What is Integrative Health Coaching?

 Are there new concerns you have about your health or lifestyle? Do you have changes that you have always wanted to make, but lose momentum after a few months, weeks, or days?  Developing new behaviors, changing behaviors and forming new habits are difficult; sometimes seemingly impossible.  Otherwise, we would never get 'stuck in a rut' or continue on the roller coaster of life not fully enjoying the ride.  We often gravitate towards the newest diet fad, pill or 'quick fix' for immediate gratification and results.  The choices we make everyday, in every facet of our lives, contribute to who we are and ultimately impact our lifestyle and health.  Inability to see lasting change and feel successful may occur due to lack of, or fluctuating motivation and support.  Daily barriers seem to always interfere with our good intentions to "exercise more", "eat less", "communicate better", etc.  Needless to say, working to improve our health and lifestyle is challenging to achieve on our own; thus, leading to a 'yo-yo' existence, stagnation and ultimately frustration and disappointment.

Integrative Health Coaches are professionals rapidly emerging in healthcare, fitness and corporate arenas.  Integrative health coaching is distinct from health education, personal training, counseling, and general medical care.  Health Coaches partner with you to help you work towards your health and lifestyle goals by formulating a plan, holding you accountable for progress and providing structure, encouragement and support.  This structured partnership between the participant and a coach creates effective motivation and supports lasting health behavior change. The coach helps you develop and realize your optimal health vision through inquiry, personal discovery and accountability. 

A coaching partnership provides an opportunity to collaborate with a partner experienced in behavior change to carve out the kind of optimal health you have always envisioned for yourself. The foundation of this partnership is strongly based on honesty, trust and confidentiality.  This allows for a safe nonjudgmental environment for change to occur.  The focus is determined by the client, not the coach.  It is a client driven process. Any concern that gets in the way of taking care of your optimal health is the perfect subject with which to begin coaching.

Integrative Health Coaches utilize a person-centered, holistic approach, to facilitate healthy lifestyle habits and areas of change originating through personal values, objectives, work, balance, fulfillment, and life purpose.  They listen to your concerns and ask powerful questions to help create forward movement and motivate you to make the changes you desire that are personally meaningful. 

During coaching sessions, time is dedicated to exploring what is most important to you and to allow you to choose your course of action for whatever health concern you choose to address. Coaches guide you through the process to maximize your success, therefore enhancing your quality of life. Working in this structured partnership helps to identify barriers to change, and create strategies for moving forward toward your goals with a personalized health plan.  Coaches support you in tracking your progress and hold you accountable for achieving your commitments.  In addition, coaches provide additional tools and resources for making healthy behavior changes solid and sustainable. 

This proactive comprehensive working relationship accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice in making changes and improving health.  Connecting to the healing potential that exists within helps create an environment where health and true wellness can be achieved in which the client can thrive.  

Working with an Integrative Health Coach provides assistance in reducing the negative impact of chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes to name a few), guidance in personal care and health maintenance activities, support in creating strategies for success in following recommended treatment plans.
Telephonic and virtual coaching opportunities are abundant, therefore eliminating a major barrier of getting to an appointment. 

---