In a world filled with public health threats, the typical healthcare providers that we have known over the years have had to evolve.

Registered nurses, physicians, dieticians, and other medical professionals are not simply contained in their titles anymore as they pursue other skills which include health coaching.

This is in recognition of the value of health coaches specifically in the process of recovery of millions of Americans each year.

According to the data of the CDC, over half a million US citizens have been diagnosed with a chronic disease.

In fact, 6 out of 10 Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. The sad part about this statistic is that most chronic diseases are preventable or can easily be manageable by addressing risk factors such as diet and lifestyle approaches.

As more people embrace the sedentary carefree lifestyle that includes indulging in junk food, lying on the couch the whole day watching Netflix, and lacking physical activities, the demand for health coaches continue to increase exponentially not only to health people prevent the development of medical conditions that are direct consequences of their lifestyle choice, but to provide assistance to those who are recovering or in the process of managing their chronic medical disease.

So, how exactly do health coaches help patients recover successfully from these diseases?

Here’s an overview of what health coaches do for your long-term health.

Turning their Goals into Action

Becoming a health coach does not give you the authority to take over the health decisions of the patients.

The key strength of health coaching lies in the partnership and the type of relationship formed between the health coach and the clients. With this primary requirement fulfilled, clients and patients become more confident in adopting self-care skills and paving their own way towards personal healing.

Health coaches provide guidance and lead the clients into coming up with their personal health goals by presenting key information and resources, disease-specific knowledge and skills, and healthy behaviors.
In the process of defining health goals, people would commonly provide general and rather vague targets.

Health coaches are skilled in narrowing down these targets into achievable goals that suit what the body needs.

They also guide clients into prioritizing goals, breaking them down into practical steps that work best for the client in terms of progress and completion.     

Eliminating Unhealthy Behavior

The very core of successful recovery is the ability to completely eliminate damaging habits and behaviors that led to the development of chronic disease in the first place.

While physicians, nutritionists, and other medical professionals can treat and recommend nutritional meal plans to immediately correct irregularities in the glucose level, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels, if the behavioral change is not ensured, restoration of good health is less likely.

Health coaches are in a unique position compared to regular doctors and nurses as they continue and strengthen their connection with the patient even after hospitalization. They actively extend care outside the medical facility and integrate into the patient’s life.

This continuity requires the establishment of rapport and the constant availability for coaching and monitoring to guarantee that the patient is indeed on the right track towards self-management.

Empowering the Patient during Recovery

According to a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, emotional-wellbeing is a crucial component for the recovery and survival of patients who are diagnosed with physical illnesses.
For the longest time, medical researchers have stressed the strong link between the mind and the body especially when health is compromised. Through this premise, health coaches assume the role of a motivation coach and offer emotional support through positive psychology and other effective approaches for patients who are recovering from a chronic disease.

Health coaches help patients develop the right mindset and mental attitude and teach coping mechanisms towards their condition.

They also guide the patients in uncovering emotional issues that influence their lifestyle choice and lead the client in addressing these issues through a healthier alternative.
But the most important of all these strategies and techniques is the mere interest and involvement of health coaches in the recovery experience of the patient.

Creating a Bridge between the Patient and the Clinician

The role of a clinician or physician is undeniably critical in the process of healing but often becomes detached in the subsequent steps of complete recovery. They prescribe medications to patients that could alleviate the effects of the illness but has no control over whether the patient will take the medicine or not.

The same case may apply to nurses and nutritionists. Certified dietitians could recommend the ultimate meal plan to help you achieve optimum health, but by the end of the day, it is still up to you if you follow through with the given recommendation.

This gap between the patient and clinician especially outside the four walls of the clinic or hospital often becomes a devious window for untamed habits to sneak into and practically shatters the efforts of the healthcare providers. Fortunately, this is where health coaches come in.

Doctors provide the appropriate medicine and health coaches ensure that patients religiously take them in. They also keep close monitoring of how patients are strictly following the given recommendations for their recovery.   

Guiding the Clients in Navigating the Healthcare System

Maximizing the benefits of the healthcare system means that the population is given the right assistance largely in securing the services they need. There is a portion in the said population that often require assistance in navigating medical services. Health coaches coordinate with hospitals and clinics to connect their clients especially the elderly, the marginalized, and the disabled.

Patients under recovery also receive assistance in connecting to referred clinicians not only through representation but education as well.

Health coaches would normally discuss certain procedures as a means of supplementary instruction to ensure that the patient understands a particular medicine or medical procedure.

How Can You Become a Health coach?

Health coaches continually make a significant difference in the lives of people from all walks of life. Healthcare professionals such as nurses and doctors, benefit from becoming a health coach as they extend their services outside the clinic and into the real lives of their patients. Even those who are coming from non-medical professions can become a certified health coach through proper training.

To become a health coach, secure the right education that contains a curriculum encompassing the basic knowledge about health coaching such as cutting-edge psychology, brain science, nutrition and wellness, and more. Look for an institution that offers training on critical skills such as transformational coaching, designing a healthy lifestyle plan, etc.

Make the best decision of your life today by becoming a health coach through the world-class health coaching program offered by Health Coach Institute. 

Become a Health Coach in 6 Months with Health Coach Institute

Coaching is a great career that you can help others, while also learning how to help your own personal growth. Health Coach Institute is a top health and wellness coaching certification program. Join our Become a Health Coach program and begin coaching in 6 months! If you are already a coach and want to advance your skills, check out HCI’s Coach Mastery program. Feel free to get in touch with with one of our clarity coaches directly, by calling 1-800-303-2399.

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Health Coach Institute provides aspiring Health and Life Coaches with the tools, training, and support to make a great living transforming lives.