Why Coaching?
What is health coaching?
Health coaching is a partnership. You choose what matters to you, and I help you set goals, build habits and stay accountable as you make changes that fit your life. I don't diagnose, treat or prescribe. My coaching works alongside the care you get from your doctor and other health professionals.
Why information alone isn't enough
Most of us already know what we "should" do. Knowing it is rarely what's missing.
"Simply giving information to patients is unlikely to change behaviour." World Health Organization, Adherence to long-term therapies (2003)
"To achieve sustainable health behaviours and outcomes, patients need to be supported in behaviour change techniques that promote self-efficacy, self-determination and self-responsibility." RACGP's Australian Journal of General Practice (2019)
How coaching helps
"Patient-centred questions can help ascertain the importance of change to a patient, build confidence, generate insights and momentum, and ensure goals are determined by the patient." RACGP's Australian Journal of General Practice (2019)
What the research says
Health coaching is a growing field of research. A large review in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine describes it as a promising approach to supporting lifestyle change, while noting that more high-quality research is needed (Compendium of the health and wellness coaching literature).
"HWC [health and wellness coaching] holds great potential for advancing healthy behavior change and stemming the rising tide in prevalence of chronic disease." American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (2018)
An Australian review of randomised trials from the University of Sydney, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that coaching led to a small but significant increase in physical activity among people aged 60 and over (What is the effect of health coaching on physical activity in people aged 60 and over?).
Health coaching is also recognised in Australian general practice. The Australian Journal of General Practice, the journal of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), describes it as part of lifestyle medicine in primary care (Health coaching as a lifestyle medicine process in primary care). NHS England publishes its own guide (Supported self-management: health coaching guide).
Much of this research involved coaching delivered within health services, so it shows what coaching can support rather than guaranteeing particular results.