People need support when it comes to adopting and sustaining a healthy lifestyle. This is where a health coach can be a major asset.
More than half of adults in the United States have one chronic disease, and around thirty percent have two or more.
Many providers do not know how to counsel patients on healthy living and, if they do, the information and time are limited to very basic solutions. Therefore patients are not thoroughly guided to make lasting changes.
Traditional wellness plans are also proving to be ineffective. This is because providers tell patients what to do instead of discussing the best options they have for their health goals. This means that they are not likely to listen or adhere to the recommendations.
Just like a fitness trainer that gets you going, pumps you up for the challenge, and sees you through even when you come up short, that’s not the focus, rather the focus is that you are there giving it your all and ready to keep going because you want to be healthy! That is what a health coach does.
Table of Contents
To help them make meaningful behavior changes that will last a lifetime.
Health and wellness centers on:
These are aimed to actively and safely engage patients in positive behavior change.
Health coaches partner with the patient wherever they are healthwise, from being healthy and just wanting some new perspective to managing chronic illness and disease.
The point is to help the individual learn and execute self-management techniques. The coach teaches/coaches the individual managing or preventing illness, make informed decisions about care, and participate in healthy
behaviors.
The support provided comes in the form of:
This helps develop sustainable healthy attitudes and behaviors.
The patient’s beginning and readiness will determine the correct path. Instructing and helping patients fill out their health history is a good way to set the plan into motion.
Patients might not know their health status or have a serious diagnosis that they might not know how to explain. This is where a health coach can really break down whatever may be going on.
Integrative health and wellness categories include:
Health inventory allows the patient to reflect on where they are and where they want or would like to be.
Evaluate the patient’s readiness for change to understand the patient’s health, including challenges and how they see where they are currently. And awareness of health risks, experience with a current illness, or any symptoms they’re having.
The patient is welcome and encouraged to express their emotions.
The idea of motivational interviewing is about:
There is a Transtheoretical Model that includes six stages:
For each stage, there are different strategies to get through the stage and on to the next until the ideal behavior is achieved.
Patients need to figure out what they’d like to change about their current health based on what they see and
the most important changes for them.
Providers encourage the patient to identify their values. Values are what are most important for an individual.
These can be:
Values begin in early childhood and are reevaluated as life goes on, which can change.
Understanding the patient is necessary to clarify and help the patient build self-awareness for making intelligent decisions and keeping themselves balanced.
To help patients look at their values, a coach might ask questions like:
For some patients, identifying negative values can be beneficial. As the patient grows and realizes how their health is changing, their values may change.
This information is tailored to create a plan of action and steps to help the patient make decisions based on their core values.
Two techniques for patient communication and education:
While working with the patient to determine goals and create steps, these tools help ensure the patient understands their role.
Instead of giving patients all kinds of information, coaches ask the patient what they know and what they want to know. Then they tell the patient what they want to know, ask them if they understand, and continue with what else they want to know.
Teaching back ensures that the patient understands the plan and asks the patient to repeat back the information about what the patient understands in their words.
If the patient doesn’t understand, the process is repeated until the patient can explain the treatment plan back to the coach, so everything is crystal clear.
This technique is recognized by several agencies and associations, including the
Before setting goals, the patients go over the core areas of their life to improve.
These core areas may be very similar to the patient’s values and vision.
Some examples include:
Once a patient has identified what they would like to focus on, a brainstorming session is implemented to what they want to change or improve for each core area.
These can be broken down into smaller goals as part of an ultimate plan of action.
As the patient moves forward, they are more motivated and encouraged to take on bigger challenges.
The patient understands what they want to improve.
The patient goes from their current health status to what they want to achieve with the core areas known.
Consider the following:
When the patient is ready, the coach will assist in developing it into a:
SMART goal.
This type of goal allows for structure and trackability.
It creates clear milestones and estimates the goal’s attainability.
Once a health coach understands where the patient wants to go, the next phase is planning.
Patients help in creating their treatment plan.
This plan is an agreement between the patient and the health coach that describes the behavior change that the patient wants to make.
Suggestions and expertise are offered during this process, as their perspective can help the patient.
Example of small exercises of a patient who wants to lose weight:
These small tasks make it easier for the patient to see their progress.
The coach will check with the patient regularly to make sure they are sticking to the plan.
Health coaches can ensure a patient has consistent access to motivational support by creating a follow-up plan with their overall treatment plan.
Follow-up care may include schedules for physical exams or tests and referrals and recommendations in other areas to keep the positive behavior going.
Coaches and patients work together to create realistic goals for the future.
As the patient progresses, the health coach may make additional recommendations or work with the patient to adjust their plan or make sure they know where to turn to if they have questions.
Once goals are being achieved, it is important to have support to continue the positive behavior. Traditional sources of support include:
Patients may not always have access to external support, so learning to find support in activities can make a difference in a patient’s overall health. At Injury Medical Chiropractic & wellness clinic, we have a top-rated team of the best health practitioners, and our health coach can help you get to where you want to be.
Fred Foreman is a basketball coach who depends on his overall health and wellness to engage in his everyday responsibilities. As a result, coach Foreman started the 6 Day Detox Program, designed to help renew and enhance the human body’s cleansing and detoxification capabilities.
Good health is built on a foundation of diet and exercise. The goal is to improve and maintain a regimen where you eat healthily and exercise regularly over the long term. You do not have to do anything drastic, either. You will have an easier time making changes if you start small and gradually shift towards a lifestyle you think is best for you. And a health coach can help you achieve maximum success!
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Health Coach El Paso, Texas" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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