What is a Health Coach?
A health coach is a trained and certified advocate who collaborates with individuals to promote well-being and help them achieve positive health outcomes. As an integrative nutrition health coach, I have been trained to combine my unique life experiences with my education to:
Be a non-judgmental and supportive partner, helping you decide the changes you want to make and how you want to make them
Offer you personalized encouragement, exploration and empowerment
Help you become an expert on yourself by creating space for you to gain insight and tap into your own wisdom
Listen closely and help you make your own connections and draw your own conclusions
Help you define your values, beliefs and vision for your health journey
Help you look at your health holistically
Help you navigate and overcome challenges that may occur on your journey to lasting change
No one knows you like you know you. In today’s world, lack of access to information isn’t usually the problem. Understanding can sometimes be an obstacle, but most people know the basics. Unfortunately, knowing doesn’t always bring about change. Some of us need accountability and encouragement along the way. Health coaching is a CLIENT CENTERED process. A coach is not an expert telling their client what to do. A coach is there to help you find the practices that work best for you. And, like I said, you know you best!
If you are considering working with a health coach, it’s equally important that you understand what a health coach is NOT. A health coach is NOT a medical professional or a mental health professional. A health coach may help you navigate your search for such professionals. They may help you discover tools and assist you in following the recommendations of medical and mental health professionals. This might include support in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity, lifestyle change, stress reduction, sleep optimization and more. A health coach is not a substitute or replacement for the important role these professionals play in your health journey.
If you have questions or are interested in working with a health coach to begin - or continue - your health journey, please reach out to me at journeywell.life@gmail.com.
