Frequently Asked Questions

What is Health Coaching?

According to the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), Health & wellness coaches partner with clients seeking 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 clients and a belief in their capacity for change, honoring the fact that each client is an expert on their own life, while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non-judgmental.

Oh, so like a therapist?

Not so much. Psychotherapists are trained to work with mental illness while coaches do not. As a coach, we are results oriented and more focused on helping you achieve your future goals, while psychotherapy tends to have more of a past and present focus. That being said, as a coach, we can also help you to understand how the past contributes to your present.

What’s the difference between personal trainers, nutritionists, and Health coaches?

Personal trainers have some expertise regarding some forms of fitness. Nutritionists have some expertise regarding some forms of nutrition. Health coaches are experts in helping you change your behavior and helping you adopt the habits of exercising well, eating well, and overall self-care.

Can’t I just work with a Trainer at my gym?

You could – there are many amazing and talented trainers. But know this first:

• Most personal trainers only training is a certification earned in a single weekend

• Most personal trainers have absolutely zero training in behavior change and habit formation. Their training typically involves exercise prescription only. And their exercise-prescription acumen is often limited to strength training.

• Personal trainers almost always push strength training as the form of exercise you should do since that is their primary knowledge base

• Personal trainers aren’t qualified to partner with you on eating well. Nor do they focus on your overall level of well-being.

Shouldn’t I just work with the nutritionist or dietician that my insurance covers?

You could. Nutritionists and dieticians have a wealth of knowledge that is helpful. But here is what you should know first:

• Most of the training nutritionists or dieticians receive is in the science of nutrients. This isn’t enough to help most people with the behavior change and habit formation most people really need help with.

• Many nutritionists and dieticians are steeped in diet culture. They’re great at putting people on diets. All diets are based on exclusion and restriction. All diets lead to fast initial weight loss with huge rates of weight re-gain and permanent reductions in one’s resting metabolic rate. Diets set people up for a lifetime of weight cycling (a.k.a. yo-yo dieting).

• Nutritionists or dieticians aren’t qualified to (nor do they have the time) to work with you on exercising well. They also don’t have the time to help you on all other aspects of self-care. Your time with them is focused on creating you a diet and that’s all.