Frequently Asked Questions
What does a health coach do exactly?
As your coach, I guide you through an evidence based behavior change process to develop sustainable habits that support your health and wellbeing. You create the vision and choose the goals. I support you on this journey, offering accountability and celebrating your successes.
Why would someone need health coaching?
Most of us spend our days on autopilot repeating the same behaviors and habits over and over again. Maybe we eat the same breakfast, stay up until the same bedtime, everyday think, “I’m too busy to exercise.”
Few of us take the time to really be curious about why we do what we do and if these habits (reinforced by years of strengthening neural pathways through repetition) really serve our wellbeing. Health coaching offers you the opportunity to take a step back and look at your practices through a wider lens. Through this lens, we often find opportunities, small shifts, that will better serve you. Once we identify these opportunities, I lead you through the step-by-step behavior change process until healthier habits become your new rhythm.
What topics will we cover?
Each week I invite you to choose the focus of our session. It can always be the same focus, or it can change each time. Popular focuses include: nutrition, movement and exercise, stress management, sleep hygiene, social support networks, hormonal changes, medical self advocacy, and — my personal favorite — joy and self care.
How many sessions will we meet?
A typical series meets for 50 minutes every other week for three to six months. Research suggests that six months is how long it takes to establish new sustainable habits.
Each series is customizable and if you’d prefer to meet, say, weekly or monthly, we can create a plan that best fits your schedule and goals.
What do we do in each session?
We start out by reviewing your progress between sessions, then we revisit and dive deeper into your overall wellness vision, affirm or update your long term goals, and lastly, create new short term goals to work towards before the next session.
Will you tell me what to do?
No. Instead, I lead you through a process of exploring your own values and goals and we collaborate on a plan towards achieving them. Research shows that intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation is key to accomplishing goals. In other words, if I tell you what to do you will be a lot less likely to do it vs. if you decide what is important and how you can go about realizing it.
What health coach training do you have?
Good question! Currently, I have two certifications from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. In November, I will take my National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC) certification exam. This is the current “gold standard” in health coaching qualifications. My training has included motivational interviewing, the trantheoretical theory (stages of change), values based goal setting, and SMART goal development. Currently, I am pursuing continuing education in sleep science, GLP-1 support, mindful drinking, and hormone health.
Will you make me a meal plan or workout schedule?
Nope. But I will support you through the process of developing and experimenting until you find the right fit for you.
What will we do at the first session?
We will discuss your current state of health and wellness - because you have to know where you are to know where you want to go. At the second session, we will discuss your long term health vision and goals. At subsequent sessions, we will use this vision and long term goal to set short term goals - think of these as stepping stones towards achieving that big goal.