Health and wellbeing coaching is an emerging field both in Australia and internationally. Most commonly referred to simply as ‘health coaching’, it is “is the practice of health education and health promotion within a coaching context to enhance the well-being of individuals and to facilitate the achievement of their health-related goals”. In Australia, Health Coaches Australia and New Zealand Association is leading the professionalisation of the industry, has strict membership requirements and all coaches comply with a code of practice.

As described in the academic journal of Australian General Practitioners (GPs):

“Health coaching incorporates evidence-based health behaviour change interventions and techniques from behavioural medicine research literature, positive psychology, health and coaching psychology, and athletic and performance coaching. It can be used in health promotion, prevention, early intervention, treatment and management of chronic conditions such as in lifestyle medicine”.

“Health coaching supports patients to build self-determination – the process by which a person controls their own life – and self-efficacy – the belief that one has the capability to initiate and sustain a desired behaviour. Motivation is generated by supporting patients to evoke their own compelling reasons for change and articulate a clear vision of their health goals”.

“Once the patient is ready to change, they are encouraged to have a curious and flexible mindset of trial and correction, learning, growth and compassion as they are guided towards their goals while connecting to their values and vision. The health coaching process encourages self-reflection, self-awareness, self-regulation and positivity. Patients are supported to build confidence, focusing on strengths as they learn from past failures and successes to overcome barriers and increase facilitators for change. Behaviour change is more likely to be maintained when goals are self-determined, as patients are both motivated to take action and are invested in the result”.

To read the full article visit: https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2019/october/health-coaching-as-a-lifestyle-medicine