What exactly does a health and wellness coach do, and how do they help people? We get that question a lot, so I thought I’d take a moment to answer it.

Health and wellness coaching is a collaborative and engaging process between a trained and certified professional, and a client seeking change in some aspect of their health and wellness. Clients may be interested in a variety of health and wellness topics ranging from stress management, exercise, nutrition, etc. Clients work with a coach to create a vision, set goals, and engage in actionable steps to make a positive change to their health and wellness.

Health and wellness coaches put the client back in the driver’s seat of their health, their wellness, and their life. A coach is there to guide and support them on their journey but ultimately the client controls the path, the speed, and the destination. The client is the expert on themselves, and the coach is there to draw out their strengths and help remind them of why they are making the changes in the first place. The purpose is to develop responsibility, awareness, and motivation toward behavior change.

Health and wellness coaches are needed now more than ever. 6 in 10 Americans live with at least one chronic disease. These and other chronic conditions are the leading cause of death, disability, and health care costs in America. Most of these chronic conditions can be prevented with lifestyle changes (1). Coaches are experts in behavior change and can help to implement these lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on your health immediately.

Here is a look at how health and wellness coaching is different from other more traditional expert approaches in the healthcare field:

Here are examples of the topics a client might explore with a wellness coach:

Health and wellness coaches discuss anything related to your health and wellness. However, we are very different from therapists in that we don’t diagnose or prescribe. We are trained to refer to other professionals if help is needed that is beyond our scope of practice. This could mean referrals to doctors, therapists, exercise specialists, and dieticians. Because this process is so personal, a good relationship with your coach is essential. You want to feel supported and comfortable and accepted. The coach works hard each session to create a trusting space where you can learn and grow.

The biggest misconception with health coaching is that we are content experts and that we tell you what to do. While we are trained, educated, and up-to-date on health topics and conditions, our role is not to tell you what to do. A good health and wellness coach understands that you are the expert on yourself. We are simply there to help you make the changes you are ready to make. This is done by setting achievable goals that can be sustained long-term.

Imagine this common scenario:

You meet with your doctor for a normal check-up. They find you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or that you are obese. You have to exercise every day. You need to eat better. You need to quit smoking. But, how?

For the most part, you know these things already. You may not be ready to make these changes or you may not know where or how to start. Commonly you may go home feeling embarrassed, dejected, and frustrated. This often leads to making no changes and getting back into the same habits that got you there.

Now imagine working with a certified health and wellness coach. Perhaps you aren’t quite ready to exercise every day, but you are ready to try something. We are there to support you, so you can make incremental and long-lasting change with positivity and encouragement. When coaching is done effectively, you leave knowing yourself better and feeling empowered. We guide you through the change process and meet you wherever you are at.

At Cardinal Wellness Coaching, our vision is:

To improve the life of each client by guiding, supporting, and empowering them on their personal journey to wellness.

Ways to work with a health and wellness coach:

We can partner with experts in nutrition and exercise to help create changes in these areas.
We can help doctors, nurses, and other health professionals by helping their clients make the changes they want and need to make. We can take the time needed with the clients over the weeks and months it takes, to make and sustain changes.
We can partner with companies to provide corporate wellness programs that actually work and can help make a difference in the lives of their employees.
We can partner with your company to offer health and wellness coaching to your clients.
We can help YOU get from where you are today to where you want to go.

Consider how you might benefit from a health and wellness coach today. Consider how you might partner with one to help your clients or your employees. We are trained, certified, and ready to help you work for your wellness. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed! Or better yet, sign up for a free consultation to get started with coaching today!

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