Important Supreme Court decision – what it means for you
This week I have big news on the legal front.
The US Supreme Court recently issued one of the most important legal decisions for health coaches and wellness/non-licensed practitioners.
It’s a case worth paying attention to.
Here’s the bottom line:
In Chiles v. Salazar, the Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s restriction on certain forms of talk therapy (specifically conversion therapy, which, unfortunately, will have a significant negative impact on the LGPTQ+ community).
However, while this case involved therapy, listen up (even if you’re not a therapist)….
The Court recognized that conversations between professionals and clients can qualify as “protected speech” under the First Amendment.
So why does this matter to you + the entire wellness industry?
Coaches + wellness practitioners’ work is rooted in talk/conversation, education, support, mindset work, nutrition information, and lifestyle recommendations.
In the past, saying that health coaching was “free speech” under the 1st Amendment wasn’t a “winning” argument against state dietetics laws.
🚪 But now, the door has been opened.
State laws haven’t changed, but now there is precedent for an argument that health coaching is also “free speech.”
📷Image credit: WorkPlay Branding
Now, to be clear…
This decision does NOT erase state medical + dietetics licensing laws.
Not at all.
It does NOT mean unlicensed practitioners can diagnose, treat disease, provide medical nutrition therapy, or use protected professional titles (like “registered dietician” or “licensed nutritionist”, for example).
But…
This ruling may strengthen future legal arguments around your right to provide individualized wellness + nutrition education through conversation/coaching….
Especially in the 13 “red states” with restrictive nutrition laws prohibiting 1-on-1 nutrition assessment and counseling.
In other words?
This is an important case to watch if you’re a health coach, wellness entrepreneur, nutrition professional, or holistic practitioner working online or across state lines.
Again, the existing laws haven’t changed…yet.
So it does NOT mean that you can say or do anything you want without repercussions.
But cases will likely be filed in the coming future in courts across America challenging the most restrictive nutrition laws to make it freer for health coaches to work 1-on-1 with clients.
I just wanted to give you a head’s up that this likely is coming down the pike.
So until anything changes… stay focused.
✔️ Following state medical and nutrition laws still matter.
✔️ Clear boundaries still matter.
✔️ Scope of practice still matters.
✔️ Legal disclaimers, contracts, and titles still matter.
The goal is never to wing it. It’s to stay legally safe, smart, and supported while sharing your gifts with the world.
If you have questions, feel free to book a free 20-minute Legal Chat with our team. You can tell us about your practice and share the questions you have.
In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye on how this important decision impacts the coaching, wellness + functional nutrition industries moving forward… and I’ll keep you posted along the way.
Here’s to legal doors opening… at least a little!
