Module 1: Coaching Fundamentals

Just for OT: Practitioner to Coach Program

An 4-week, 12-hour live virtual course focused on coaching skills for occupational therapy practice.
Module 1 of the Just for OT: Practitioner to Coach Program introduces occupational therapy practitioners to the foundations of health and wellness coaching as an occupational therapy intervention. This module provides a shared conceptual framework for understanding what coaching is, how it fits within OT scope and ethics, and how coaching supports health behavior change and occupational engagement. Enrollment in the Just for OT: Practitioner to Coach Program is a prerequsite for enrollment in Module 1.

This module establishes the groundwork for subsequent skill development by focusing on scope, ethics, theory, and process rather than discrete techniques.

Format

Live, virtual course with self-directed and synchronous components

Total Hours

12 instructional hours over 4 weeks

Target Audience

Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapy Students, Occupational Therapy Assistant Students. 

Level

Introductory

Category

Occupational Therapy Service Delivery, Professional Issues, Foundational Knowledge

Instructional Methods

Live and recorded lectures with presentation slides, Guided reflection activities, Curated additional resources, Case study scenarios, Practical application exercises, Interactive discussion

A few words about this course

Module 1 lays the conceptual groundwork for the Just for OT: Practitioner to Coach Program. Participants explore what health and wellness coaching is, how it fits within occupational therapy scope and ethics, and how the coaching process supports behavior change and occupational engagement.

Participants will engage in structured discussion and case-based exploration, creating opportunities for shared learning, professional dialogue, and the development of a learning community within the cohort.


What You'll Learn

  • Develop a clear understanding of what health and wellness coaching is and is not
  • Examine ethical and scope considerations related to integrating coaching skills into occupational therapy practice
  • Learn the coaching process from start to finish
  • Explore how health behavior change happens and how coaching facilitates sustainable change
  • Understand how coaching supports occupational engagement, participation, and health management

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:

1) Describe health and wellness coaching, including ethical principles and scope boundaries.

2) Describe the coaching process from initiation through completion.

3) Explain how health behavior change occurs and how coaching strategies facilitate sustainable behavior change.


Agenda & Weekly Schedule

Participants enroll in either the Thursday or Saturday cohort and are expected to attend live sessions on their selected day. With instructor approval, participants may attend the alternate cohort on a limited basis to prevent absences. Each cohort includes two designated backup dates. If an instructor-led session must be canceled, the curriculum will shift by one week and the cohort will meet during a scheduled backup week. Participants are expected to reserve availability for these backup dates when enrolling.

Weekly Agenda

This schedule applies to each weekly class


Recorded lecture (1-hour)

2-hour Live Session

  • Introduction and questions from recorded content (20 min)
  • Instructor overview and conceptual framing (20 min)
  • Case-based discussion & application (40 min)
  • Group share-out and discussion (30 min)
  • Closing, integration, & wrap up (10 min)




Thursday Evening 
8 PM - 11 PM Eastern
May 28
June 4
June 11
June 18
June 25 (Back up week 1)
July 9 (Back up week 2)



Saturday Morning Cohort
9 AM - 12 PM Eastern
May 30
June 6
June 13
June 20
June 27 (Back up week 1)
July 11 (Back up week 2)

Course Completion and Cancellation Policy

Course Completion:  To receive CEU credit, participants must complete all 12 instructional hours, including required recorded content and live session participation. Participants may miss up to two live sessions across Modules 1 and 2 combined and view the corresponding recordings with instructor approval. On occasion, and with instructor approval, participants may attend a live session with the alternate cohort; attendance at the alternate session does not count as an absence. If a participant misses more than two live sessions during the module, the participant will be withdrawn from the cohort. The participant may re-enroll and complete the module during the next offering of the series. The series is offered at least two times per year.

Participants must pay for the Module 1 in full, complete a post-course evaluation, and complete an exam with a passing score of 70% to receive credit.


