Memory Tricks & Mini Poems to Help NBHWC Exam Concepts Stick

Studying for the NBHWC exam doesn’t have to mean reading the same health coaching textbook passages over and over again and hoping the information sticks.

At Health Coach Study Hall, I (Laurie Thomeczek) turn brain science into brain play, using memory tricks, rhymes, and creative cues to help you actually remember what matters.

This post is a collection of short poems and clever cues I’ve shared on LinkedIn over the past few months to help you lock in key coaching concepts. I thought it would be helpful to have them all in one place for quick reference.

Whether you're brushing up between client calls or squeezing in some studying during nap time, these quick memory tools are designed to make concepts stick—so you can walk into the NBHWC board exam calm, confident, and ready.

How to Use This Post

Skim, read, revisit. These tricks are meant to be light, quick, and impactful. Use them as:

• Anchors for tough-to-remember concepts

• Quick mental refreshers

You might even want to write your own!

_____________________________________________________________________________

🤝 The Client-Centered Coaching Relationship

You are the expert, you know you best,
Your wisdom outshines any test.
The path you take is yours to choose,
With steps that fit, no need to lose.

I’m here to listen, here to guide,
With an open heart and arms wide.
No judgment, pressure, or demand,
Just empathy, a steady hand.

Together we’ll reflect, explore, and see,
With trust, respect, and honesty.
For in this space, so safe and true,
The power to change belongs to you.

_____________________________________________________________________________

💭 Staying Curious

Stay curious, open, and kind,
Leave all assumptions far behind.
If judgment whispers in your ear,
Pause and let compassion steer.

Each client’s path is theirs alone,
With stories yet to be fully known.
Meet them where they are today,
Let their wisdom lead the way.

With wonder, listen, gently see,
The strength in who they strive to be.
For growth unfolds when space is wide,
And curiosity walks beside.

_____________________________________________________________________________

✨Less is More in Coaching

• Less talking, more deep listening.

• Less information sharing, more creative brainstorming.

• Less unsolicited advice, more seeking to understand.

• Less assuming, more exploring.

When we do less, we create more space for clients to expand and gain self-awareness.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🔒 Privacy Tip: The Minimum Necessary Rule

When it comes to privacy, here’s what’s clear.
The Minimum Necessary, keep it near.

When sharing info, don’t overshare.
Only what’s needed, be aware.

Purpose in mind, and privacy too,
Keep it confidential, through and through.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🅰️ Ambivalence vs. Autonomy

Ambivalence (n.) — Mixed feelings or conflicting thoughts

📝 Memory tip: Ambivalence rhymes with tense.
Think: When someone’s on the fence about change, they might feel tense or conflicted.

Autonomy (n.) — The ability to make your own decisions

📝 Memory tip: Auto means “self". Imagine you're driving an automobile. When you’re in the driver’s seat, you’re in control, making decisions on your own. That’s autonomy.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🔥 Change Talk

When Change Talk begins, it's a sign of the shift,

A client feels ready, their mindset will lift.

They’ll speak of their goals, the change that they need,

With hopeful words, they’re starting to lead.

"I want to feel better, to move and to grow,"

"I’m ready for change, I’ve got room to show."

These words are the spark, the fuel for the fire,

A client’s own voice, their deepest desire.

They talk about reasons, about why they should start,

The benefits waiting, a healthier heart.

They share their own plans, their steps and their ways,

Creating momentum for brighter new days.

When clients voice their hopes and dreams,

Support their journey, and strengthen their themes.

Change Talk is power, the spark and the fire—

Nurture it gently to grow their desire.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🚫 Resisting the Righting Reflex (MI Technique)

The Righting Reflex wants to fix what's wrong,
But client-led change helps them grow strong.
To resist this reflex and create space to grow,
Ask open-ended questions and let the client’s wisdom flow.
Take a breath and pause before you speak—
For another effective resistance technique.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🔄 Stages of Change (Transtheoretical Model)

Change begins with just a thought,

Precontemplation—action’s not yet sought.

Then comes Contemplation, weighing it all,

Considering change, but not ready to call.

In Preparation, plans take shape,

Setting the stage for steps to escape.

Action’s the moment, change takes the lead,

Building habits to match the need.

Maintenance follows, steady and true,

Sustaining the progress in all that you do.

If Relapse happens, don’t feel dismay,

Learn, adapt, and find your way.

Step by step, stage by stage,

Change is a journey, not just a page.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🌟 Appreciative Inquiry

When change is what you pursue,
Remember what AI can do:

Define what matters—name your quest,
Ask with care, seek what’s best.

Discover your strengths, not what’s wrong—
That's where solutions grow up strong!

Then Dream with heart, let visions rise,
Of bold new heights beneath blue skies.

Design the steps, build from your core,
Create the future you’re longing for.

And as you act, let Destiny lead,
With each small win, plant one more seed.

For in the best of what you do,
Lies the path to something new.

_____________________________________________________________________________

🧠 Why These Work

These poems and tips aren't just cute—they're strategic. They use:

• Mnemonics & rhyme to create recall hooks

• Pattern recognition to reinforce understanding

• Active engagement to move information into long-term memory

Whether you're reviewing in short bursts or adding to your deep-dive study sessions, these tools can help make abstract concepts stick, and give you a confidence boost for exam day.

Want more support? Explore our full suite of NBHWC exam prep study materials designed to help you focus on what matters most and retain it for the long haul.