What Makes a Great Mental Health Coach? (Hint: Training Matters)
Every aspect of our model is designed to combine accessibility with clinical integrity, so members feel supported and employers see measurable results.
The Rise of Mental Health Coaching
Conversations about employee mental health are no longer confined to HR. They’re showing up in board meetings, budget reviews, and leadership retreats. The reason is clear: stress, burnout, and anxiety are now among the leading drivers of lost productivity worldwide. A Deloitte survey found that nearly 70 percent of executives see mental health as a critical workforce issue, yet fewer than half believe their current benefits are meeting employee needs.
At the same time, employees want faster, more flexible support. Gallup reports that fewer than one in four workers feel their employer cares about their wellbeing, and mental health consistently ranks as a top benefit priority in engagement surveys. Traditional EAPs have struggled to bridge this gap, but long waits for therapy mean that many people never receive timely help.
Enter: mental health coaching. Coaching can meet employees where they are, provide same-or next-day access, and deliver skills that reduce stress before it escalates. The challenge is that not all coaching is created equal. Some platforms provide little more than motivational nudges or generic wellness content. Others are built on structured training, clinical safeguards, and evidence-based methods that deliver real outcomes.
The difference comes down to training, quality, and accountability.
Why Generic Wellness Support Falls Short
Most generic wellness apps make appealing promises such as quick access, instant stress relief, and always-on support. But without proper training and escalation pathways, employees with more serious needs risk being left behind.
Pitfalls include:
Coaches without clinical training who cannot identify risk or escalate properly
No built-in navigation support, leaving members to figure out the healthcare system on their own
Minimal accountability since outcomes are rarely measured or reported back to employers
The result is shallow engagement, uncertain outcomes, and little evidence of return on investment.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Employers and health plans that stick with underperforming solutions face significant hidden costs:
Lost productivity: Mental health challenges drive absenteeism and presenteeism, costing U.S. businesses billions annually. Gallup estimates disengaged employees cost $1.9 trillion each year.
Turnover: Employees who are burned out are more likely to leave, increasing replacement and training expenses.
Escalating claims: Mild stress that goes unaddressed can become clinical depression or anxiety, raising medical spend and disability claims.
Investing in effective and scalable mental health support is no longer optional. It is a business necessity.
What Makes a Great Mental Health Coach?
A truly effective mental health coach stands out through training, supervision, and care design.
1. Rigorous Training and Certification
The gold standard for health and wellness coaches is the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) certification. This credential requires hundreds of hours of training, an exam, and adherence to a strict code of ethics.
At Wave, every coach completes Coach University (Coach U). This proprietary training program prepares them for NBHWC certification and ensures they follow our evidence-based model. With this foundation, Wave coaches can:
Deliver structured, skills-based interventions.
Monitor member progress using validated tools.
Recognize when needs exceed coaching and escalate appropriately.
2. Ongoing Supervision and Quality Assurance
Great coaching requires continuous development. Wave provides:
Weekly case reviews of high-acuity situations.
Structured clinical supervision.
Ongoing education to maintain best practices.
This ensures consistent quality across every coaching relationship.
3. Coaches as Navigators
A strong coach does more than just teach skills. They also serve as a navigator. Wave coaches are trained to guide members seamlessly between digital tools, coaching sessions, and higher-level care when necessary. This stepped-care model means employees always receive the right level of support at the right time.
How Wave Coaching Differs From Generic Apps
Not all mental health coaching is built the same. Many of the “coaching” solutions on the market today are little more than wellness apps in disguise. They can feel supportive at first glance but often fall short when employees need real, structured help.
Generic apps typically offer:
Minimal or inconsistent training that leaves coaches unprepared for complex or high-acuity situations.
Little to no clinical supervision, which means no second set of eyes ensuring safety and quality.
No care navigation, so members with greater needs are left on their own to find therapy or higher-level support.
Limited or self-reported outcomes, making it impossible for employers and health plans to see real impact.
Basic wellness tips that sound helpful but rarely drive lasting behavioral change.
Wave was built to address these gaps directly. Every aspect of our model is designed to combine accessibility with clinical integrity, so members feel supported and employers see measurable results.
Wave coaching provides:
Rigorous training through Coach U, our proprietary program that prepares coaches for NBHWC certification and ensures consistency across our entire network.
Ongoing supervision and accountability, including weekly case reviews, structured mentorship, and continuous education.
Built-in care navigation and escalation, so members seamlessly move between digital resources, coaching sessions, and higher-level care when needed.
Continuous measurement of outcomes and engagement, giving employers and health plans transparent reporting on what is working.
A transdiagnostic, skills-based approach that equips employees to manage challenges across the spectrum, from everyday stress to more severe anxiety and depression.
This blend of training, supervision, navigation, and measurement is what separates Wave from wellness apps that only scratch the surface. It is also what ensures employees actually improve and organizations see meaningful return on investment.
Proof That Training Matters
Wave’s rigorously trained coaches deliver measurable results at scale:
Between 70 and 73 percent of members improve within weeks.
Anxiety and depression symptoms are reduced by up to 50 percent, even for severe cases.
Engagement rates of 15 to 25 percent, which is five times higher than typical EAPs.
88 percent plan adherence and ten times higher 30-day retention than mental health apps.
For one national health plan, Wave’s modeled impact projected $3 billion in savings by Year 5, with 70 percent of outpatient therapy shifting to coaching.
Training and supervision are not extras. They are the core reason outcomes are achieved and ROI is proven.
Why This Matters Now
Employers need to prove ROI on benefits, health plans need to control mental health costs, and employees need access to care without long waits. Generic wellness apps cannot keep pace.
Wave’s rigorously trained coaches, backed by responsible AI and continuous measurement, can. The coaching-first model helps people feel better, faster, and stay well over time. For employers, that means improved retention and reduced absenteeism. For health plans, it means scalable care and lower downstream costs.
FAQs About Mental Health Coaching
What is the difference between a coach and a therapist?
Therapists diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Coaches focus on skill-building, accountability, and day-to-day support. Wave coaches escalate members into therapy in the few instances that are clinically indicated.
How quickly can employees access a Wave coach?
Members are assigned a coach as soon as they download the app. Members can connect in a live session with a dedicated coach the same or next day, compared to the national average of 48 days for therapy.
Do Wave coaches handle high-acuity cases?
Yes. Coaches are trained to support members across mild to severe needs, with clear escalation pathways and weekly clinical oversight.
How are outcomes measured?
Wave uses validated tools to track anxiety, depression, and engagement in real time. Employers and health plans receive transparent reporting on outcomes and ROI.
Why is certification important?
NBHWC certification sets a national standard for ethics and competence. Wave’s Coach U ensures every coach meets this bar and follows a consistent, evidence-based care model.
Ready to See Coaching Done Right?
👉 See how Wave’s rigorously trained coaches deliver measurable outcomes at scale: Book a demo.