I asked myself this question before.
My time and money are valuable. How will a coach help? After all everyday thousands of personal trainers, physical therapists, registered dietitians publish videos and posts everyday. Many of you have tried using this information with some success. Has that success been lasting? I have worked as a personal trainer. People came to me because I was an expert. They spent time and money on me to get the answers. At that time I thought I was a good trainer because I spent some time asking what the persons goals were. I had great success with helping them meet their goals. I rejoiced when one older client arrived one day and shared that he had been able to walk to his grandson’s soccer field and watch his game. This was a big achievement for him as he had watched from the seat of the car before. Ask me how many of my client maintained their fitness or weight loss five years after they stopped working with me. Zero not a one. But I had taught them the exercises, instructed them to spend a certain amount of time, designed a program based on their goals. Why didn’t this work?
Enter the Health Coach.
This person partners with you to find lasting change. This may include helping you to learn new strategies to plan for and cope with lapses. First, this person believes you are the expert in your like and has the skills to help you sort out what you want to change. Second the results, in the Durham VA Healthcare System study HbA1C, physical activity change, and BMI had a statistically significant change when health coaching was used. What’s different here is that a Health Coach is on your side. We are your mirror so that you can see yourself in new ways that enable change. Finally, your Coach is skilled at listening and has many different approaches you can use to plan the steps you want to take. Like a guide on a trip, the coach can help smooth the way and add color on your wellness journey.
Want more information? This Blog was based on some of the information below.
Billie Frances, 4 Benefits of Working With A Health Coach, February 19,2015, https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/lifestyle/blog/5303/4-benefits-of-working-with-a-health-coach/
Melinda Huffman, Traditional Health Teaching is Out.. Evidence-based Coaching is IN! , 2015, https://www.ahihealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Health-based-coaching.pdf
Durham VA Healthcare System, John W. Williams Jr., MD , MHSc, Director, The Effectiveness of Health Coaching, April 2017, https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/esp/health-coaching-REPORT.pdf
Perter Grinspoon, MD, Health coaching is effective. Should you try it? , Published in the Harvard Business Review, April 8, 2020, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/health-coaching-is-effective-should-you-try-it-2020040819444