What is a Health Coach?
A health coach is a professional who facilitates a holistic process of self discovery for the client, where insights and strengths are built and values are clarified. This occurs while progress is made and sustained towards the client’s goal. This is a collaborative approach and it is important to make clear that the coach is in partnership with the client. The client actually sets the agenda and the coach evokes, inspires, supports and guides the client to outcomes and enhanced performance.
The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) describes what health and wellness coaches do:
“Health and wellness coaches partner with clients to enhance their well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values. In the course of their work, health & wellness coaches display an unconditional positive regard for their client and a belief in their capacity for change, honouring the fact that each client is an expert on their own life, while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non-judgemental.”
Health Coaches Australia & New Zealand Association (HCANZA) explains it this way:
“Fundamentally, health & wellness coaching encompasses the sciences of positive psychology, behaviour change, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle medicine with the dynamic art of relationships, teamwork and community.”
Founder Amy Gray of Smiling Professionals, is a Professional member of HCANZA having become eligible upon completion of both the Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and the Coaching Intensive Practicum 2.0 courses at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Amy sees health and wellness coaching as a perfect fit for her because of the integration of both science and art form that this profession blends together. With a background in engineering, an extensive wellness journey of her own and her intuitive nature allows Amy to successfully support each client through their important journey of sustainable change. Her coaching work not only fulfills a passion, it is also her way of contributing to a healthier community.