Health Coach: What we are and what we are NOT

I am a health coach with almost seven years of experience coaching clients and groups and over three years of working with other coaches. My focus has become teaching health coaches my method of training for many reasons but mainly because coaches are getting out of school and have NO idea what to do next or how to fit into the wellness profession. So let’s start with the good news first.
Good news: health coaches are making their way into the mainstream thanks to ND’s and people like James Maskell of the Evolution of Medicine creating a space for them and letting the world know coaches have a place in this movement.
Bad News: health coaches are making their way into the mainstream with little to NO guidance on how to safely practice or how to grow their practice in a low-risk, profitable and fruitful way. This is because of lack of mentorship, regulations, and guidance from people who are skilled in the practice of coaching within our scope of profession.
That leads to the title of this story so let’s talk about what health coaches are first.
Wikipedia: Health coaching, also referred to as wellness coaching, is a process that facilitates healthy, sustainable behavior change by challenging a client to develop their inner wisdom, identify their values, and transform their goals into action. Health coaching draws on the principles of positive psychology and appreciative inquiry, and the practices of motivational interviewing and goal setting.[1][2][page needed] The terms “health coaching” and “wellness coaching” are used interchangeably.

My definition: Health coaches are a source of support and resources for clients wishing to optimize their health through sustainable and low-stress methods of change that they can then carry forward in their life for future reference.
I am not a fan of the word challenge as it applies to healthy changes…it seems dark, hard and turns me off when it comes to trying to adapt to healthier ways of life.

Since an exact scope of profession didn’t exist when I started coaching ( at least not one that applies to my beliefs) I created my own which is inserted into the course I teach my students:

1. Provide reliable resources and information (based on a client’s goals) to clients through a delivery they will understand (easy to understand steps and guidelines) without overwhelming them.
2. Provide education about the importance of “Removing toxins, Resting the body and Replacing with healthier options” in the areas of food choices, sleep, stress, movement, and fun.
3. Offer emotional support with no intention of appearing as an LCSW, Psychologist, Psychiatrist or any other mental health professional.
4. Support the client-practitioner relationship by providing them with tools for a successful meeting with their doctor/practitioner etc.
5. Provide links to websites for finding a practitioner if requested. Reminder: let them pick the practitioner.
6. Provide links for understanding their lab work if requested. Reminder: it is fine to share a site that explains labs and to walk through the meanings within the site, but it is not okay to interpret the labs unless you are a trained and qualified practitioner.
7. Explain different medical professions and techniques without suggesting any particular method or program. The client makes their own decision.
8. Support client health goals and help to identify obstacles to reaching goals through inquiry and guiding them to find the answer using their own instincts and intuition.
9. Learn about the client from a functional perspective (mind and body).
   Be a good steward of their money and their time by working efficiently and not creating a “client for life” type of practice.
10. Don’t hold out information for the client to drag out the relationship longer in the interest of creating more income for yourself.
11. Provide referrals to other resources to complement their relationship with yours whenever necessary.

Now that you know what I believe a health coach is, let’s talk about what a health coach is NOT (contrary to popular belief). Note: Some of the following people hold a certification in coaching along with the profession I mention and obviously they are the exception.

A health coach is not:

1. An MLM (multi-level marketing) sales person

2. A personal trainer

3. A supplement store employee

4. An employee from your local whole foods who works IN the supplement section

5. A gym owner

When you hire someone to help you through your health issues, look for authenticity. If the person presents as honest and authentic that usually means they have done the work on themselves (and are still working on improvements in their own life). This is the person who won’t judge your decisions, will feel empathy toward your struggles and lead you to the best resources for your needs because they have walked through their own struggles. Another thing to consider is, are they open to collaboration? If you are dealing with health conditions and diagnosis, you SHOULD be working with a practitioner or have someone that you trust for the medical side of things. Coaches are here to bridge the gap that exists between the client and the other methods they are using to find answers. If you find the right one you can accelerate your plans for a healthier life, dig into the barriers that are holding you back and find the support you need. Just don’t settle for the person at the gym selling MLM”s with the six pack. Just because someone looks good on the outside doesn’t mean their insides match. Trust someone who uses whole food as a foundation for health, and you are on the right path.