Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Health and Wellness Coaching"?
Health and Wellness Coaching is an evidence-based practice that has its roots in the fields of adult learning, neuroscience, behavior change, and psychology (among others). Simply put, health and wellness coaches help you figure out what your goals are, then close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC) are trained in Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, and mindfulness, among other modalities. We are taught a whole health perspective, which includes foundational knowledge for the prevention and self-management of chronic disease.
How is coaching different than therapy?
Coaches ask what and how questions to help you navigate the present and future. Therapists ask why questions to help you process the past. They are both extremely important, and I cannot emphasize enough how essential therapy was to my recovery. As a coach, I will never ask you about your past unless it is in service of the present or future. For example, if your goal was to increase your physical activity level, I might ask you, "what is a time in the past when you enjoyed physical activity?" A therapist might ask you if there was a traumatic event that led to you to avoiding physical activity; I am not qualified to have that conversation and will happily work with you to find a therapist who is a good fit. We can continue working together while you are in therapy, but as a coach, I am not qualified to support you in processing trauma or teaching the cognitive skills to cope with difficult feelings.
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I strongly believe in a collaborative approach to wellness that is client-centered, and I enjoy working as part of a team. A person's health is best supported when a team of wellness and medical professionals communicate and collaborate in service of their client. As someone living with both physical and mental chronic illnesses, I truly understand the frustration of navigating care and would love to partner with you in your wellness journey.