Communication Certificate in Reframing
Standard Enrollment
CA$279
one-time
Standard enrolment at any time while spots remain. Full access to every course component and your certificate upon completion.
Everything included:
-
40-minute learning video
-
Interactive reframing module
-
Short-form and long-form practice manuals
-
Coaching resources
-
2-hour live virtual practice session with instructor feedback
-
Knowledge check quizzes
-
HHC Mastering Health Communication Certificate in Reframing
Questions about which plan is right for you? Get in touch
Frequently asked questions
How long does this course take to complete?
The course is fully self-paced. Most participants complete it in 3 to 5 hours, but you'll have ongoing access so you can revisit the material anytime. The learning videos total approximately 60 minutes, with additional time for guided practice exercises and case study work.
Will I earn continuing education credits?
Yes. This course is approved for 3 continuing education credits (CECs) by the Health Coach Alliance (HCA), the Global Association for Integrative Nutrition (GAIN). Upon successful completion, you'll receive a certificate and your CE credits will be reported to the relevant organization.
Do I need to be a certified health coach to take this course?
No. While this course is designed with health coaches in mind, it's valuable for anyone who works with clients on behaviour change — including fitness professionals, dietitians, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and counsellors. The reframing skills taught in this course are applicable across any helping profession.
How is this different from other coaching communication courses?
This course is built directly on peer-reviewed research published by our founders — including studies on cognitive errors in exercise decisions (Journal of Health Psychology, 2018) and reframing strategies for behaviour change (Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2019). You're not learning generic communication tips; you're learning frameworks that have been tested in research and refined through years of real coaching practice.
What format is the course delivered in?
The course is fully online and self-paced. It includes short video lectures, applied research examples, guided practice exercises where you experience reframing from both the client and coach perspectives, and a final assessment. You can complete it on your own schedule from anywhere.
I already use motivational interviewing — how is reframing different?
Motivational interviewing helps clients explore their own motivation for change. Reframing adds a complementary skill: helping clients identify and restructure the specific thought patterns that keep them stuck — like all-or-nothing thinking, mental filtering, or catastrophising. They work together beautifully. Many coaches find that adding reframing to their MI toolkit makes their sessions significantly more effective.