Learner Cancellation: A full refund is available if cancellation is received at least 24 hours prior to the start of Module 1. No refunds will be issued once Module 1 has begun.


Organization Cancellation or Schedule Changes: If a live session must be canceled due to instructor illness, inclement weather, or other unforeseen circumstances, the curriculum will shift by one week and the class will be held during a designated backup date. Participants are expected to maintain availability for two backup dates. If a participant is unable to attend a backup date, the participant may complete the module during the next offering of the series. The series is offered at least two times per year.


Program Cancellation: If the course is canceled by Aspire OT, all registered participants will receive a full refund.

Special Needs and Accommodations: Please contact the Program Director for any special needs or accommodation requests at jschwartz@aspireot.us

What OTs and OTAs are saying

“It’s relevant in the field of OT as it can directly affects our patient’s daily lives and activities as well as functional ability, treatment, performance and outcomes.”


— Occupational Therapy Practitioner in Jaclyn's Course OTs Role in Medication Management

“I would recommend this course to other practitioners to educate them on our role with medication management and how we can help patients and also our treatment as well.”

— Occupational Therapy Practitioner in Jaclyn's Course OTs Role in Medication Management

“Very organized and informative overview of the topic; included information to take and apply immediately.”

— Occupational Therapy Practitioner in Jaclyn's Course OTs Role in Medication Management
Instructor bio
Click here to check out Jaclyn's company "Health Coach OT": https://www.healthcoachot.com/

Listen to her podcast: https://healthcoachot.podbean.com

Jaclyn Schwartz, PhD, OTR/L 
Aspire OT Instructor

Dr. Jaclyn K. Schwartz, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, NBC-HWC is an occupational therapy practitioner and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach with over 15 years of clinical experience across acute care, early intervention, outpatient, and community-based settings. In her clinical roles, she has used coaching-informed interventions to support behavior change, self-management, and follow-through with individuals and families managing complex health needs.

Dr. Schwartz completed advanced training in health and wellness coaching and holds board certification through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. Her coaching practice is grounded in evidence-based behavior change theory and integrated within occupational therapy services, rather than practiced as a separate or parallel role.

As a clinician-researcher, Dr. Schwartz has led NIH-funded research focused on medication adherence and health behavior change, with an emphasis on translating evidence into practical, ethical, and scope-aligned approaches that can be implemented in real-world practice. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for her contributions to the profession, including induction into the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows.

Dr. Schwartz teaches in the Just for OT: Practitioner-to-Coach program, where she focuses on helping occupational therapy practitioners develop coaching skills that strengthen collaboration, support client autonomy, and enhance professional sustainability within occupational therapy practice.


DISCLOSURES
Financial: Jaclyn is compensated as an Aspire OT instructor
Non-financial:  Jaclyn is the Director of Health Coaching at Health Coach OT in Collaboration with Aspire OT
Logo AOTA Approved Provider
Aspire OT is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 15541. This Hybrid activity is offered at 1.2 CEUs, Introductory Level, Occupational Therapy Service Delivery, Professional Issues, Foundational Knowledge.
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.
The 8 live hours for this module are

Registered with CE Broker

Aspire OT reports directly to CE Broker for those states that require it: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.

  • CE Broker Number: 20-1380906
  • Individuals must complete the required steps to set up their Aspire OT account. You can view those steps here. 
  • Course completions are reported within 48 hours.
  • Refer to our FAQ for more information.
The 4 self-paced hours for this module are

Registered with CE Broker

Aspire OT reports directly to CE Broker for those states that require it: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.

  • CE Broker Number: 20-1300918
  • Individuals must complete the required steps to set up their Aspire OT account. You can view those steps here. 
  • Course completions are reported within 48 hours.
  • Refer to our FAQ for more information.

Course Author

image of logo: purple triangle with 3 point orange star in middle, left tip coming out of triangle, words below Aspire OT
This course is being offered by Aspire OT.