Health coaching has been shown to:
- Improve weight loss and help people maintain a lower weight for longer
- Lead to faster reduction of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients
- Lower total cholesterol levels in people with coronary heart disease
- Lessen feelings of depression and improve the overall quality of life
- Encourage people to stick with the changes they’ve made long term
HOW ARE HEALTH COACHES TRAINED?
Health coaching is a relatively new profession, and the practice continues to grow and mature. Because of that, there’s a wide variety in the quality and depth of the available health coach training programs out there.
But all that’s changing. Through a partnership with the National Board of Medical Examiners, ICHWC (the International Consortium for Health & Wellness Coaching) has developed rigorous standards for health coach education and training. Health coaches who have mastered a specific set of practical skills logged at least 50 practice coaching sessions with clients, and passed a certifying exam can earn the NBC-HWC (National Board Certified-Health and Wellness Coach) certification. I plan to take the next NBC-HWC examination offered in 2020. I am currently an ADAPT Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach. I have also been certified in Reversing Cognitive Decline for Health Coaches.
The best-trained health coaches out there will be NBC-HWC certified or have attended schools that meet or exceed ICHWC standards, such as the ADAPT Health Coach Training Program.
WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A HEALTH COACH?
My role as a health coach is centered on supporting my clients’ efforts to grow and change. My main focus is to help you reach the health goals that you have set for yourself.
As a health coach, I do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or provide psychological therapeutic interventions.
As your health coach I will:
- Help you develop your own health goals and action steps based on treatment plans from your doctor or changes you want to personally make.
- Encourage you to find and use your own insight, internal strengths, and external resources to make sustainable, healthy changes
- Work with you to facilitate the behavior change process
- Act as an accountability partner to help you reach your health goals
Our work together will be based on your priorities. You may have recommendations from a medical practitioner and want help implementing them or maybe you have your own reasons for seeking support. I will work with you to create goals that are manageable and I support you through your transition.
Are you ready to take that first step?
Click here for a FREE 45-minute consultation.
This is an opportunity for us to meet virtually and see if we are a good match to work together. I dedicate up to an hour to learn all about you and what you hope to achieve through coaching. You get to ask questions about me and how I work with clients. Then we can use any remaining time to do a mini-coaching session to give you a little glimpse as to what it would be like to work with me.
