What It’s Really Like to Work with a Health and Wellness Coach

What It’s Really Like To Work With A Health And Wellness Coach

You may know someone who has worked with a health coach, or even looked into working with one yourself. Because health coaching is a growing field, it may be confusing to figure out what type of health coach is best for you. Only you can decide, but National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches stand out in a crowded field.

What is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach?

Read on to learn more about what sets this type of coach apart, and gain important insights to help you determine whether my approach to health and wellness coaching is right for you.

Simply put, coaching helps you get from where you are to where you want to be. Health and wellness coaching provides a powerful opportunity to live a more well-balanced and healthy life, whatever that means to you.

The process allows you to take ownership and responsibility for your health and wellbeing. Health and wellness coaching can focus on a range of areas you identify as important.

A coach should be an empathic, non-judgmental, trained professional, who serves as a partner, ally and source of support and encouragement. They will facilitate empowerment, motivation and accountability as you create lasting growth and change.

Ultimately, coaching is a powerful resource to gain new skills, develop mastery and achieve sustainable results.

How is Coaching Different from Therapy or Counseling?

As someone who also happens to be a licensed mental health professional, I get this question all the time. There are several important differences between a therapist and a coach. Here’s the need-to-know:

Coaches do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any conditions, disorders or illnesses. You are already whole and do not need to be “fixed.”

Health and wellness coaching emphasizes your strengths, rather than a collection of symptoms. The focus is on optimal wellbeing, healthy living habits, and life fulfillment.

Coaching is typically more structured and goal-oriented. Ideas and questions can arise from either you or the coach and will lead to actionable steps to succeed and thrive.

Coaching focuses more on the present and future and less on the past. You will not work on resolving your past, but may explore how experiences influence your current challenges.

Coaching does not replace therapy, and can stand alone or be a complement to the work you are already doing in therapy or with other practitioners.

What Can I Expect?

Working with a health coach, or anyone guiding you through your health and wellness journey, is a big deal. I know this first-hand. You want to trust the person you are working with. Knowing what to expect can help you feel more confident.

There are no cookie-cutter approaches here! A health and wellness coach will assist you in mapping out your unique vision and goals. You’ll then co-create action steps to achieve them. A coach will offer specific tools and methods, and serve as a guide when clients are stuck.

My particular services utilize a unique, holistic integrated and integrative approach that includes mind, body, spirit, and emotions, and may incorporate relationships, environment, career satisfaction, life purpose, community, and other areas of wellbeing.

Areas I specialize in include stress, self-care, relationship with food, nutrition, sleep, fatigue/energy balance, movement, overwork, managing effects of a health condition, spirituality, work-life integration, mind-body health, burnout prevention, habits, routines, mindset, and more. Click here to learn more

How Does It Work?

You don’t have to go it alone! There’s a sea of information out there, and it can be challenging to figure out what makes sense for you and how to apply it in a realistic way.

Often, we know what to do, but may struggle with how. Making small, gradual changes over time can yield significant results. Partnering with a health and wellness coach can positively impact multiple areas, and take your wellbeing to the next level.

We’ll start with a 30-minute phone consultation to see if coaching is right for you and whether we are a fit to work together. If not, that’s ok! Coaching is not for everyone and not everyone is ready.

If so, we’ll determine the most appropriate program to start with, and you’ll complete a few simple forms. Working with a health and wellness coach can be a fun and exciting experience!

We’ll co-create a customized plan with realistic strategies, simple techniques and practical action steps based on your unique needs and interests. The coaching program will evolve as your transformation unfolds.

Still have questions? Review the most Frequently Asked Questions here