You may be wondering what health and wellness coaches are all about. Are they nutritionists? Or personal trainers? And why would you potentially work with a wellness coach?

Health and wellness coaching may be a relatively new term, but the principles of it have been around much longer.

Wellness coaching uses a holistic approach to health and well-being. A health and wellness coach will partner with an individual to gain an understanding of their current lifestyle, health, and wellness goals. Then, the health coach provides support and guidance as you work together to create a plan that addresses the client's goals to create a long-term healthy lifestyle.

Wellness coaches can help you identify areas that need improvement in your life, create habits, stay accountable, and achieve optimal health and wellness. This article will discuss what a health coach does, why you might need one, what to look for in a wellness coach, and how to get started.

Note: in this article, we use the term health coach, wellness coach, and health and wellness coach interchangeably.

Why You Might Need Wellness Coaching

Whether you need to significantly shift your lifestyle and set major health goals, or just want to ensure that your current habits are on track, working with a wellness coach can help.

Wellness coaches help people explore their overall health and well-being, from a holistic standpoint. This includes healthy habits related to physical fitness, mental health, and emotional well-being.

A wellness coach focuses on the total picture, although you may be tackling specific goals such as:

Weight loss
Stress management
Smoking cessation
Healthy eating
Self-care
Physical activity
Women's Health
Sleep hygiene
Elimination of bad habits
Increasing energy
And any other healthy living goals

Wellness coaches focus on all these topics and more. A health coach isn't the same as a life coach or a personal trainer, because they are focused on holistic health. But these areas may overlap at times depending on what the client wants to work on and discuss.

Benefits of Working with Health and Wellness Coaches

Here are five of the top reasons wellness coaching is gaining in popularity.

1. Wellness coaches help you develop a personalized plan

Have you tried a diet, weight loss, or health plan before? Chances are, the program got you started in the right direction but was difficult to sustain long-term.

That's because most programs are generic, one-size-fits-all solutions.

A wellness coach takes the time to get to know you, your lifestyle, and your habits and helps create an individualized plan. Clients are able to determine their primary goal and help set goals that make sense for their life.

2. Health coaching provides support & accountability

It can be hard to stay motivated and on track with your health goals. People often know what they need to do, but they struggle to find intrinsic motivation, achieve work-life balance, and stay consistent.

Health coaches provide support and accountability every step of the way. They'll help motivate you, encourage you, and celebrate your successes with you.

Knowing you'll meet with your health coach on a weekly basis helps you to stay accountable and experience lasting transformation.

3. Wellness coaches can help you identify obstacles

Sometimes we're our own worst enemy when it comes to achieving our goals. We may have unhelpful thoughts and mindsets that limit us. Or we might be blind to the root causes of unhealthy habits.

Health and wellness coaches will help you identify obstacles and work through barriers to success. Wellness coaches work with their clients to develop skills to overcome challenges and make permanent lifestyle changes.

4. Learn how to develop healthy sustainable habits

Health and wellness coaches are more than cheerleaders and motivators; they also provide education and resources. They may offer helpful tips about sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and more.

Check the credentials before signing with a coach. You want to work with a certified wellness coach who has completed sound training.

5. Increase self-awareness of all aspects of health

As human beings, we are complex creatures. Our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health are all connected and influence one another.

Health coaches can help you to recognize the connection between your physical and mental health and focus on developing healthy habits related to all areas of life. This self-awareness can lead to long-term lifestyle changes.

Overall, wellness coaching provides an opportunity to focus on health and well-being in a holistic way.

How to Find the Right Health and Wellness Coach

If you've worked with personal trainers or other coaches in the past, you know that having excellent rapport is vital for a productive relationship.

When you work one on one with a coach, it's important that you feel completely comfortable with that professional and confident in their ability to help you.

Some things to consider when looking for the right wellness coach for you:

Educational background: Check the coach's background and credentials to ensure they have completed a comprehensive wellness coaching education program. They may have certifications in nutrition, physical fitness, or another health wellness-related area as well.
Experience: It's also important to find out how long a coach has been working in the health and wellness field, as well as what type of clients they usually work with.
Coaching Style: Some people are motivated by a direct and challenging health coach. Others may prefer health coaches who are more gentle and nurturing. Will your wellness coach be focused on talking through problems, or are they about creating plans and getting to the bottom line? Think about what you want your coaching sessions to feel like.
Personality Fit: Do you like to work with a health coach who's super higher energy, or more relaxed? Sometimes you just "click" with someone, and other times you don't! The only way to know is to observe the person and have an introductory call to see how your personalities will mesh.
Availability and Communication: Some health coaches work online and others are in person. Think about which one best suits your needs. Also, make sure the coach is available when you need them and that communication is clear and responsive.
Cost: health and wellness coaching typically isn't cheap. The fees charged by wellness coaches often depend on their experience and demand. Still, it's best to find a health coach that you can work into your budget for at least 3-6 months because that's a good timeframe for making lasting changes.

Finding a certified health coach who meets all of these qualifications can help set you on the path to achieving lasting changes in your well-being.

When choosing a wellness coach, make sure to ask questions until you are confident that you have found the right person for you. It’s important to make sure that your coach has completed a wellness coach training program and provides an environment in which you feel safe, supported, and motivated to reach your health goals.

Creating an Effective Plan with Your Health and Wellness Coach

Certified coaches can help you create an effective and personalized plan for achieving your health goals.

This plan should include both short and long-term goals, strategies for making lifestyle changes, and ways to measure progress along the way.

Your coach will act as a partner in helping you stay accountable and motivated on your health journey. They can also provide resources.

However, remember that a great wellness coach won't just tell you what to do. Health coaching is a partnership that requires your participation, input, and dedication to develop strategies that work.

If you want to see change, you need to be committed to:

Being honest
Evaluating your own life
Willing to make changes
Taking action
Learning from challenges and pressing forward!

Your coach will help you identify areas where you can make small changes that lead to big results over time. Working together with your health coach, you can create an individualized plan of action that is realistic and attainable.

Tips for Getting Started With a Health and Wellness Coaching Program

So maybe you're ready to take the plunge and dive into health coaching. Here are some tips to get started:

Research different health and wellness coaching programs to find one that's right for you.
Set realistic goals for yourself and be prepared to work hard.
Choose a coach who is certified, experienced, and has a personality fit with yours.
Make sure the program fits in your budget and availability needs.
Just do it!

It's easy to sit back and wait for the perfect timing for health coaching, but rest assured there will always be distractions or reasons to delay.

The most important thing is to just begin. Find a health coach you can trust, and see how small steps can make a big difference in transforming your lifestyle practices.

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Health & Wellness Coaching

What is a Wellness Coach and Do You Need One?