The world of health and wellness coaching
When you walk into your local grocery store, what do you see? Sure, you probably see a produce section that makes up ¼ of the store's entirety, but other than that there are usually at least ten long aisles full of processed packaged foods. Odds are, you throw a few of those eye-catching items into the cart, even if they weren’t on your list. When you wake up in the morning, unrested, and remember the busy day you have ahead along with all of the stressors that are contributing to your mood, do you take priority in caring for yourself? If you walk into a gym, do you get overwhelmed by all the different machines and truly understand how to use them properly? It’s pretty common for people to avoid the gym for that reason. When you go to the doctor and get your blood pressure taken, is it elevated? Many doctors will immediately prescribe medication to help level out blood pressure concerns. According to Howard Napper, host of TED talk’s The Art of Lifestyle Medicine, “80% of chronic illnesses are lifestyle related”. With that being said, a magic pill can not change the lifestyle that one has. It is up to the individual to make the necessary changes for a healthier lifestyle.
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What if we took a different approach, rather than continuously taking medication after medication? What if we were provided with an achievable and preventable lifestyle goal that was centered around the patient and their needs? At the end of the day, we all live very different lives. Some of us have children, some work while sitting in an office from 9-5, and some already have ongoing health complications. When we talk about health and wellness, it is essential to consider each of our different lifestyles in order to come up with an achievable plan for a healthier lifestyle that is suited best for you.
This is where health and wellness coaching comes in. According to the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching, “Health & wellness coaches support clients in activating internal strengths and external resources to make sustainable and healthy lifestyle behavior changes”(2022). Health and wellness coaches approach their clients in a way that is patient-centered and allows clients to identify their own goals, rather than telling their clients what needs to change. The process also includes a “self-discovery process” where they help patients stay accountable and provides knowledge that is related to their client's long-term goals. When a patient goes to their primary doctor with health concerns, often their concerns may be dismissed. Another problem patients run into is being overly prescribed medications, without a real preventative plan in place. Patients are given a “band-aid” rather than an effective and achievable long-term plan that aligns with each patient's needs. Typically, patients seek health and wellness coaches for health issues related to weight loss, stress, addiction, diet/nutrition, chronic illnesses, and exercise. A health and wellness coach does not simply tell you what needs to change in your life and they can not prescribe medication. Instead, they really get to know you and your current lifestyle. Together, the patient and coach work together to find the right approach to achieving the client’s goals. A coach keeps the environment judgment-free and provides guidance toward goals that the patient has decided for themselves.
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Whether you currently live a lifestyle you deem unhealthy and are unaware of how to make the necessary changes or perhaps you feel you live a healthy lifestyle with only one missing puzzle piece, health and wellness coaches can help you get to the point you desire to reach. If you had a magic wand, what would you change in your life? Are there small achievable goals that may help you reach your dream self? Health and wellness coaches are there to help define goals you have for yourself, and although growth is not a linear process, growth is still achievable for anyone.
Napper, Howard (2015). The art of lifestyle medicine. YouTube. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGoSdLNceEk.
Nbhwc. (2022, May 21). What is a health coach? NBHWC. Retrieved February 2, 2023, from https://nbhwc.org/what-is-a-health-coach/
