Wellness one-on-one

Sometimes, you need a little motivation and guidance to quit tobacco, reduce stress, lose weight, or eat right. Yale’s Health Coaches are ready to help, encourage, and inspire. Available at no cost to all eligible staff and faculty, the Yale Health Coaching Program (YHCP) provides support for managing diabetes, weight, stress or chronic conditions, and tobacco cessation, and offers guidance on exercise and nutrition.

“Yale offers resources to support its employees and their dependents in living healthier lives. The health coaching program takes a more holistic approach to disease prevention, managing chronic conditions or making lifestyle changes,” said Lisa Kimmel, director of wellness and education at Being Well at Yale.

The coaches are trained healthcare professionals who work one-on-one with individuals, providing in-person, online, or telephone appointments. For over a decade, Yale has partnered with TrestleTree to offer this service. All three TrestleTree coaches are registered nurses with 75 years of combined clinical experience.

Success Stories

Theresa* has a family history of diabetes, but for many years, had no symptoms. In 2023, a blood sugar test indicated she was prediabetic. Not long after that screening, she received an email from Yale Health with information about the YHCP and its nascent Diabetes Prevention Program.

“For a year, I was part of a cohort that included five other employees working with the same wonderful health coach, Chanel. It was therapeutic to be with people who were experiencing the same struggles. Our coach dispelled myths about diabetes, helped us understand how certain foods affect our blood sugar, and gave us realistic goals to strive for,” she said.

Today, Theresa maintains a healthy diet, is 12 pounds lighter, and has a better understanding of her condition and how to manage it. “Once I realized that having Type 2 diabetes was not my fault, I moved on and now monitor my condition successfully. I would recommend the health coaching program to anyone with a chronic condition. It was a life-changing experience,” Theresa said.

Kevin* worked with a coach to stop smoking cigarettes for good after 30 years and many attempts to quit. He credits the YHCP for helping him. Kevin worked with a coach for several months and has been smoke-free since 2019. “My coach was non-judgmental and always looked out for my best interests. Her approach was not high-pressure, and she was easy to work with. After each session, I always felt better,” he said.

“Our coaches help individuals improve their health within the context of their own lives,” said Courtney Fratta, one of the TrestleTree health coaches. “We spend time listening to understand a patients’ barriers and motivations. For instance, if a patient doesn’t like to exercise but wants to lose weight, we figure out how we can help them reach that goal. We become a source of support and accountability along a patient’s journey.”

Get started

Yale employees can access YHCP—a free, confidential service—by calling 866-672-4422 to schedule an initial appointment. Individuals seeking support may want to improve their health or take steps to prevent the onset of any illness. Appointments range from 15 minutes to one hour, and participants work with the same coach throughout the program, which can be as short as one session or as long as several weeks and, if necessary, a few months.

“Someone may come in wanting to reduce their stress,” said Fratta. “In the process, we may touch on nutrition and exercise and work on several areas simultaneously because they intersect. For instance, taking a daily walk or adjusting your diet may help reduce stress. We listen to each person’s goals and create a program based on what they are comfortable with,” she said.

*Your Yale is identifying staff members by their first names to protect their health privacy.