According to the CDC, only 20% of Americans are actually satisfied with their lives, businesses, career, and family. The rest are struggling with one thing or the other. This creates a “craze” to meet goals and beat deadlines. This burning desire sponsors people to work overtime, burn “midnight candles,” and consequentially accumulate stress. As a result, we have high cases of obesity, diabetes among other lifestyle diseases. This is why you need health and wellness coaches.
For decades, physicians and other health workers have undertaken the main idea of health and wellness coaches. This created a void in the health sector as there was a need for professionals who are dedicated to helping people with their health. Help, in this case, is not the medical treatment received at hospitals but instead helping people achieve their health and wellness plans. This brought about the establishment of health and wellness coaches.
They are certified professionals who work with individuals, organizations, agencies to help them achieve their health and fitness goals. They are highly skilled individuals who specialize in accessing the client’s mental, psychological, emotional, and physical state and setting goals to achieve wellness. They are trained to identify the pattern and make sure you follow it to the latter.
They develop strategies that complement the client’s strengths and weaknesses hence increasing the effectiveness of the plans. A wellness coach doesn’t just work alone or on his own volition. Instead, he works hand in hand with the client to produce results. They don’t use the same template for everyone as seen with other job descriptions, and they schedule peculiar plans for different clients.
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Myths about health and wellness coaches
There are some myths that surround the work profile of health and wellness coaches. There are boundaries to the work of the wellness coaches as well as the liberalities they enjoy. Here are some of the things you need to know about the jurisdiction of health and wellness coaches:
Health and wellness coaches should not be confused with health specialists. They are not in any position to give clients professional nutritional or health advice without any further certification. However, the health and wellness coach is given the power to guide clients in making choices about their health or well-being.
They are not therapists and, as such, cannot give advice on life issues like trauma and other related issues. They can, however, help you develop your weakness and focus on your strengths.
Workplace of health and wellness coaches. Having cleared the air about health and wellness coaches’ work profiles, it is time to explore their workplace. Health and wellness coaches are professionals who can work independently or walk with other agencies and wellness centers. Organizations and companies can also hire them to guide their employees and workers to have a healthy and fit body. They can be found in hospitals, health clubs, fitness centers, business organizations, and spas and employed via freelancing.
Characteristics of health and wellness coaches
When meeting a health and wellness coach for the first time, they exhibit certain traits. These traits have stuck over time and have become something to expect anytime they are seen. Here are some of the characteristics that are shown by health and wellness coaches:
- They are pleasant and interesting people who always show interest in your goals, visions, and your experiences.
- They are very non-judgmental and will respect your opinions at all times.
- They are also great listeners. They do well to listen with rapt attention before making any decision on the way forward.
- They are very positive-minded and will stop at nothing until you have your desired result. They will pressure you into doing something you do not want to do. They’ll instead guide you as you make your decisions.
When do you need a health and wellness coach?
You might be asking yourself the question, “Why do I need a wellness coach when I can do it on my own?” As much as your opinion is valid, not everyone agrees with that school of thought. It has been discovered that different people have different desires for their personal health and wellness. This variation shows that people have different breaking points as well as different tolerance levels. As such, the timing for the need for a health and wellness coach is different in people. However, there is a common ground. You need a health and wellness coach the moment you need someone to identify your strength and weaknesses. You can also consider having a health and wellness coach when you need someone to help itemize a step-by-step way to achieve your health goals and wellness goals.
Are there certifications?
As noble as this profession is, several people have reported not having the required training parading themselves as wellness coaches. To curtail this, the United States entered into an agreement in 2016 through the National Consortium for Credentialing of Health & Wellness Coaches (NCCHWC) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) agreement for the certification of health and wellness coaches. This development was set up to further regulate health coaches’ activities and identify legitimate coaches from others. It is, however, important you run a background check of the wellness coach you are hiring as they have just been recently “certified.”