A good first consultation does three things: the client feels heard, you understand their situation, and both of you leave with a clear, realistic first step. Here is a structure you can use and adapt.
Before the session
- Send a short intake form: goals, daily routine, food preferences, activity level and any medical conditions or medications.
- Include a health-screening question that tells you when to ask for clearance from a doctor.
- Explain how long the session takes and what will happen.
A 60-minute structure
1. Welcome and expectations (5 minutes)
Explain what coaching is and what it is not. Make clear that you support healthy habits and do not diagnose or treat medical conditions.
2. The client’s story (20 minutes)
Use open questions: “What made you decide to start now?”, “What have you tried before, and what did you learn?”, “What does a normal day of eating look like?” Listen more than you speak, and summarise what you heard to check you understood.
3. Goals that matter (15 minutes)
Move from outcome goals (“lose weight”) to the reasons behind them (“keep up with my children”) and then to behaviours the client controls (“cook dinner at home four nights a week”).
4. The first step (15 minutes)
Agree on one or two small actions for the coming week. Check confidence, plan for obstacles and decide how the client will track them.
5. Close (5 minutes)
Summarise the plan, confirm the next session and how the client can reach you in between.
Red flags that need a referral
Unexplained weight loss, signs of disordered eating, pregnancy with complications, or uncontrolled medical conditions are reasons to refer the client to a doctor, registered dietitian or mental-health professional. Knowing when to refer is part of being a professional coach.
Coaching tip: end every session by asking “What was most useful today?” The answer tells you what to build on next time.