Virtual Health Coach is a comprehensive web-based tool that provides assessment, planning, intervention, support, and links to expert resources for healthy behavior change in seven lifestyle areas: smoking, exercise, weight, stress, alcohol use, substance use and safety.

The program is based on adult learning and behavior change theory and is modeled after a successful live coaching program. This is a new approach to online coaching that attends to the thinking, motivation, and emotions of behavior change.

Making a behavior change is difficult and often takes many attempts to be successful. The magic of making a change to improve your health lies in getting yourself mentally ready, having a plan, and finding support. Like a real live health coach, the virtual coach listens and speaks to you with warm and encouraging yet expert tailored messages.

In the first section, Virtual Health Coach will take you on a journey of personal exploration that will lead to a greater understanding of what you're ready to change and the barriers that might get in your way. The second section will help you create a just-for-you change plan. Implementation is easy because Coach Kerrbie creates a list of resources that will match your plan.

The Tools and Resources include:

• Links to related web sites
• Lists of suggested reading materials
• Lists of support programs
• Calendar tools
• Personal journal programs

Just knowing what you need to do to be healthier doesn’t always mean you do it. Making a behavior change to improve health is like putting a complicated puzzle together. It’s hard and you can’t finish if a piece is missing. The missing piece of most programs is the “getting ready” part. Virtual Health Coach gets you ready to change through thinking, feeling, problem solving, and decision-making. Then, it helps you create a just-for-you plan and provides matching resources to carry it out.

If you need to make a lifestyle change to improve your health in one or more of the following area— Smoking, Exercise, Weight Management, Stress, Alcohol Use, Substance Use or Personal Safety—this program is for you!