Health coaching helps people create individualized wellness plans focusing on health behavior change. Health and wellness coaches support and help you make lifestyle changes to improve your quality of life. You might wonder if health and wellness coaching is effective and whether you should use one. Does health coaching work? You will be able to make an informed decision after reading this article.
What Health Coaches Do
Health coaches help you understand your current health status and provide guidance on improving your health. Health coaches work with you to identify areas where you need improvement. Then they provide you with strategies to make those improvements. They also help you set goals and develop plans to achieve those goals. Health and wellness coaching can involve helping you do the following:
• Making healthy food choices
• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Preventing illness and managing chronic disease
• Caring for your body
• Living an active life
Health Coaching standards and credentials
The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) is a national accrediting agency for health coaching. The NBHWC has developed standards for health coaching that include the following: training requirements, professional development, ethics, and competency. To become a national board-certified health coach, candidates must complete their wellness coach training through an accredited certification program, practice a certain number of hours, and pass a comprehensive exam. NBHWC coaches continue to add skills and knowledge through required ongoing education and practice. Health and wellness coaches certified by the NBHWC promise to follow specific ethical guidelines.
Benefits of going through the health coaching process
Working with a health coach can help you take charge of your health and wellness. Certified health and wellness coaches are skilled in health behavior change. Some of the areas health coaches help you address include:
• Helping you make positive changes in your health
• Encouraging you to follow through on your health goals
• Offering support when you are having difficulty sticking to your plan
• Helping you learn about your health
• Guiding you on how to eat better
• Improving your self-esteem
• Helping you find new ways to cope with difficult situations
As you can see, successful health coaches help you improve your health and wellness in many ways.
Who can benefit from using a health coach?
Anyone can benefit from working with a health coach. Not only do health coaches help you improve your overall health, but many health coaches can help you manage chronic conditions. To learn more about the benefits of using a health coach, check out this post.
How do you know your health coach is good?
And how do you know if they are right for you?
The best way to determine if your health coach is right for you is to ask questions. Ask your health coach about their background and how long they have been practicing. Find out how they would handle a situation that is challenging for you. Ask about their experience with other clients and whether they have special training or qualifications.
Anyone can call themselves a health coach. It’s essential to ask about their health coaching credentials. Using a national board-certified health coach is best because you will know that your coach must run their practice with professional and ethical guidelines.
The most important thing to remember is that you are the only person who can determine whether your health coach is right for you.
How effective are health coaches? Does health coaching work?
Many studies show the numerous benefits of health coaching. Studies show that health coaching can:
- help people adopt healthier behaviors and maintain them over time.
- improve health outcomes and reduces health care costs.
How is health coaching accomplished?
Many people choose to meet with their health coach virtually. Meeting online saves time for you and is just as effective as meeting in person.
First, you meet with your health coach for an initial assessment. This first meeting includes reviewing your medical history, current concerns, and where you would like to be in three to six months.
Second, the health coach helps you create a plan and set health goals for the next several weeks.
Third, the health coach works with you to implement the plan, provides ongoing support and encouragement, and helps you track your progress.
What is the time commitment for health coaching? What should I expect from a health coach?
The initial meeting takes between 1 hour to 1.5 hours. After that, your sessions with your health coach will typically last between 30-45 minutes. Your health coach will often work with you once per week or every other week. Most health coach’s packages start at three months because making the necessary lifestyle changes takes that long.
What can’t a health and wellness coach do?
A health and wellness coach can’t diagnose or treat conditions. They also should not give medical advice or prescribe meal plans (unless they are a registered dietician in most states).
How much should you pay for a health and wellness coach?
There is a wide range of what people pay for a health coach. The cost of a health coach varies based on the package and the length of the service. One important thing to remember is to think of a health coach as an investment in your health and quality of life. In the end, you may save money using a health coach because you may save on medical expenses over the long haul.
Conclusion
Health and wellness coaching is a great way to take control of your health and wellness. Health coaches can help you make positive changes in your diet, exercise, stress management, sleep, and more. You don’t have to live with poor health or illness; a health coach will help you take control of your health and wellness today.
If you are interested in hiring a health coach, I am a nationally board-certified functional medicine health coach, and I can help you get started on the path to better health. Here is a list of my services.
