It seems pointless to have a companion that helps you navigate the complicated journey of a healthy lifestyle as all the resources and steps are there on the internet. General exercise and eating a healthy diet is not some exclusive thing that only certain classes can procure (albeit it still not universally inclusive). So, why should we work with a health coach?
First and foremost, what is health coaching? What is there to coach with regards to health? Finn (2019) differentiate health coaching from other medical professions by describing the nature of work that a health coach does; health coaches don’t prescribe or give advice, instead, they partner with clients, helping them envision a better and healthier version of themselves (p. 27).
There is an emphasis on collaborative work, where the coaches focus on helping patients to identify goals, create plans to make changes, and implement changes (Thom et al., 2016).
As such, health coaches differ from doctors and therapists in the sense that the presupposition of health coaching is that the client knows what’s best for themselves and the coach role in the relationship is to guide the client in seeing avenues and possibilities for their respective needs, specifically with regards to their health and wellness needs.
We don’t think of ourselves as the expert for your health, as it may diminish the autonomy of the client, but at the same time, can be trusted as an unbiased source of complex information that is presented in a simple way to the client. We, however, can be categorized as behavior change practitioners, which, in some cases, makes us somewhat of an expert. As Conn & Curtain (2019) mentioned:
Health coaching incorporates evidence-based health behavior change interventions and techniques from behavioral medicine research literature, positive psychology, health and coaching psychology, and athletic and performance coaching.
As the Covid-19 pandemic started, it was apparent that the pandemic is really concerning for people of old age (above 55) and/or with comorbidities (e.g. obesity, hypertension, diabetes, etc). Jordan (2021) concluded that by allying with a health coach, the risk of developing complications from chronic diseases can be reduced, especially in minority groups.
Health coach understands the importance of working within a system, thus having a competent and professional referral system to ensure the client’s satisfaction. We partner with other medical professionals, such as registered dietitians, physical trainers, physical therapists, psychologists, etc so that clients can have a group of trustworthy resources to maintain and improve their wellbeing (Pettitt & Matthews, 2019: 15).
As a closing statement, I’d like to point out that this modus ponen way of trying to prove a point is somewhat tiresome and can be never ending, as the literature and new research surface. Health coaching, however, is still very young and has room to improve. But I hope this brief summary of the benefits of health coaching and allying with a health coach can serve as an introduction for you to consider partnering with a coach.
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