Health Promotion : Wellness Coach.

Wellness incorporates many facets of our daily lives. From the amount of sleep to the water we drink, to the food that we eat and the activity that we maintain, our health is dependent upon many factors of our lifestyle. Working to improve our wellness can be difficult to achieve on our own. That is why we can utilize the assistance of a wellness coach.

What is a wellness coach?

A wellness coach is a highly educated specialist who’s trained in behavioral change. They hold degrees in Exercise Science, Health Education, Exercise Physiology, Counseling and Education. A wellness coach helps people in recognizing current health concerns as well as preventing future health related issues. These specialists work with clients in a variety of ways including; face-to-face, telephone, instant messaging and / or via email. The latter of those is also referred to as electronic coaching and is the most efficient and cost effective method of working with a wellness coach. Whatever method is used for communication a wellness coach provides a customized program specifically created to address the needs and concerns of each individual client.

How can a health coach help me?

A lot of individuals maintain several healthy habits in their lives. One individuals may be a fitness enthusiast; another may abstain from alcohol and tobacco; while another may maintain a healthy daily diet. However, overall wellness is much like a puzzle, and a high level of health is only achieved when each piece of this puzzle is in place. A wellness coach will assist a personal in correcting his or her missing piece of the puzzle. An online wellness coach may address the needs of sleep deprivation, stress management, diet, or any number of health related issues. The wellness coach will motivate, guide, and provide valuable resources to provide clients with the necessary tools to make life changes.

How is a wellness coach unique?

A health coach serves a distinctly different purpose than a personal trainer, a counselor, or a supportive family member or friend. First, a health coach is an expert in his or her specific field. When a client determines the need for a health coach he or she will complete a health risk assessment. Based on this assessment the client will be assigned a health coach specifically selected to address his or her individual needs. Next, a health coach is available electronically 24 hours per day. Through online communication clients have the opportunity to contact a health coach as much or as little as he may like. Communication with a health coach may range from daily to weekly, and can occur by e-mail, journal or a combination of both. Finally, a health coach is trained to assist in changing the way that the client thinks and the way that they view themselves. A health coach maintains the purpose of assisting the client to work towards achieving a higher quality in life. This happens by addressing the cause of a certain problem rather than simply addressing the effects of a problem. A health coach will help individuals recognize their needs, determine goals, and take the necessary steps towards achieving these goals.

While wellness are growing concerns in our daily lives, it could seem challenging to make the time to educate oneself and address the needs or our well being. Working with the assistance of a health coach enables us to focus on our specific needs and make progress towards changing.