Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching in Occupational Therapy-A Scoping Review

Integrative health and wellness coaching (HWC) is an emerging evidence-based profession that promotes healthy behavioral change to reduce lifestyle disease risk factors. This scoping review identifies parallels between occupational therapy and HWC.

The purpose of this study is to examine the following question: Are HWC practices already being implemented in occupational therapy, and if so, how?

Searches were conducted for peer-reviewed articles published from 2013 to 2025.

Inclusion criteria included articles published in English and the use of health promotion interventions by occupational therapists or an interprofessional team of healthcare providers including occupational therapists.

Twenty-five articles fit the inclusion criteria. This includes qualitative and quantitative studies highlighting occupational therapists using HWC skills and strategies within their health promotion interventions. Multiple lifestyle disease risk factors were targeted through healthy behavior changes including increasing physical exercise, education regarding nutrition, and goal setting. These health-promoting interventions were provided across a spectrum of diagnoses and clinical settings.

Results demonstrated a connection between HWC and the holistic and health-promoting practices of occupational therapy. This review adds important evidence to the literature supporting the use of HWC skills in occupational therapy practice.