Counselling, or psychotherapy, focuses on understanding, processing, and healing emotional pain from the past, whilst coaching looks at present and future challenges, encouraging you to make positive personal changes. Coaches help you to identify goals, leverage personal strengths, and take action.
The focus is very different from counselling; health coaching is a supported self-management intervention. It focuses on supporting people to make more informed and conscious choices about their health, develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become a more active participant in their care, and prioritize their well-being. This includes getting good sleep, exercising, focusing on one task at a time, embracing challenges by being adaptable, and building routines to create consistency.
Other benefits of coaching include:
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Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a coaching technique that helps clients resolve doubts they may have about making changes by exploring their own reasons and understanding their intrinsic motivation, rather than seeking external rewards. Instead of confronting or persuading, MI uses techniques like active listening and reflection to guide clients toward their own solutions. -
Mental Health Improvement
Coaching can improve mental health by helping clients develop resilience to manage stress, anxiety, and depression related to their condition. Techniques include identifying strengths, building coping strategies, and finding specific ways to navigate challenges. This process promotes emotional resilience, enabling individuals to adapt to setbacks and function more effectively. -
Coping Skills Development
Coaching involves teaching individuals with long-term illnesses strategies such as relaxation techniques (e.g., deep breathing, meditation), time management (e.g., planning, prioritizing tasks), and problem-solving. These practices help manage stress and anxiety by regulating emotions, addressing specific situations, and finding meaning in difficulties. -
Increased Self-Efficacy
Increased self-efficacy through coaching empowers individuals to manage their health by believing in their capabilities and encouraging a sense of purpose, leading to better health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular health and type 2 diabetes). Coaching helps achieve this by increasing confidence and competence in managing health situations, which influences motivation, thoughts, and actions to promote positive behaviours. -
Empowerment and Responsibility
Coaching emphasizes empowerment and responsibility by shifting from a directive “educational” model to a collaborative, supportive partnership. This approach enables individuals to develop a deeper understanding of their needs and goals, while considering them as experts in their own lives, thereby promoting a more inclusive and respectful learning climate. -
Realistic Lifestyle Changes
Health coaches focus on behaviour change to help individuals adopt and maintain realistic lifestyle changes. This might include personalized goals around diet, physical activity, or overall well-being. Ongoing support and accountability help build lasting habits. The client-centred approach encourages ownership of health, leading to enhanced quality of life. -
Increased Awareness
Increased awareness means developing self-awareness—understanding one’s own thoughts, emotions, and behaviours to make informed decisions and improve health outcomes. This is often achieved through practices like mindfulness and seeking feedback, which enhance self-regulation and the ability to manage health more effectively. -
Positive Mindset and Confidence
Health coaches promote a positive mindset by teaching techniques such as reframing negative thoughts into positive self-talk, using affirmations, and identifying personal strengths. This process boosts confidence, encourages a growth mindset, and helps clients build resilience to achieve their health goals.
In conclusion
Health coaching gives those living with long-term conditions the opportunity to access support, gain more understanding of issues affecting their daily life, and take active steps to improve their well-being.