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With the goal of providing whole person support, Extended Network Coaching (i.e., Specialist Coaching) offers access to specialists in the domains of sleep, nutrition, well-being habits, working parents, navigating grief, and supporting others in grief.
* Extended Networking coaching is available with some programs. Not all programs will include this coaching option. If you are an enterprise member, your company is responsible for deciding whether or not to grant this coaching for BetterUp programs. If you believe you would benefit from a specific coaching type you can make a request for this type of coaching directly to your internal program lead so they can advise on the best way forward.
If Extended Network coaching is a part of your program, you may opt into as many specialty areas (e.g., nutrition and sleep) as you have access to. We encourage you to view this Help Center article which includes helpful tips on what to look for when selecting a coach as well as our Coach Matching Guide for Members.
To select a specialist, please follow these steps:
- Log in to the BetterUp platform
- Select the Coaching Tab from the homepage menu bar
- Scroll down to "Find a specialist" and select the type of coaching of your choice
- Select “Find a coach” from a topic that you hope to gain support
- You will be directed to a coach-matching assessment
- Review the coach profiles and select a coach
- Select a time that you would like to meet with your coach and schedule a session
- Click Confirm
Nutrition
Nutrition Specialists are able to coach members on creating a sustainable, healthy pattern of eating. Nutrition Specialists help members learn key nutrition principles that align with evidence-based recommendations from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
In working with a Nutrition Specialist, members will learn how to establish healthy eating habits that work toward their goals and lifestyle.
If you identify with the following sentiments, you might benefit from working with a Nutrition Specialist:
- “I’m a parent with very little time to make healthy food when I get home from work. I want to learn tips on how to cook healthy meals in under 20 minutes.”
- “I struggle with afternoon sugar cravings.”
- “I’m training for a race/sports event, and I want to know if and how I should change my nutrition to keep my energy up.”
- “I want help in assessing my current eating habits, what am I doing well and what I could be doing better.”
- “I have to take my clients out to dinner often, and I’m not sure how to stay healthy at a restaurant.”
Out of scope for Nutrition Specialists:
- Nutrition coaches are unable to offer any nutrition advice for the treatment or management of any medical conditions, whether that includes mild conditions to more serious conditions. In these cases, we recommend seeking medical advice or the clinical services of a licensed dietician outside of the BetterUp platform.
- Our Nutrition Specialists will be able to assist you with basic nutrition to help you achieve a healthy and balanced diet of real and whole foods. We do not promote any specific dietary fads or approaches that aren’t in line with that philosophy. Voluntary restriction of food groups or eating is outside of scope.
- Sports nutrition is a specialized form of nutrition. If you are seeking nutrition coaching to help boost your athletic training and performance, BetterUp Nutrition Specialists can provide recommendations for general healthy eating patterns but for any specific nutrition prescriptions we recommend connecting with a sports nutrition specialist outside of the BetterUp platform.
Sleep
Sleep Specialists are able to coach members in establishing healthy sleep hygiene (i.e. the habits and practices that support regular, high-quality sleep) as they are an important step to ensure they are showing up at their best. In working with a Sleep Specialist, members learn habits and practices for establishing proper sleep hygiene to help maintain energy levels and thrive.
Sleep Specialists at BetterUp have a Masters or PhD in Behavioral Sciences with a deep experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) clinical work. They have extensive knowledge, understanding, and experience working with clients to educate on the function of sleep and evidence-based approaches to sleep hygiene.
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If you identify with the following sentiments, you might benefit from working with a Sleep Specialist:
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Well-Being Habits
Well-Being Habits specialists teach members how to develop new habits to support short and long-term well-being goals. Well-Being Habit specialists have certifications from Tiny Habits or The Habit Change Institute or years of working with clients on habit formation and change.
If you identify with the following sentiments, you might benefit from working with a Well-Being Habits Specialist:
- “I want to form new, lasting habits.”
- “I want help developing personal boundaries.”
- “I want to set long term or short term well-being goals to maintain”
- “I want to improve my breathing, mindfulness, energy, and physical health.”
What is out of scope?
Well-Being Habits Specialists are unable to offer any medical advice for the treatment or management of any medical conditions, whether that includes mild conditions to more serious conditions. The goal is not to assess mental health symptoms, provide diagnosis, or provide therapy. In these cases, we recommend seeking medical advice or the clinical services of a primary care doctor or therapist.
Working Parents
Parenting has always been a challenge, but in the current climate, it just got a whole lot harder to work from home, balance parenting and work responsibilities with a co-parent, or try to juggle it all as a single parent. BetterUp Working Parents Coaches help members navigate the unique challenges of this new reality, as well as all the other challenges facing new and seasoned working parents.
In the context of hybrid work and other unique experiences, members may seek support in:
- Setting boundaries in a shared space with the rest of the family
- Balancing responsibilities with their partner/co-parent, who might also be working remotely
- Self-compassion: permission to let some things fall through the cracks
- Talking to kids about scary/difficult topics
- Homeschooling tips and homebound activities
All parents may seek help with:
- Juggling parental and work responsibilities in general
- Healthy parenting partnerships
- Unique needs of single parents
New/expecting parents may seek help with:
- Supporting the transition from work to leave
- Supporting the transition from leave back to work
- Accommodating shifting identities
Working Parents Specialists are unable to offer any medical advice for the treatment or management of any medical conditions. Working Parents Specialists are unable to diagnose any kind of psychological or physical disorder (of the parent or child). In these cases, we recommend seeking medical advice or the clinical services of a primary care doctor or therapist.
Navigating Grief
Grief specialists have significant experience working with grieving individuals to normalize grief and to create a safe space for all of the emotions of grief. Grief specialists work with members who are grieving. They can help the member to support and care for themselves as they grieve a loss or ending. They are a good fit for members who want to learn what’s “normal” in grief, what to expect when grieving, want practical ways to navigate grief and are looking for a safe place to share experiences and emotions. Although many primary coaches are comfortable with grief, grief coaches bring a next layer of understanding to a topic often viewed as radioactive.
Grief is about endings, not just death. There are many reasons why people grieve: big and small. Some include lost job or income, closed business, racial inequity, politics, climate destruction, a diagnosis, abandonment, divorce, changing community, relationships ending, the death of a loved one (or pet or beloved celebrity), and more. In the workplace, people grieve colleagues who leave, restructuring, layoffs, manager changes, loss of a promotion and more. During the pandemic, we have grieved normalcy, social connection, predictability, loss of planning, lack of consistency, and more. Grief emotions include sadness, sorrow, anger, anxiety, lack of patience, loss of confidence, and more.
It’s important to note that Grief Coaching is not therapy. The goal is not to assess mental health symptoms, provide diagnosis, or provide therapy. We do not offer assessment or offer any advice for the treatment or management of existing or emergent medical conditions. In these cases, we recommend seeking support from a Primary Care Doctor or Therapist for any topics outside of scope.
Supporting Others in Grief
Supporting Others in Grief Specialists support members in increasing their skills to support friends, family, and colleagues who are grieving or struggling. Members will learn how grief might show up in the workplace or at home; understand what colleagues and others need while grieving; know what they can say or do for a grieving teammate or loved one; learn how to create a safe space for those experiencing grief.
If you are working with someone or love someone who is grieving, this specialty is for you.
Supporting Others In Grief Specialists do not offer assessment or offer any advice for the treatment or management of existing or emergent medical conditions. In these cases, we recommend seeking support from a Primary Care Doctor or Therapist for any topics outside of scope.