ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test 2026 - Free Health Coach Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

Active listening is the communication skill being demonstrated when a health coach summarizes what a client says and checks for understanding. This skill involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and then remembering what is being discussed. By summarizing, the health coach not only shows that they are engaged in the conversation, but they also validate the client’s feelings and perspectives, ensuring that they have accurately captured the client's thoughts. This process allows for clarification of any misunderstandings and reinforces the client’s message, fostering a supportive coaching environment conducive to personal growth and development.

Other communication skills, while related, serve different purposes. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation style aimed at strengthening a person's own motivation for change, while positive listening and empathetic questioning focus on aspects like affirmative feedback and exploring feelings, respectively, without the summarization element inherent in active listening.