What is Wellness Coaching Anyway?
MYTH BUSTER TIP: It's not about selling supplements or gimmicks.
There is ALOT of confusion about wellness coaching out there. Despite claims to the contrary by some, Wellness Coaches do NOT prescribe supplements, diagnose, treat or tell clients how to solve their problems. According to the Nation Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), "Health & wellness coaches partner with clients seeking to enhance their well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values."
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So, how DOES coaching work?
YOU GET TO BE THE EXPERT
YOUR decisions drive the process. This is a central component of wellness coaching – our role is to work as a collaborator. We help you discover and develop tools to be the strongest advocate for your health and your life. While a trainer might design a program FOR YOU, a coach is going to work with you every step of the way while you become the master designer of your incredible life.
VISION
Coaching often begins by simply helping you get excited about “possibilities” again. We understand, when it feels like your entire life is in crisis mode putting out fires all day or you are so busy or exhausted (new parent, new job, single parents…) putting yourself and your health first seems impossible. It's true, simply taking a bathroom break can be a challenge.
This is the part where you get to have a little fun. Close your eyes for a few minutes when you're in bed at night or when you wake in the morning. Let your mind wander. If you prefer writing, then sit down in a comfortable, quiet place and do some writing. Crafty? Bust out the glue, scissors, some paper, and some old magazines. With some help, you can find your way back to forgotten goals and imagine new ones. Whatever left turn your life may have taken, working alongside a coach can help you reconnect with where and how you want to see yourself.
CELEBRATE THE SMALL STUFF
Dreaming big is great and even encouraged, but where does real success happen? Starting small. Sometimes we call these SMART goals. (Small. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Timely) Research shows small goals are the most consistent building blocks of success. The issue most of us face with the “big amazing goal” is that we sometimes forget it takes many steps and changes to get there. Where does the coaching come in? If you dream of running a marathon, need to rebuild a life without your spouse, or feel completely run down by parenting, or learning to manage a chronic illness, coaching can help you define your path forward. We might start with your “Big Picture" but then we break it down into manageable steps so you won’t give up and that big amazing goal can actually become a reality. Part of this process encourages you to dig deep and figure out not only what you want to do, but who you want to be.
CONNECTION COUNTS
Coaching is also about connection, not giving orders, making judgments, or selling a product. Every coaching program is customized to the client’s personal wellness needs. When you begin the process, your coach will offer objective, knowledgeable, and supportive guidance to help you sift through the “stuff” or baggage that’s been holding you back or the habits that just don’t work anymore.
It's important to note, that therapy and coaching are not the same. In fact, at times some clients utilize both a coach and a psychologist.
Working with a coach truly jumpstarts successful LASTING changes. There is an abundance of research supporting the efficacy of wellness coaching. If you'd like to learn more here is a link to a very informative article on the Institute of Coaching website for
McLean Hospital affiliated with Harvard University:
https://instituteofcoaching.org/resources/introduction-health-and-wellness-coaching
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