Health and Wellness Coaching
What is a Health and Wellness Coach?
Health and wellness coaching is the way forward for so many individuals desperately trying to implement lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being, but what makes a “coach” so special? What exactly is a health and wellness coach?
It seems like it should be a simple answer, and indeed it is, but it’s probably not what you’d expect.
I am willing to bet that most people assume a health & wellness coach is someone who instructs a patient or client in how to achieve a certain goal, much like an athletic coach or personal trainer.
This unfortunately, is a near miss.
What is a Coach?
Oddly enough, the definition of “coach” supports the above assumption:
- Oxford English Dictionary
- a. University colloquial. A private tutor who prepares a candidate for an examination.
- b. transferred. One who trains others for an athletic contest, esp. a boat-race.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- a. a private tutor
- b. one who instructs or trains
- especially : one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a sport and directs team strategy
I think we need a new definition.
Here’s my submission:
- Coach – One who supports and guides others in their quest for success.
The key difference here is instructing or training verses supporting and guiding.
While there are certainly other types of coaches, like a business coach or an executive coach, health and wellness coaching focuses on the physical health and emotional well-being of an individual and addresses the whole person across all dimensions of wellness.
“Health & wellness coaches partner with clients seeking to enhance their well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values.”
National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching
What Makes A Coach Different From Other Health & Wellness Professionals?
In other roles, the patient or client is given information and expected to follow a specific plan in order to achieve results.
- A physician or other healthcare provider prescribes a lifestyle change
- A personal trainer prescribes an exercise regimen
- A dietician or nutritionist prescribes a meal plan
The “expert approach” or directive-style of instruction is of course needed and effective at certain points in the health improvement process, but when it comes to implementing prescribed lifestyle behaviors, it’s a different story.
For some people, a healthcare provider can just say “stop doing this if you want to be healthy” and they will stop, but most of us need a mindset-shift to really get onboard for lasting change.
Instead of telling a client what to do or how to reach their goals, a coach provides non-judgmental support by allowing the client to direct the process and choose what they are ready to focus on and how they wish to proceed.
Why is Change So Hard?
Many of our “bad” lifestyle behaviors are in place because they are currently serving us in some way — helping us cope with stress, connecting us to family and friends, or simply because we get pleasure out of them.
The outcome needs to outweigh the sacrifice, and unfortunately ingrained, emotionally-connected behaviors have a very powerful hold over us.
In order to make a sustainable behavior change, the client must want to change, not just know they should.
A health and wellness coach helps the client or patient move from the earlier stages of the transtheoretical model (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation) into the action phase.
A coach uses various tools and methods for exploring the client’s goals, motivations, readiness, challenges, and barriers, then assists the client in creating actionable steps to progress toward a measurable goal.
Many healthcare providers also use methods like this when time permits. In fact, your provider may offer health coaching services. Ask during your next appointment!
Does A Health & Wellness Coach Ever Instruct or Educate?
For the most part, the coach’s role is to engage the client by using a style of communication called Motivational Interviewing (MI) and assist in creating client-directed action plans, but there may be times a more directive-style approach would be appropriate.
For example, a coach credentialed in another field like healthcare, fitness, or nutrition, can give information when given permission by the client.
However, “switching hats” is only advisable if the client has given permission and the majority of the session remains in a coaching format.
Who Can Benefit From Coaching?
Individuals seek health and wellness coaching for a variety of reasons.
Common Reasons for Seeking Coaching:
- Reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety
- Implement a meal plan
- Implement an exercise routine
- Quit smoking
- Improve health metrics (weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.)
- Improve over health & well-being
Of course this is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully you get the idea.
Anyone struggling to implement a lifestyle change or struggling to get healthy and feel more balanced would benefit from working with a health and wellness coach.
Personally, I believe that EVERYONE would benefit from working with a coach at one point or another.
Have you ever worked with a health and wellness coach? Please share your experience in the comments below.
For more information on health and wellness coaching, check out this week’s YouTube video:
Learn More
- Check out the latest research and news at the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching’s media page.
- Meet Sarah Morgan, Wellness Coach for Women, and learn about working with her.
