The Beginner's Guide to Holistic Health Coaching

What is a Health Coach?

A health coach is a professional who will be able to help you achieve your desired level of wellness. A health coach can provide guidance and advice on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, goal setting, and other lifestyle factors that may be affecting your wellbeing. Working with a health coach can help individuals develop healthier habits and reach their personal health goals.

Why are Health Coaches important?

Conventional medicine does a really good job at acute care and symptom management. Where they fall short is in prevention. Medical doctors are typically caught in a system with insurance companies and pharmaceuticals. Some of the stories I’ve heard from my doctor friends would make you cringe! They just don’t have the time or training to spend with patients on prevention and overall health. This is where Health Coaches come in. Many medical facilities are hiring health coaches to work with patients on going to assist with reaching goals. Health Coaches can also be entrepreneurs and work independent of other practitioners.

How to get started with a Health Coach

When you’re ready to work with a health coach it can seem overwhelming to find the right person. Most coaches offer a free discovery call where you get to talk with them and understand how they work. Take time to pick a coach that is a good fit for you. Select someone that is open & honest and can clearly communicate what to expect while working with them. But remember, coaches don’t do the work for you. Ultimately, your success lies in how committed you are and if you believe that you can achieve your goals.

Tips for success in working with a Health Coach

Find a coach that matches your personality
Be open and honest with your coach
Be ready to make lifestyle changes, even if they seem hard
Don’t get derailed by obstacles. Things happen, keep going.
Set realistic goals to achieve during your session
Try something new! Your health coach may suggest something you’ve never tried

Frequently Asked Questions

Professional health coaches have received a certificate after completing a training program. There are several different programs for health coaches to receive education. They are educated around holistic health, including diet, exercise, habit, psychology, mindset, finances, relationships, career and more. The training programs I chose to complete are with The Institute of Integrative Nutrition and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition.

In most states a nutritionist is not a regulated term, whereas a dietician must register with a state licensing board. So most anyone who studies and specializes in nutrition can call themselves a nutritionist. A health coach could be a nutritionist, but they are also trained in many other areas of wellness beyond food and nutrition.

Many insurance companies are covering health coaching. Sometimes you can use your HSA funds for health coaching. Check with your insurance company regarding your individual policy. Also note that some health coaches may not accept insurance. Working with insurance companies brings its own challenges and many practitioners may opt to be cash only. In this case, your HSA funds may still be a great option to bridge this situation.

Working with a health coach will require investment on your part but there is no set price for this service. As you begin talking with coaches learn about their program and be sure to understand their pricing. Discuss options they have and find what fits your budget and needs. We have multiple options from free health workshops, to small groups, and 1:1 sessions.

When you work with a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner at Wellthy Mama we can order functional screenings for you. Typically health coaches cannot order labs unless they have another certification or license that covers it. We have received additional education around functional lab screenings, interpreting them and building a custom protocol based on the results and goals of the client.

A health coach (unless they are a medical doctor) can not diagnose or treat disease specifically. Instead, we support the entire body and person holistically and help the body restore balance & resiliency. If you are in need of medical care, call your doctor. If you have goals to age without disease, breakthrough weight loss resistance, tackle habits that aren’t serving you anymore, have vibrant energy that lasts all day, then call a health coach!

Keep this in mind when working with health coaches

Many people believe health coaches can provide a valuable service to people all over the world who are struggling with meeting their health goals. We are all bombarded by marketing messages throughout our day that are meant to confuse us and influence us. Unfortunately many of the message come from unhealthy foods, drinks, drugs and services. Having an ally to help you navigate what is best for your body and help you listen to your own intuition is invaluable. That’s what a health coach can do!

I truly hope you find the best version of yourself. If you’d like to talk to a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner at Wellthy Mama reach out here for your FREE discovery call to learn all about what we do.