What is Wellness Coaching?

 

Wellness coaching is ...

A partnership of equals:

  • You are the expert on your life, experiences, and wellness goals
  • I serve as your guide through a change process.

 

Wellness coaching is ...

  • Based in a holistic view of health and wellness: Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, environmental
  • A partnership between coach and client focused on sustainable, long-term behavior change
  • Grounded in the present, forward-looking, oriented toward positive change
  • A research-based process developed by Duke Health
  • Assess eight areas of your life and health and identify:

           - Where you are now                                 

            - Where you want to be                                          

            - What you want to change in order to move forward

 

Why Wellness Coaching for people with chronic pain?

People with chronic pain have goals, just like anyone else.  We have social goals, physical goals, career goals, relationship goals.  But pain can present a powerful barrier to making forward progress.

The term 'coach' often describes someone who gives advice and direction, but that's not what I do.  I am a change partner.  

As a chronic pain survivor, wellness coaching appealed to me because of its forward-looking focus on positive change; it offers support and the possibility of a more vibrant future.  It's not a blueprint for eliminating your pain, and I don't hold myself out as a chronic pain expert, physician or therapist.  I am a process expert, a skilled facilitator, an empathetic listener, and change guide well-versed in the process of successful goal setting.  I provide the sounding board, steady guidance, and accountability that can help you turn your goals into actions and your actions into sustainable, long-term behavior change.  I may not have experienced your specific pain journey, but there is definitely a bond between chronic pain survivors that I think makes all the difference in a client feeling understood and accepted as they are; safe to try new things to in order to create a more vibrant life. 

 You can read my story and client change stories on the about page.  

Contact me to schedule a free phone consultation to help you decide if this process and community might be a good next step for you.  You are not alone.