“Patients really benefit by having a Whole Health Educator, who has the time to sit with them; where the focus of that encounter is purely educational. And it really helps to empower people so they can make health choices and decisions that are right for them.”

— Stephanie Stevens, M.D.
Former Medical Director of Cardiac Care Department
and Alternative & Complementary Medicine Department
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Boston

In addition to a comprehensive, evidence-based, whole person health science understanding, a credentialed Whole Health and wellness professional must possess knowledge and competencies reflective of appropriate patient information counseling along with relationship building and communication skills.

The NIWH Whole Health case-study programs provide evidence-based health knowledge, patient health information counseling skills and wellness coaching competencies. Each of the four (4) offered Whole Health progams have a unique case-study and final paper project. The experience of the Whole Health case-study provides the learner the opportunity to apply these important tools with volunteer clients.

In previous years, when the NIWH programs were conducted in-person at Boston area hospitals, students would arrange for a supervised internship at area hospitals, health practices, clinics and medical facilities. Today, with the advent of our on-line health programs, NIWH learners complete a self-directed case-study research project with volunteer clients to complete their program requirement.

These case studies are required to be completed as a means of demonstrating the learner's competencies in Whole Health Education, Whole Health Nutrition or Whole Health Coaching skills.
Each Whole Health program has specific requirements for successful completion.  Below is a comprehensive overview for each of the Whole Health program case-study research requirements. Listed are the additional on-line, case-study preparatory courses,the case-study research requirements and length of the final paper project.

The additional case-study preparatory courses and the number of case studies vary for each Whole Health program. The primary objective of this research component is for the learner to learn and demonstrate their knowledge and skill,s and in addition, receive feedback on their case- study and final paper project submission.

The Whole Health Case-Study Research Requirements

"Our clinic at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital was for poor and chronically ill patients who
wanted to deal with refractory pain conditions. They were a difficult patient population.
Between 1980 and 1989, each year we placed at least one or two interns from NESWHE
[now the National Institute of Whole Health] to perform health education counseling with
our clients. These interns were always well educated, sensitive, willing to work hard and
able to re-moralize and spark renewed interest in health and well-being in our difficult
patients.

We came to rely on these placements because their enthusiasm for helping was a critical component of our clinical work to re-direct our patients towards a sense of self-help and self-reliance. On all levels, our relationships with NESWHE [National Institute of Whole Health] and its students was professional and of great value to our program."

— Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
Ted Kapchuk, OMD, Former Clinical Director
Pain & Stress Relief Clinic Out-Patient Services
Jamaica Plain, MA

The Whole Health Educator™ with wellness coaching skills program is open to credentialed allied health, education and wellness professionals. Case-study and research requirements include:

• learner has received a passing grade for all 24 core courses as well as a grade
  above 85% on the comprehensive final proctored exam
• learner must complete four (4) prepatory courses required to begin their case studies
  1. Introduction to Principals of Coaching
  2. Behavioral Engagement
  3. Coaching Principals Part II
  4. Peer Counseling
• learner must identify three (3) clients who will become their required three case-studies
• learner must submit comprehensive documentation including the health information research they will complete for each client
• learner must submit a Final Project paper, a minimum of 100 double spaced pages, focused on the three case studies, the health information the learner provided the clients, as well as the resultant outcomes. Learner is required to document the health information materials utilized with each client

The Whole Health Educator™ for Nurses with health coaching skills program is open to licensed nursing professionals only. Case-study and research requirements include:

• learner has received a passing grades for all 24 core courses as well as a grade above 85% on the comprehensive final proctored exam
• learner must complete five (5) tutorial courses required to begin their case studies
  1. Principals of Coaching I
  2. Principals of Coaching II
  3. Peer Counseling
  4. Behavioral Engagement
  5. Sacredness of Relationships
• learner must identify two (2) clients who will become their required two case-studies 
• learner must submit a final paper, a minimum of 35-40 double spaced pages, focused on the two case-studies, health information the learner provided the clients, as well as how the learner will apply the whole heath knowledge and health coaching skills presented in the program

The Whole Health Nutrition Educator™ program is only open to licensed, credentialed nutrition professionals who can legally practice nutrition counseling, as well as culinary professionals with a degree and recognized certification in culinary arts who are completing the NIWH program to enhance their culinary nutrition competencies. Case-studies and research requirements include:

• learner has received a passing grades for all 24 core courses as well as a grade above 85% on the comprehensive final proctored exam
• learner must complete five (5) tutorial courses required to begin their case studies
  1. Health and Longevity
  2. Nutrition, Blood and Genotype
  3. Success through Integrity
  4. Peer Counseling
  5. Behavioral Engagement
• learner must identify four (4) clients who will become the required four case-studies
• learner must submit a final paper, a minimum of 50 double spaced pages, focused on the four (4) case studies, the nutrition and health information the learner provided the clients, as well as how the client responded and utilized the information provided by the learner. Learner is required to demonstrate the comprehensive nutrition health information research provided to each client

The Whole Health Coaching™ program with whole health science courses is open to licensed, clinically trained mental health professionals, social workers and therapists only. Case-study and research requirements include:

• learner has received a passing grades for all 24 core courses as well as a grade above 85% on the comprehensive final proctored exam
• learner must complete five (5) tutorial courses required to begin case studies
  1. Principals of Coaching Part I
  2. Principals of Coaching Part II
  3. Behavioral Engagement
  4. Mindful Listening Part II
  5. Peer Counseling
• learner must identify three (3) clients who will become the three required case-studies
• learner is advised to complete the optional health coaching practicum with Linda Bark, RN, PhD, Master Certified Coach, which includes two (2) additional coaching case-study clients
• learner must submit a final paper, a minimum of 50 double spaced pages, focused on the three (3) case studies, the information the learner provided the clients, as well as how the client responded and utilized the information provided by the learner. Learner is required to document the comprehensive health information research completed for each client