I get hundreds of inquiries about my health coaching services. And in my five years of coaching, I’v noticed that I always develop effortless relationships with the women who become my clients. I’m not surprised, really. Like attracts like. Usually they’re struggling with something I’ve been through or we have similar perspectives or personality traits. Somehow, it all seems to click from Day 1.
There are plenty of health coaches out there, but not every one is right for you. If you’d like to work with a health coach, but don’t know where to start, here are a few guidelines for choosing the health coach who’s right for you.
1. Look for Someone Like You: I don’t mean the same color hair or a similar fashion sense. Seek out someone who has overcome the challenges you’re struggling with. Maybe you want to change your eating habits to fuel your active lifestyle, or you’d like to learn how to cook at home more often. Perhaps you also feel unfilled in your job and have crazy sugar cravings you’d like to explore. Just a few examples. Get acquainted with the coach through his or her web site and find clues that she’s been where you are.
2. Take Advantage of the Free Consultation: Many health coaches offer a free consultation as a way to test-drive the relationship and explore whether you’d be a good match. Take advantage of the consultation, but don’t expect to get every single one of your nutrition questions answered in 30 minutes or less. Instead, use it as a chance to gauge how the coach makes you feel during the conversation. Do you feel heard? Safe? Not judged? Does she make you want to spill your guts? Do her questions make challenge you or make you think (maybe in a way that does feel a little uncomfortable)? Answering yes to any of these questions is a good sign.
3. Verify Credentials: Make sure the coach has the right certifications and credentials or is working toward them. Usually, this information will be listed clearly on their web site site. Bonus points for continuing education and personal development.
4. Take a Test Drive: If you come across a health coach you like, sign up for their newsletter, subscribe to their RSS feed, Like their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. You’ll get a taste for their philosophy, personality and style while picking up some helpful tips in the process.
5. Leave the Bargain Shopping for Shoes: If you plan to select a health coach based on price alone, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Working with a health coach may not seem to offer anything tangible in the way a juice cleanse or package of fitness classes does, but ultimately you’re making an investment in your long-term health and well-being. That, is priceless.
[…] to be selling a lot of supplements. I have some past posts on how to choose a health coach here, here, here and […]