What the Health Coach?
Updated: Dec 7, 2021
New to the term "health coach"? You're not alone. And there isn't a set definition, but this is what I understand it to be.
As you live life, you slowly find a collection of people that help you with different areas of your health: you go to the dentist for your teeth, your physician for your check up, your chiropractor for your back. When it comes to your day to day habits (the building blocks of your health) often times it can be frustrating when you don’t have anyone in your corner as you try incorporating lifestyle changes. You want to (or you have been instructed to) eat healthy foods, but what does that even mean? You are diagnosed with IBS or have poor gut health, and you don’t want to start taking medications, so what can you do? Or maybe you want to be active, but you can’t figure out how to do it consistently.
“You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him to find it within himself.” -Galileo
Health coaches are specialized in empowering you to take control of your own health. You are the expert in you, your experiences, and what you are able to commit to. Health coaches are there to work in partnership with you on your health journey and help create the space and conversation to find the sustainable changes that will work for you.
How do they do this?
They enable you to discover the “why” behind your health changes and what your ideal self looks like.
They work collaboratively alongside you to find the changes and habits that you want to adopt in your life to reach that desired state.
They provide objective, nonjudgemental support and accountability along your health journey.
They focus on the positives and successes to enable you to continue to grow.
They enlist their health expertise and experiences to help you navigate through your own health concerns and obstacles.
In short, you want change, and health coaches use their knowledge in human behavior, motivation, and health to help clients reach their goals and create sustainable change.