What is Health Coaching?

Health coaching is a field of support in the health and wellness network. Coaches work alongside other health professionals in a team, as well as independently. Health coaches do not diagnose, prescribe, counsel, or advise. Coaches are not therapists, doctors, exercise specialists, or nutritionists; the respective professions are those authorities. Coaching is different from other health professionals because the health coach is not the expert; coaches understand that the client is the expert of their own life.

Under a holistic framework, coaches do not believe that individuals are broken or in need of fixing; contrarily, they understand that individuals are whole and resourceful, and that they are capable of change if they want to. Rather than: “What’s the matter with you”, coaches are curious: “What matters to you?” (ACE, 2019). Coaching uncovers values, beliefs, thought patterns, and strengths to aid and support individuals in making their own changes, when and if they want to.

Health coaching uses OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries) to uncover individuals motivations, beliefs, desires, and barriers to change (Clifford & Curtis, 2016). Coaching is centered in client autonomy and consent, offering information and support as requested. Coaching focuses on the present moment through acceptance, and a desired future - empowering and envisioning individual goals.

Coaches use tools such as: empathy, compassion, active listening, as well as knowledge in the field of health, to uncover what - if anything - the client wants to change. Behavior changes are more sustainable when self-initiated. Autonomous human beings don’t like to be told what to do or how to do it. Coaching encourages individuals to lead their own lives.

Coaches are ultimately allies. As partners, collaborators, and co-creators, the coach and client together decide what the goals are and how to realistically implement changes to achieve those goals. In the same way an athletic coach does not play the game for a player, a health coach does not enact health goals for a client, the client does.

Any change takes time. While an initial session may be inspiring, the potential of lasting change occurs with time to predict, meet, and overcome obstacles or barriers to change. Some goals might take longer than others to come into fruition. Meeting for 6 or 12 weeks allots us time to roll with those barriers and uncover new solutions. It also allows us to discuss multiple goals, should you have them. Ultimately the time spent, the energy expended, and the results seen are up to you.

With care,

Nat

References

ACE. (2019). The Professional's Guide to Health and Wellness Coaching: Empower Transformation Through Lifestyle Behavior Change (J. A. Matthews, C. X. Bryant, J. S. Skinner, D. J. Green, Eds.). San Diego, CA: American Council on Exercise.

Clifford, D., & Curtis, L. (2016). The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing. In Motivational interviewing in nutrition and fitness (pp. 25-39). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.