What is health coaching?

“Coaching is not a service profession; it is a modeling profession”-Moore 

​I was drawn to health coaching because as a nurse in the local hospitals, I felt this widening gap between information provided to patients and patients actually being able to absorb that information. It’s incredibly difficult to be handed a life changing diagnosis then one of two things happens; a stack of information about ways that may or may not be helpful to aid in that diagnosis or you are just sent on your way with a prescription. 

It’s not our provider’s fault. Our healthcare system is simply not designed to allow for providers to spend quality time with their patients to break down information pertaining to their diagnosis. This is where health coaches step in.  Health Coaching is the newest and fastest growing area of healthcare at the moment.  Facilities, doctors, nurses, and insurances are recognizing this gap in care.  Having a health coach on your team allows for that time and education needed to take the next best step towards health. 

As a health coach I feel it is my duty to not just educate but to listen to my clients. So many, myself included, just want to be heard.  Are there current lifestyle factors contributing to this disease or diagnosis? Maybe there are unknown harmful behaviors contributing? Are medications really the best treatment plan? A health coach can sift through the emotions an individual may be holding around their current health status. 

There is no judgement when stepping into a coaching session.  Good coaches bring mindful awareness into a coaching session, which allows the client to take the lead. Allowing the client to take charge leads to more positive outcomes with goal setting, envisioning, and creating lasting lifestyle habit changes. 


​By Kala, RN, BSN, Health Coach

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