WHAT IS A HEALTH COACH
What Is a Health Coach?
Health coaching has become an in-demand service with the potential to make a substantial difference in the quality of people’s lives. Health coaches may work in solo practice or operate as part of a collaborative team of practitioners in hospitals and integrative medicine clinics. What Does a Health Coach Do? A health coach deals with human behavior, motivation, and health. They help their clients build new, healthier habits and set and achieve health goals. Coaches can help individuals through:- Discovering the “why” behind the health changes they desire
- Empowering them to be involved in decisions and actions regarding their own bodies, minds, and life circumstances
- Helping people identify challenges and oversights that are preventing change
- Providing support and accountability
- Using their in-depth knowledge of health and wellness to help them navigate various health concerns
The Practice of Health Coaching
People often succeed in achieving their desired outcomes when working with a health coach when they’ve been unable to make changes on their own. This comes partly from incorporating fundamental steps, such as goal-setting and the creation of action plans. Much of their success also comes from:
- A coach being present
- A coach listening to them, taking into account what they say and what they don’t say
- The types of questions coaches ask
- Developing a collaborative coach-coachee relationship
Sometimes coaches merely touch on a simple question or reflection, leading clients to reflect and consider their health challenges and goals in a way they never have before. Coaches also use their intuitive skills, tap into empathy and compassion, and develop an artful working relationship with clients. Health coaching is a supportive and robust partnership between coaches and their clients that guides people toward the changes that they want to accomplish. Coaches and clients can develop a relationship built on respect and trust, allowing them to explore clients’ reasons for wanting change, values, and what is possible. As you can see, health coaching is a multifaceted approach that requires both training and practice to master.