What is a brief action plan in health coaching, and what are its key components?

• A. A concise plan outlining 1-3 concrete steps, timeline, responsible party, and agreed follow-up.
• B. A comprehensive annual care plan with long-term goals and multiple milestones.
• C. A purely informational handout without steps or accountability.
• D. A plan focusing only on medical treatments with no behavioral steps.

Answer: (C)

A brief action plan in health coaching translates a health goal into a small, doable set of steps with a clear timeline and accountability. It’s concise, usually listing 1 to 3 concrete actions the client will take, each tied to a specific timeframe. There should be an agreed person responsible for each step and a planned check-in to review progress. Sometimes it includes simple success criteria to know when the goal is met. This collaborative approach keeps the focus on behavior changes that move the client toward the goal, rather than just providing information or long-range plans. An informational handout lacks steps and accountability, a comprehensive annual plan is too broad and long-term, and a plan that focuses only on medical treatments misses the behavioral changes central to coaching.