What is a health coach, and why do you need one?

My simple guide to helping you better understand what a health coach does, and how they can help you along your wellness journey.

Western medicine treats disease when it has progressed to a severity where symptoms are obvious, and a tangible diagnosis can be made. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment options might include medications, blanket lifestyle advice, or surgeries to treat these symptoms, but often fail to identify the underlying root cause. Working as an ICU nurse, I have seen and experienced the limitations of our currently medical paradigm in disease prevention, holistic health, and chronic disease management. Getting caught in the web of our conventional medicine system can become a frustrating and viscous cycle, leaving you void of the tools you need to truly feel well.

A health coach can bridge this gap by offering an individualized approach to wellness, addressing the whole person mind, body, and spirit.

What is a health coach?

A health coach is your ally and guide on your journey towards optimal health and wellness. Through therapeutic relationship development, and evidence-based approaches, health coaches connect clients with tools to thrive in all areas of life, unlocking a greater sense of health, happiness, and purpose.

What should you expect when working with a health coach?

When working with a health coach you can expect to engage in self-reflection, and be prepared to take action, and step outside of your comfort zone. Lasting results require consistent effort, and the goal is always progress over perfection. You will always be supported and encouraged in a safe, confidential, and nonjudgemental space.

Health coaches use a process similar to other health care providers that involves assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.

1. Assessment: health coaches provide a comprehensive health history assessment to explore root cause issues relating to various aspects of mind, body, and spirit.

2. Planning: once a comprehensive health history session is completed, a health coach uses therapeutic interviewing techniques to support the client in individualized goal setting.

3. Implementation: A health coach will then empower the client to harness strengths and overcome self-limiting beliefs and obstacles as they begin to take action steps in pursuit of their goals. The health coach offers motivation, accountability, education, and feedback throughout this process to ensure lasting habit change.

4. Evaluation: A health coach will support the client in self-reflection of what is and is not working, and goals and action steps will be adjusted accordingly.

What are some of the benefits of working with a health coach?

The benefits of working with a health coach can be priceless and innumerable, however what you get out of working with a health coach is directly related to consistency, motivation, having a growth mindset, and taking action towards your goals.

Some key benefits might include:

• Saving money in the long run on healthcare costs

• Better quality of life

• Breaking free of whats holding you back in life

• Increased self-awareness

• Greater health and vitality

• Personal empowerment

• Sustainable habit change

• Living in better alignment with personal values

• Increased tools for self healing and managing chronic disease

Who is health coaching well suited for?

Health coaching is available to anyone who is motivated to make habit changes to support better health, and well suited for people struggling with pain, fatigue, digestive issues, weight issues, hormonal issues, chronic stress, burnout, and inflammation. Being nurse, nutritionist, and health coach, I specialize in helping those struggling with chronic disease management and offer care coordination with your physician. Not all health coaches are created equal, so look into qualifications and specialties.

So is it worth it?

The short answer is YES, 100%. A health coach helps clients discover their innate healing power, empowering them to take the wheel of their own life and steer it towards their goals.

Health coaches are becoming increasingly important as being healthy, and managing chronic disease is becoming harder and harder with the demands of modern life, information overload, a backwards healthcare system, and a toxic food system. Health coaches can help you more clearly navigate through the noise, so you can come back home to yourself, and live your best life. Life is short. Why struggling through it when theres help?

Click the programs tab to learn more about my 6-month Total Health Reset coaching program. Already sold? Click here to apply to my 6 Month Total Health reset program. Always feel free to leave comments below, on what you liked, or learned and any requests for content! Don't be a stranger on my social media accounts either:)