Common myths about health coaching

“So, what do you do…?” she asked me with a blank stare.

And to be honest, I didn’t know what to say. I had given her my practiced and refined 3 sentence elevator speech (which, clearly still needed some work) and she at least had the courage to say she didn’t get it. Most people, at that point, gave me a polite smile and nod before moving on.

So I thought I could answer a few of those questions here. This is definitely not a complete list, but we have to start somewhere.

Myth: Health coaches work with people who have serious health problems.

Health coaches can help anyone with a health related goal. This could be addressing an existing diagnosis or symptoms but could also involve prevention of future disease, elevating your health from good to great or simply becoming more in tune with what is or is not working for you.

Health coaches are trained in behavior change and in helping you draw on the resources both internal and external in order to help you define and go after your best picture of wellness.

Myth: Health coaches judge you for your weight or habits.

There is no place for harshness or blaming in coaching. Coaches are not here to judge you, and ideally, they help you remove your own self judgment. We often have our own challenges and stories (see previous post). You are more likely to find compassion, curiosity and a willingness to help you determine what is and is not working for you.

Myth: Health coaches will be angry, disappointed or will refuse to work with you if you don’t adhere to the plan perfectly.

Coaches are support and this is a collaborative effort. I’m not here to direct you and reprimand you when something isn’t working; and if I drop you as a result, I haven’t done my job. One of the most important principles in my coaching practice is to stay curious. We are to get curious about the barriers and work through them together.

Myth: Health coaches will tell you what your goals should be and how to meet them.

This is a highly personalized and tailored process to help you meet your personal goals and overcome unique obstacles. Particularly with health coaching, your vision of health and wellness and the challenges you face, will shape your plan in order to create sustainable and meaningful change.

Myth: Health coaches are perfect and have it all figured out.

Health coaches are humans. This health thing is not about the destination and we are always finding ways to improve and be proactive. Health coaches come from all backgrounds and experiences and are focused on becoming better both in their health and their abilities to help you do the same.

Myth: Health coaches work against and do not recommend conventional medicine.

Western medicine is a modern miracle. It has brought stability to many cultures and societies, including mine, and I am grateful that we do not have to fear infections, traumas or acute emergencies like we did even 50 years ago.

Where conventional medicine does not excel is in the management of chronic disease and symptoms outside of diagnosis and implementing lifestyle changes outside of the brief conversation with your doctor. Health coaches have positive impact on people looking to put a plan in action, whether that plan was created for them by a doctor or nutritionist or is one they create for themselves.

Myth: Health coaches are a money pit. They are too expensive.

Health coaching is less expensive than medical costs related to adverse health events, wages lost due to sickness or hospitalization, or the toll on relationships or families related to long term caregiving. The value you are paying for is for the knowledge and experience of a professional who can partner with you to do the hard stuff for your health and future.

Myth: They will tell you that you can only eat spinach and must cease all fun.

The name of this game is sustainability. Coaches do not want to develop a plan with you that you won’t be able to maintain and part of that is making sure you are fulfilled emotionally and physically. I am not a robot. I have fond memories of cookies and movie nights that I want to pass on to the next generation. These emotional connections and pictures remind us all what this journey is all about and no coach can take that from you.

I know there are so many more but I want you, dear reader, to know you can always ask more questions. Feel free to reach out to me through email, or schedule a free 15 minute discovery call to see what health coaching could have in store for you.