ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

What approach should a health coach take to enhance a client’s sense of self-efficacy?

1. Encouragement

2. Directive instruction

3. Modeling

4. Empathy

The correct answer is: Encouragement

To enhance a client's sense of self-efficacy, the most effective approach is through encouragement. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their own capabilities to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. When a health coach offers encouragement, it helps to boost the client's confidence and reinforces their belief in their ability to achieve their goals. This positive reinforcement can empower clients to take on challenges and persist in the face of setbacks, fostering resilience and a proactive attitude toward their health and well-being. While all approaches can play a role in client development, encouragement specifically targets the emotional and psychological aspects vital to building self-efficacy. Directive instruction and modeling can be useful, but they do not directly bolster a client's underlying belief in their abilities as effectively as encouragement does. Empathy, on the other hand, is essential for establishing a supportive relationship but may not specifically enhance self-efficacy on its own without the positive reinforcement provided by encouragement.