What is a holistic health coach?
Welcome to the blog! I love breaking down definitions and providing clarity, especially in a profession that is constantly evolving. Let’s talk about what exactly a holistic health coach is and what the process of working with a coach can look like.
What is a holistic health coach?
Coaches are professionals who partner with clients who are ready to create lasting changes for their health and wellness. This partnership is built on trust and empathy and creates a safe, supportive environment for clients to express thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a nonjudgmental space. While clinicians and other providers have expertise in specific areas of healthcare, health coaches are experts in the process of behavior change.
Changing behavior can be a tricky process especially if you’ve tried in the past and been unsuccessful or just don’t know where to start to achieve your goals. Often, we know we want to change, but don’t have the tools or education to know where to start – this is where health coaches come in. Coaching is a client-centered process where individuals create their goals, engage in self-discovery and reflection, and self-monitor behaviors to increase accountability. It’s an active learning process where clients learn about how the many facets of health are interwoven and impact their overall well-being.
Coaches work with people in all different phases of life. A coach can help people who are:
Dealing with a chronic illness or life constraints
Going through a significant life transition and seeking stability
Struggling to meet a health goal they’ve been working at for a long time with little success
Wanting to make a positive, sustainable change for their health but don’t know where to start
Wanting to reignite their motivation on the path to enhanced well-being
Feeling stuck in some way or disconnected from themselves
In working with clients, coaches use a variety of theories and communication techniques. While most coaches implement a unique set of knowledge and skills depending on their training, background, and the client’s needs, this work emphasizes being present with clients, active listening, and building the relationship first.
What does the term “holistic” mean?
A holistic approach is rooted in addressing the needs of the whole person – including mental, physical, emotional, social, environmental, and spiritual. In the realm of health coaching, it means examining and holding all these pieces at the same time, accepting the multidimensional qualities of individuals. Instead of looking at a close-up view through binoculars, the holistic coach views and appreciates the entire landscape.
Having a holistic approach in coaching goes beyond the healthcare office and recognizes concepts like active participation of individuals, resilience, prevention, and the effect of public policy on health. Since there are so many factors at play in a person’s life at any given moment that affect their health, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The strategies and tools that work best for one person will look completely different for another person. Rather than looking at one piece of the puzzle, coaches see and accept all the pieces of the puzzle together and work with clients to uncover what works best for them.
If after reading this, you believe a coach might be beneficial for you on your health journey, you can schedule your free discovery call here. This initial call provides the opportunity for us to get a feel for each other and for me to hear more about your story, what brings you to coaching, and answer any questions. I look forward to connecting with you!
