Hi, I’m Kate Simpson. I’m the functional medicine health coach here at Arizona Wellness Medicine. And today I’m going to be highlighting for you the role and the function of a health coach, how working with a health coach might be a next great step for you, and hopefully I’m going to clear up any misconceptions you have about health coaching that’s actually preventing you from giving it a try.
What is a Health Coach?
So a general description of a health coach is someone that helps an individual obtain knowledge, instill in confidence to be an active participant in their healthcare journey. Additionally, my specific role is to come alongside you and help you walk out the specific prescription that your respective doctors provided to you. So for example, maybe they’ve asked you to transition to a paleo lifestyle and you’re not really sure what that means. Maybe you have the added complication of needing to follow an autoimmune protocol or a low FODMAP plan. And you’re not really sure how that’s going to impact your time in a grocery store or in the kitchen. Health coaching is a great place to start. It’s a wonderful resource that will provide you the information that you need to successfully start on this journey towards change.
Additionally, you may recognize that you’re that individual that actually has a little bit of trouble with lasting lifestyle change. You’ve had a lot of starts and stops in your journey. And you’re really seeking out maybe some additional support in order to successfully accomplish your goal and overall health and wellbeing. Again, this is where health coaching comes in. The best description I can give is if we have a really good idea of where we’re at and we have a really good idea of where we need to be. It’s really the change to get us from point A to point B that becomes our plan. We’re going to build our specific goals on what we’re going to do today, tomorrow, next week to get us where we need to be.
Working with a Health Coach
Additionally, working with a health coach is hopefully going to help to highlight some of the barriers that have prevented you from successfully obtaining your goals previously. Or maybe if this is your first attempt at lifestyle change, it’s going to help you to avoid some of the pitfalls that happen out there to many of us, myself included.
I guess my philosophy that I’d want to share is that one small change on top of one small change leads to lasting change. And I really believe that it’s the lasting change that is providing us the sustainability for that transformative lifestyle that we’re reaching for.
I would probably end by saying that health coaching is not a military style experience. I’m not a drill sergeant. I’m not going to yell at you, and bark orders, and tell you what to do. I’m really going to come alongside you and hopefully eliminate a few options in terms of a path that you can walk down. You’re going to choose the path. You’re going to set the pace. I’m just really going to help to maybe ask some questions that will help highlight some of the barriers that are preventing you from getting, again, to that finish line.
Thanks so much. I hope that I’ve peaked your curiosity a little bit about what health coaching is. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our front desk. They are extremely knowledgeable about what health coaching is and about what my schedule is. And I’ll look forward to working with some of you in the future.