Perhaps your career is at a standstill, or you know you should be further along than you are, but aren’t sure how to get there. You might consider turning to a business coach for guidance. Or maybe you’re stuck in an unfulfilling relationship, or you’ve been thinking about going back to school and getting a second degree, but just can’t seem to get motivated to take action. Many people are getting support from life coaches for challenges such as these. Now, suppose you’ve been on diet after diet and haven’t been able to keep the weight off, or you’re faced with a health condition and don’t know what steps you can take to feel batter. Maybe you know you should be eating healthier and exercising but don’t know where to begin. Who can help you with this area of your life? A health coach or wellness coach can, supporting you in making healthy diet and lifestyle changes.
About Health Coaches
Health coaches, the newest addition to the fast-growing career field of coaching, support clients who are motivated to adopt healthier lifestyles. Most are independent contractors, although they may be affiliated with another practitioner, such as a chiropractor or massage therapist, or a fitness facility or wellness center.
Anyone can call themselves a health coach or wellness coach, but many have attended a program from which they’ve earned certification. Health coaches do not prescribe or diagnose, and beware of the health coach who tells you they can “cure” you. Some health or wellness coaches have a nursing background; some may have experience in allied health fields, such as massage therapy, acupuncture, or personal training.
Like other types of coaches, a health coach will work with you to discover what’s been getting in the way of you meeting your goals, with the focus on a healthier lifestyle. You may decide to work with a coach to help you make changes on your own, but they also work well in complement with your physician. For example, your doctor may have advised you to watch your sugar and salt intake, but may not have the time to guide you through diet plans and recipes. This is where having a health coach becomes a valuable part of your treatment.
Many health coaches specialize in chronic conditions such as gluten intolerance, allergies and asthma, or diabetes. They may work with families, or focus on specific groups such as those who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or ADHD.
How They Work
Like other coaches, most health and wellness coaches will talk to you about your individual goals and work with you to develop a plan to achieve those goals. Coaches work with their clients over a specified period of time--perhaps three or six months--to be available to provide the support needed as the client implements changes in their life. They may provide individual and/or group coaching and support their clients face-to-face or over the phone.
In addition to coaching sessions, health coaches may offer in-person workshops, webinars, and teleclasses. Other service offerings may include health food store tours, cooking demonstrations, and pantry clean-outs. Most coaches offer a complimentary first session, so that you can spend time with each other to decide if you are a good “fit.”
While a registered dietitian or nutritionist will be focused on your diet, a health or wellness coach is trained to look at all the aspects of your life that might affect your health: sleep quality, stress management, exercise, career and relationship satisfaction, and self-care. Your health coach will make specific recommendations or suggestions for you to follow each time you meet, and will check back in with you at your next meeting to see how well you did.
How to Find a Health Coach
If distance is not a determinant in your selection of a health coach, you can search the terms “health coach” or “wellness coach” online. One site you might want to check out is http://healthcounselors.org. If you’d prefer to work with someone face-to-face, check your phone book, or ask at your gym, or doctor’s or chiropractor’s office. Or, enter in your search engine a combination of terms like “health coach” and your city and state. Look for a coach who has a certification from such organizations as the International Coaching Federation, the International Association of Wellness Professionals, or the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Once you’ve reviewed their Websites and come up with a shortlist of names, contact each of them and request a free consultation. During that first visit, you’ll most likely be asked for details about your health history and current diet, and you’ll have the opportunity to talk about your health concerns and goals. You’ll get a sense in the first conversation of how comfortable you feel with the coach.
Your sessions with your health or wellness coach are your opportunity to talk at length about your health concerns, a “luxury” most doctors are not able to provide to their patients. It’s important that you find a health coach or counselor with whom you feel comfortable, as you’ll be sharing personal information with them as they guide you to reach your health and lifestyle goals. Once you’ve found the health coach with whom you think you’ll most enjoy working, set up your first appointment. Then get ready to make changes!
Susanne Warren is a board-certified holistic health coach. She works with women and men over 40 who are motivated to finally address longstanding health issues. Passionate about helping others become empowered to take control over their health, Susanne supports her clients in making healthier diet and lifestyle choices and integrating those changes into their lives permanently.
To learn more about her coaching program, sign up for her free newsletter, or schedule a complimentary 45-minute health history consultation, visit www.takingstepstowellness.com.