What is Health Coaching? A New Approach and a Growing Need

by Deanna Mandichak |

If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions then this article may speak to you:

• Do you have trouble reaching your health goals?
• Do you feel like you don’t have control of your health?
• Do you feel tired or stressed out?
• Do you have an ailment that you have difficulty with?
• Do you want to just FEEL GOOD?
• Do you need help designing an exercise program?
• Do you want to stop procrastinating?
• Do you want to build up your immune system?
• Do you need help with meal planning, and nutrition?

A Health Coach can help!

It is astounding when you look at health care expenditures in the United States, which is currently 2-trillion dollars per year. Many doctors have little training in preventative medicine and there are currently millions of people with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, auto-immune diseases, hypertension, and the like, and at least 30 percent of our population suffer from these chronic conditions. With new technologies and advances in research, we would hope to be getting healthier. Since the opposite appears to be true, the need for Health Coaching arises.

According to many doctors and researchers, the root causes of most illness is stress, lack of proper nutrition, lack of exercise, toxins, and just “being out of shape”. Most people do not know where to begin when taking control of their health and preventing illness. Some people who may already be diagnosed with a chronic disease or illness are overwhelmed when they are asked by their doctor to make simple changes to their lifestyle. A Health coach can help keep you on track.

Health Coaching began in the 1990’s initially treating people addicted to alcohol; it has evolved to guiding people to “self manage” their own health, and well-being. A health coach can easily identify issues that derail them from achieving goals, producing tangible results to reaching their final objectives. Coaching effectively motivates behavior change, and is one of the most powerful forces in reaching your goals and experiencing success.

Many people also make too many goals or difficult goals, and get discouraged when they do not succeed, and give up. A Health Coach will help you define your goals and make small steps to reach them. Health Coaches do not accept failure as an option, and are committed to helping you every step of the way. They provide encouragement, motivation, help you establish realistic goals, and are supportive and understanding. Health Coaches can also work with your doctor in dealing with your illness or disease; helping you in reaching optimum health results.

Health Coaches have specific strategies and techniques to help direct you in the areas of your life that need attention and improvement. Many may be specialized and have resources on certain topics to help achieve your goals.

If you answered yes to any of the questions at the beginning of this article a health coach may just be what you need.

References:

1. Health Coaching for Healthcare Providers, by the National Society of Health Coaches
2. Health Coach Training by Hilton Johnson Productions Christian Mickelsen, Coach
3. “The Autoimmune Epidemic” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa
4. “Instinct Based Medicine”, by Dr. Leonard Coldwell
5. “Natural Cures They Don’t Want You to Know About,” by Kevin Trudeau)

For more info, contact Deanna Mandichak at Vibrant Health (775) 223-6904.