Pravan Clinic Blog: Your Guide to Better Health and Wellness

Wellness Coaching: Your Path to Sustainable Change

Written by Elizabeth Sands, MS, CNS | Aug 24, 2018 10:09:25 PM

 

“The next major advance in the health of the American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself.”

– John Knowles, former president of the Rockefeller Foundation

If you are reading this, it’s likely you have already taken major steps to invest in your health and wellbeing. Congratulations! Routine medical care is crucial for positive health outcomes, yet there is so much more that plays a part in one’s wellness. Did you know that a recent CDC report showed that just over 6% of American adults engaged in the top five health-related behaviors known to prevent chronic disease? Considering that one in two Americans has a chronic disease, and one in four Americans suffers from multiple chronic diseases, it is more important than ever to change the status quo.

Why do you need a Wellness Coach?

Have you ever wanted to make a change, but didn’t know where to start, what to prioritize, or how to measure your results? You are not alone, and this is exactly why everyone can benefit from the “handholding” a wellness coach provides. For example, blood glucose instability is a very common problem, with very serious repercussions. Balancing blood sugar levels can be tackled from many natural, highly effective, directions. A wellness coach can determine which approaches are the best fit for you, develop a plan tailored just for you, and share in the excitement as you begin to see positive results far more quickly than you might have otherwise.

Consider all of the things you plan for now in order to secure your future. Financial planning is a common practice for many who want to enjoy their later years without the potential burden of financial insecurity. Working with a wellness coach will ensure that every effort is made now to extend your healthspan, the number of years you live a healthy life. It is worth arguing that all the financial planning in the world means very little if you do not have the quality of life to enjoy the hard-earned fruits of your labor.

What is a Wellness Coach?

As a wellness coach I guide my patients through the process of creating a vision for their health and wellbeing. I help them develop a healthy mindset and healthy habits and encourage them every step of the way until they accomplish their goals. There is no one-size-fits-all formula, and the course of coaching depends largely on the preferences and goals of the individual. As a wellness coach I go beyond simply educating you, I also utilize different tools to motivate and empower you to make positive behavior changes.

What is it like to work with a Wellness Coach?

Prior to your initial consultation, I will review your Pravan Health patient history in order to establish an understanding of your current needs. By working through some powerful questions relating to your health and wellness practices, we will be able to determine any obstacles that may have existed in the past or present. We will then work together to establish and prioritize goals for you to work through, recognizing that you will now have the added benefit of accountability measures going forward. Though month-to-month coaching is available, the ideal timeframe to work with a wellness coach is for three to six months. A six month commitment will allow time for proper goal setting, experimentation and execution, and room to get back on track in the event life’s circumstances interrupt any of this vital work. By dedicating yourself to a longer program, you will allow yourself more time to truly experience not only progress, but also real change.

As a wellness coach, it is my job to help you recognize your potential throughout the development and progression of your care. As you work through goals both big and small, you will become empowered to make the sustainable changes that collectively make a huge difference not only to your present, but also to your future.

Visit our website to learn more about wellness coaching services offered at Pravan Health or call for an orientation at 787.339.2639 for more information about what our concierge medicine model can do for you.