Introduction to Health Coaching

Health coaches are here to help you reach your health and wellness goals. Whether you want to lose weight or just get more active, a health coach can give you the motivation and support you need to succeed. We aren’t here to act like experts shoving harsh diets at you (although me might recommend changing some things) and we aren’t here to make you feel dumb for not being health experts. 

I like to think of it as coming alongside a client or patient in order to help them achieve their goals. Sometimes even helping a client see that they are in their own way. Living a healthy and balanced lifestyle is in reach for so many people. They just have to take a step back, regroup and maybe have help in order to see the forest through the trees.

What is a health coach?

A health coach is a professional who helps you reach your health goals. A health coach can be any of the following:

• A nutritionist. This type of health coach is often certified to provide specific nutritional guidance (such as macro and micro nutrient requirements), but may not have additional training in coaching or counseling skills.
• A doctor or physician assistant with additional training in functional medicine health coaching.
• A personal trainer with additional coaching skills and/or certification through organizations like ACE (American Council on Exercise) that teach these types of classes on the job.
• A therapist who has attended post-graduate school for clinical psychology and/or counseling after receiving their M.A./PhD degree (e.g., PsyD).
• Certified Health Coach that has been trained by an accredited coaching school and then passes a board certification exam through The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).

What are the benefits of seeing a health coach?

A health coach can be a great help to you if you’re looking for someone who will:

• Help you set specific goals and make plans to achieve them.
• Overcome obstacles that might get in your way.
• Stay motivated and help keep you on track.
• Develop healthy lifestyle practices that work for you, like eating well and exercising regularly.
• Help you reframe toxic thoughts in order to overcome obstacles that can be holding you back from living a healthy lifestyle.
• Find balance between the things that are most important to you, so that everything gets done without feeling overwhelmed or stressed out about it all the time!

The Cleveland Clinic wrote a similar article and discussed benefits that had been recorded in a study of people working with a health coach over a three month period that had significant health benefits during this time. I highly suggest reading this article.

How do I know if seeing a health coach is right for me?

If you:

• Want to make a change in your life, but aren’t sure what steps to take
• Need help with motivation or reinforcement to follow through on your goals
• Want to learn how to make better food choices and improve your relationship with food
• Want to learn how to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as getting more sleep or being more active

Health coaching can help you with your health goals in 2022.

If you’re looking to get in shape, eat healthier, or just feel better about the way your body looks, then hiring a health coach is a great idea. Health coaches are trained to help people with their health goals and can help you achieve your personal goals in 2022.

Health coaches can help with nutrition, exercise, stress management and more. If you’re serious about making positive changes in your life – then having a coach on your side will be very beneficial for you!

A good health coach can help you accomplish your healthy living goals.

A good health coach can help you set and achieve your healthy living goals. They’ll help keep you motivated, on track with your healthy habits, and in line with your eating goals.

A good health coach will help you set small, attainable goals that are within reach so that you have something to work towards.

Questions to Ask Health Coach

• What are your qualifications?
• Do you have a HIPPA policy?
• Do you take insurance?
• How long is your contract agreement for?
• What is your payment policy?
• Am I able to use my Health Savings Account to pay for coaching?
• What will I get out of our coaching sessions?
• If we find that it’s not a good fit, is there a cancelation policy that benefits both coach and client?
• Do you specialize in any areas? If so, what are they?
• Do you feel comfortable coaching me with my particular area of concern?

Keep in mind that you are in control or your relationship with your coach. If you signed a contract that is for a certain length of time, that is fine, but always be honest with your coach if you feel you aren’t getting what you were expecting out of the coaching sessions.

How to Really Know if a Health Coach is Right for You

The best and easiest way to do this is to have an initial consultation with your health coach. Ask them all your questions. There is no wrong question. Find out if they have the proper training and make sure they are doing what they say they will do in your contract.

I would go as far as asking their spiritual beliefs. There is so much that goes into health coaching that isn’t just changing a diet or wanting to get off of certain medication with a nutrition plan, fitness regimen, etc. Emotional, Spiritual, and mental health all play such an important role in your healthcare journey that it matters what the person coaching you believes.

Ultimately you can know by asking yourself: Are you on the same page with your coach? Do you agree with their philosophy of optimal health? Do they have a vision for your coaching sessions? Is it something you are also wanting it to be? They work for you, so it is important you remember that.

Final Thoughts

Health coaching is a great way to keep your healthy lifestyle on track. It’s also an excellent way to learn more about nutrition, exercise, and other important aspects of living a healthy life. Whether you’re looking to lose weight or improve your overall health, seeing a health coach can help you accomplish your goals.