There's a lot of questions regarding whether health coaching is effective, and whether people should try it ?
During my career as a Business Development Manager in one of the wellness center in Malaysia, I remember that the health physician that I'm working closely with had undergo intensive training to become certified health and wellness coach. It makes me wonder and I asked the physician why get a certification as a health coach while you're a well educated and trained specialist in your medical field?
And the physician's answer inspired me. The physician mentioned that, being a well educated and trained specialist in the medical field doesn't mean that you're able to provide a "holistic support" for the patients. In the same time, I'm also gathering feedbacks from the clients/patients and they were almost universally positive: many of them had attained health goals that had been otherwise elusive, such as the weight loss they invoked annually - and fruitlessly- as a New Year's resolution. The few physicians I knew who were also coaches seemed to be able to fuse the different skill sets in a way that expanded their ability to connect with their patients and address their health needs on a deeper level.
There is where I gained more confidence that by being a Health Coach, we can assist the clients / patients holistically, effectively and most of all providing solutions that could last in a long term basis.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A HEALTH COACH JOB ?
With an easy reference like a sports coach can help an athlete develop and excel at sport, a health and wellness coach can help anyone excel at living their life, especially if they have chronic medical conditions. The coaching process is similar to talk therapy in that it involves two people discussing ideas and issues, but it is different in that the person who is being coached is in the driver's seat, creating their goals as well as the strategies on how to arrive at the goals that they had set.
Traditional psychology has focused on what is "wrong" with people and what needs to be "fixed", coaching philosophy focuses on what has, can, and will work better for you. This means that instead of rooting around for problems to dwell on, a coach will work with you to harness your strengths, in order to improve the health behaviors you want to address.
A health coach brings a focus on enhancing, preserving, and maintaining health and preventing illness, and views clients/ patients in a nonjudgmental terms as whole beings who do not need to be repaired, but who may require support and assistance in building on their self-esteem and character strengths. Like the sculptor who "continues to carve to set the angel free", the client / patient centered health coach has a curious two-way mindset, draws out potential, enables, develops, reflects in a reactive and flexible manner, and strategy-oriented. The outdated. failed, one-way "expert" model imposes aims and goals, directs, and tactic-oriented. The health coach, in contrast, helps clients find solutions.
People tend to hire health coaches to help them with a broad variety of health issues, such as weight loss, stress reduction, the management of chronic conditions, improving diet and exercise, tobacco cessation, addiction, and adjusting to a life-altering health event, like a heart attack or even managing their mental health issues. There is overlap between what a health coach does and what a life coach does, but a life coach's domain is much broader, and includes career issues, executive coaching, and professional effectiveness.
IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT COACHING WORKS?
In a well practice country such as in the United States, coaching is effective for people managing a variety of health conditions. According to recent study, coaching "results in clinically relevant improvements in multiple biomarker risk factors (including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and cardiorespiratory fitness) in diverse populations." Coaching has also helped improve health-related quality of life and reduced hospital admission in patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) No wonder some doctors' offices are offering it, some insurance companies are paying for it, and private companies are even starting to offer coaching to their employees in order to lower their healthcare costs.
However, as for my own clients' testimonial, a successful 23 days weight loss program with support of medical practitioner and providing her a better self-esteem, feeling happier, stronger, better mind clarity and sense of purpose in living.
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HOW ARE COACHES TRAINED AND CERTIFIED?
Coaching is a relatively new field, and it is an unregulated industry. There is no strict definition of what a health coach even is, which adds to the confusion. In other words, anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves a “coach.” However, there are many programs that do train and certify coaches, both in person and online. Among the most popular and well-respected are: The National Society of Health Coaches, The American Council on Exercise (which I highly recommend), Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, Duke Integrative Medicine, and Wellcoaches School of Coaching.
HOW CAN YOU FIND THE RIGHT COACH FOR YOU?
Coaches enter the field from a wide variety of different backgrounds, and it might be an advantage to pick a coach who has a background in health or wellness-related field, while working alongside with the support of professional medical team is ideal. This is because to have a holistic and safe approach with your clients, we still need professional advice from medical team and in the same time, making sure that your clients are in the safe hands. However, many extremely talented coaches come from careers in different industry. Word of mouth is always an excellent way to find a coach, or you could search for those coaches that is at your reach. Finding a coach that you feel comfortable, able to inspire and motivate you could do wonders in achieving your desire goals and target.
All you need to do is start searching and asking.
If you're interested to do a trial consult with North Borneo Wellness Sdn. Bhd, please click on this link to find out more about our coaches.