Frequently Asked Questions
What is Health & Wellness Coaching?
Health & Wellness coaching is a system designed to help individuals with everyday stressors and struggles that are getting in the way of them leading their best lives. Everyone has some level of anxiety and difficult moods, and sometimes we build patterns of thinking and behaving that perpetuate these moods and can cause challenges in our lives. Through coaching, we help identify unhealthy patterns and build tools to live a more fulfilling life.
What do you mean by health & wellness?
Our health in made up of different aspects of our lives, not just one area. We coach clients on the areas of physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. When we look at wellness, we are building on what is healthy and positive in our lives, not just what feels better. Many clients come to coaching to feel more or less of some emotion, but emotions change constantly and this creates a moving target. Also, sometimes we feel bad doing something healthy or feel good doing something unhealthy. Instead, we build goals based on what is healthy in our lives.
What is the difference between coaching and counseling/therapy/psychiatry?
Mental health is on a spectrum and there are different levels of struggles we might experience throughout our lifespan. There are times and situations that psychotherapy is the best option and other times that coaching might the best option. Here are some quick ways to recognize if coaching could be a better method for you:
- Coaching is a great fit if you are looking for stress management, work-life balance, career coaching, goal setting, and personal growth & development.
- Coaching can help to clairify your values, goals, and purpose.
- Coaching presents practical, actionable ways to address your personal and professional challenges.
- Coaching is a fit if you are looking for a more short-term approach to personal growth and development.
- Coaching spends more time on the present and doesn't focus as much on bringing up childhood and the past. It is a good fit if you are interested in doing self-assessments, reading, journaling, and doing "homework" between meetings to help change patterns and overcome challenges.
- Coaching does not diagnose mental health conditions. It is for milder mental health challenges and is not appropriate if you have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness such as Schizophrenia or Bipolar, unless it is for specific goals in conjunction with seeing a therapist and/or psychiatrist. An example would be career coaching while also seeing a psychiatrist for medication management.
*please note, this is not to be used for diagnosis purposes, and if you ever have any doubts or concerns please consult with a doctor or licensed therapist
- Coaching is a great fit if you are looking for stress management, work-life balance, career coaching, goal setting, and personal growth & development.
- Coaching can help to clairify your values, goals, and purpose.
- Coaching presents practical, actionable ways to address your personal and professional challenges.
- Coaching is a fit if you are looking for a more short-term approach to personal growth and development.
- Coaching spends more time on the present and doesn't focus as much on bringing up childhood and the past. It is a good fit if you are interested in doing self-assessments, reading, journaling, and doing "homework" between meetings to help change patterns and overcome challenges.
- Coaching does not diagnose mental health conditions. It is for milder mental health challenges and is not appropriate if you have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness such as Schizophrenia or Bipolar, unless it is for specific goals in conjunction with seeing a therapist and/or psychiatrist. An example would be career coaching while also seeing a psychiatrist for medication management.
*please note, this is not to be used for diagnosis purposes, and if you ever have any doubts or concerns please consult with a doctor or licensed therapist
What can I expect when working with a health & wellness coach?
First, you will be asked to explore your history and take an honest look at your thoughts and behaviors and ways they might be working against you. So often we seek outside changes to alter our mood, but in coaching we are focued on internal changes.
Secondly, you will also be introduced to new concepts and skills such as mindfulness, journaling, thought logs, and values based goal setting. These are proven tools to help you get unstuck and build a more satisfying life.
And finally, you will work with your coach collaboratively to build action steps and accountability. Insight without action will not bring about change. Therefore, you will be asked in and between each session to take tangible steps to help bring about the changes you want to see in your life. This is where online coaching helps keep accountability between sessions. Coaches help clients see themselves in new ways to change perspectives and open up life paths they hadn't seen or considered before.
Secondly, you will also be introduced to new concepts and skills such as mindfulness, journaling, thought logs, and values based goal setting. These are proven tools to help you get unstuck and build a more satisfying life.
And finally, you will work with your coach collaboratively to build action steps and accountability. Insight without action will not bring about change. Therefore, you will be asked in and between each session to take tangible steps to help bring about the changes you want to see in your life. This is where online coaching helps keep accountability between sessions. Coaches help clients see themselves in new ways to change perspectives and open up life paths they hadn't seen or considered before.
