Integrative Health Coaching
Integrative Health Coaching promotes health and wellness through a supportive coaching relationship, a relationship that helps you look at your vision of what optimal health means to you, and then develop achievable steps to reach your goals. This research-based model explores the whole person and explores any area of your life that is affecting your health such as personal and professional development, spirituality, relationships and communication, physical environment, nutrition, movement/exercise/rest, and mind-body connection.
I offer in group coaching as well as 1:1 sessions, either in person or via telephone. If you have any questions, let’s connect over a free, 15-minute consultation today!
FAQs
Is Health Coaching for Me?
Your health is more than your numbers. Everything in your life impacts your overall health and wellbeing. If you are are feeling stressed out and overworked, I can support you to create more balance in your day to day life so you can feel more present and connected with yourself and others. If you are feeling stuck and are not sure where to start, I would love to partner with you and empower you to live your best life by making sustainable lifestyle and behavior changes in order to experience optimal health and well being.
How Long Does it Take to Create Sustainable Change?
It usually takes a minimum of three months to change a health behavior and create a new one that can become self-sustaining. Six months or longer may be more suitable to explore significant challenges (e.g. smoking cessation, significant weight loss, or dealing with a chronic condition). Studies confirm that people who use integrative health coaching realize more profound health benefits than those who do not. We get results!
How much does it cost?
Keep in mind that health coaching services may be covered by your Health Savings Account (HSA), or your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), with a letter from your doctor stating the necessity of this particular service. Call your HSA or FSA plan administrator to learn more!
1:1 Package of 7 Sessions: $595
Typically over the course of 4 months
60-90 min introductory session
Six, 30-min follow-up sessions
Communication via email between sessions
Individual Sessions: $125
Group Package of 7 Sessions: $325 per person
Group coaching could be explored within a single interest (e.g. weight loss, cancer survivors, work-life balance) or mixed interest group
We could also explore within a closed group (same group members throughout the series) or open group (group members are able to come and go)
If group members live far apart, we will meet via Zoom, a web-based video platform
What is My Role as a Coach?
The coach’s primary roles in this partnership is to be responsible for the coaching process. Coaching uses specific skills to direct the client with kindness and empathy through the process of change. Directing this process is not be rote or script. It is with the specific client’s needs in mind. The coach is also responsible for the following:
Determining the coaching structure
Creating a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive environment
Using skills to promote learning and action
Being fully present for the client
Self-managing to set aside personal opinions, preferences, judgments and the need to be right
Developing trust and demonstrating respect
Supporting client autonomy as it is the client’s life to live
Determining coach-client fit
Demonstrating professional and ethical behavior
What is Your Role as a Client?
The client’s primary role in this relationship is the expert on their own life, values, and health goals. Ultimately, the client completes the work through the following steps:
Determining the focus in terms of what health behavior to change
Creating their health vision, exploring their values, and completing the personal health plan
Determining the timeline for change
Setting the best goal and action steps for change
Initiating and sustain action
Determining to whom and how to be accountable for commitments
Assessing success, barriers encountered, creating backup plans and choosing additional action steps
Determining coach-client fit
Health Coaching is the Missing Link in Healthcare
The healthcare system cannot continue in the state that it is in. Ninety-five cents of every dollar is spent after disease has occurred, as opposed to prevention. With the healthcare system shifting towards preventative care, Duke Integrative Medicine has pioneered the educational program for Integrative Health Coaches to meet the health challenges of today and in the future.
Integrative Health Coaching is often considered the missing link in health care. Research shows that 50% of illnesses are related to health behaviors, and 40% of premature deaths in the United States are caused by lifestyle choices. A Lancet study in 2004 concluded that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90% of all heart disease.
The United States far exceeds every other country in the world in expenditures for health care. However, it is statistically among the lowest, next to Cuba, in life expectancy.
Many people are aware of what they need to do to be healthy, they may have been given instructions by their physician to exercise more and lose weight, but knowledge alone is not enough. An Integrative Health Coach can take the extra time that a physician is unable to give, providing a complement to the recommendations of their physician. Through encouragement and support, they can help you to be successful in achieving lasting behavior and lifestyle changes.
The model of healthcare is transforming from a disease focused, reactive, and physician directed approach to a health oriented, partnership based, whole person approach. An integrative health coach works in partnership with you to provide structure and support to help you reach your optimum health. They help you to identify and prepare to change your health behaviors so you can obtain sustainable, life-long, personal wellbeing.
Your health coach works with your own ability to make change by helping you to see a clear vision of what optimal health means to you. This is done by looking at your desired state, taking into account your values and goals, helping you identify any obstacles to success, and helping you create strategies to push past barriers so that you can achieve your desired outcome. In addition, your coach can provide additional support and encouragement by holding you accountable for your commitments, and providing information about resources, if requested, to support these goals. By working with you in a self-discovery process, you are able to discover what you really want your health to look like. Once you have this clear vision, along with the support of your coach, you are much more likely to be able to sustain these changes over time.