For the past three years, I’ve been a licensed and certified personal wellness coach through Wellcoaches International. I’m often asked just what that means, as coaches come in all shapes, sizes and flavors! Here’s some basic coaching information that may be enlightening…
“We want to be well. We yearn to be in control and feel better. We want more energy,” says Margaret Moore, founder of Wellcoaches, the only health and wellness coaching certification program endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). “But there is an enormous gap between wanting to be well and the everyday reality of living with the mental and physical health penalties of overeating, underexercising, and having too little down time.” That gap is growing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 66% of adult Americans are overweight or obese. Worse still, about a third of the adult population is obese.
Not everyone who calls himself a coach — especially a wellness coach — is qualified, however. Because certification is neither standardized nor required, searching for a good wellness coach is still a case of buyer beware.
To determine whether a coach is reputable, Moore suggests checking references and asking for testimonials. Look for people with degrees or certification from reputable organizations and then interview them extensively about their background.
Moore advises choosing a coach who makes you feel the most energized and confident. You should be inspired after a coaching session, with lots of “Aha!” moments, as well as motivated about your ability to make needed changes in your life.
Mastering wellness and the confidence to sustain wellness is a journey of personal growth. Wellness coaching is founded on coaching psychology, a new and fast-growing field dedicated to the enhancement of well being; generating more meaning, satisfaction and positive emotion in life.
With my wellness coach training, I’m able to:
Accept and meet clients where they are (emotionally) today;
Ask clients to take charge of the process of change;
Guide clients in doing the mindful thinking and the work that builds confidence;
Help clients define a higher purpose for wellness, the natural impulse to be well;
Address mental and physical health together;
Help clients draw a personal wellness blueprint;
Help clients set realistic goals;
Harness the strengths needed to overcome obstacles;
Help clients view obstacles as opportunities to learn ad grow;
Help clients build a support team; and
Inspire and challenge clients to go beyond what they might be able to do alone
The outcomes delivered by this cutting-edge form of support include:
o Increased self-awareness
o Acquisition of new knowledge and skills
o Attainment of personal and professional goals
o Sustainable behavior change
o Increased life satisfaction
o Increased self-efficacy
Here are twelve top reasons clients cite for Wellness Coaching services:
1. Quick fixes are over – I’m done with quick fixes – now my focus is on making changes that last
2. Precious asset – I decided that health is my most precious asset and now I invest for the long term.
3. Get off the Fence – I was fed up with sitting on a fence and now have committed to a wellness path
4. It’s not about Weight – I realized that it’s about wellness, not about weight
5. Be the Boss- I want to be the boss of my health and wellness
6. Health Style – I want to develop my unique health style rather than use a one-size-fits-all approach
7. Mental Game – I know what to do and decided to master the mental game of turning intention into reality
8. Peak Performance – I recognized that to reach peak performance at home and work, I need peak wellness
9. Big Picture/Small Steps – I knew that an extreme makeover wasn’t the answer and I chose to take small steps which are powerful
10. Confidence – I was finished with self-doubt and I now focus on building confidence in my ability to master wellness.
11. Winning the Wellness Game – I decided to focus on winning the wellness game and not losing or quitting things.
12. Close the Gap – I have closed the gap between where I am and where I want to be when it comes to my health and wellbeing.
The Coaching Process
Coaching is generally done telephonically and electronically – through weekly, 30-minute telephone sessions coupled with reading and other electronic communication.
Progress is made and measured by client initiated behavioral goals, all geared to at least one wellness area (weight, nutrition, fitness, stress, health and life issues that impact wellness). Along the path of change, clients typically co-create solutions to overcome each obstacles with the coach, and are energized and confident in maintaining new behavior patterns.
If you’d like more information about wellness coaching with me, please check out JackieKeller.com, or call me at (310) 473-1989.