What the f(^k does a Health Coach even do?
I get it.
Who the hell needs a coach to tell them what to do? I am a grown woman, I work hard and don’t have the time or money to waste on frivolous panderings.
I can make my own decisions thank you very much.
But hang on for a minute and let’s take a look at what a health coach actually does (and importantly, what she doesn’t do).
There’s a lot of confusion about what a health coach does and how they work with clients.
I like to think of a health coach as being a mirror to reflect back the thoughts of my client.
To really listen to what someone is saying and make sure that they also hear it.
You know that little voice in your head that can often make you doubt yourself and your abilities?
Many of us hear it so often, we don’t really question it anymore.
This voice can be your worst enemy, especially when it comes to your health and wellbeing.
Imagine the scenario that your doctor tells you you are overweight and need to shed a few pounds.
You are likely to feel totally ashamed and agree with the doctor and make promises to change your eating habits right away.
You leave the doctors surgery in a panic and decide to overhaul your lifestyle.
You might even decide to clear out your cupboards and re-stock with healthier foods. But you feel overwhelmed and not really sure where to start.
You keep up your healthy eating for a couple of weeks, but when you get stressed, you reach for your old favourite snacks.
Then that inner voice starts piping up again. It tells you that you failed, you couldn’t keep it up and what’s the point in even trying.
And so you go back to normal and go back to feeling crap.
Sound familiar?
A new approach to health care
Imagine there was another way.
A way that made your inner voice your best friend, a way that made you feel supported and in control.
This other way is working with a health coach.
A good health coach will help you to make sense of the changes that you decide to make.
We are there to support you and help keep you accountable for your own decisions. A health coach doesn’t tell you what to do, or lecture you if things don’t go as planned.
She listens without judgement and asks questions about how you feel and what’s best for you.
Nobody knows the best way to tackle your health challenge more than you. You probably know all the reasons you should make changes to your lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean that you will.
A health coach helps you discover the correct changes for you and works with you to implement them into your life.
There’s no guilt or shame with coaches. We accept you just as you are (just like Mark Darcy accepts Bridget Jones).
We have your back, we pick you up when you fall down and then we are right by your side when you need us.
It can be hard to admit that you need help. But great things can happen when you do.
You could just start to take back control in your life and realise you have the power and drive to become happier and more confident about yourself and your choices.
Where to start
The UK Health Coaches Association is a good place to start if you’re curious about making positive changes in your life.
I want to share with you the book that was most influential to me when learning about the role of a health coach.
It is by hugely respected Functional Medicine expert Chris Kresser. It outlines perfectly the issues facing the current health service set up and how coaches and other health allies can make a huge difference to the outcomes of many people.
It’s a great book and hugely eye opening and inspiring.
Check it out and be brave, invest in yourself!
Have you worked with a coach before? Pop any questions in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them
Take care of yourselves
Gem x
