Finding the Best Health Coach for Your Needs

Trusting your physical and mental health to a health coach is a big step. You have to work with someone you feel comfortable with, and someone who is going to meet your needs. It’s a big commitment, but finding a good health coach is an immeasurably worthwhile investment for your overall wellbeing.

No matter what your ailments might be, your biggest priority should be finding a health coach who can work through them with you. That typically involves a lot of research – especially if you’re looking for a coach who specializes in certain areas.

But, it can also be a good idea to connect with potential coaches to see if your personalities mesh well. Being able to connect with your health coach will set you up for success from the very beginning.

So, what should you look for? How can you find the best health coach for your needs?

Understanding Coaching Education

When you’re first looking for a health coach, it’s important to consider what kind of training they’ve gone through. A licensed coach should be proud to show their credentials. You can make the most of your research by looking at a few specific things:

1. If a coach lists where they went to school on their website, research the school or program. Make sure it’s a credible institution. You can do that by checking if it’s accredited, as well as looking at online reviews.

2. Check the coach’s credentials. They aren’t required to be a coach, but it can give you peace of mind in knowing they went above and beyond to receive extra training.

3. Look into different specialties the coach might have if you feel like you need more focus in one area. We’ll talk more about that later.

Understanding the type of education you want your coach to have is also important. Some health coaches might have backgrounds in other areas, like community health. That means they probably have great analytical skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills. Those are all fantastic attributes when working with a single person.

Deciding if You Want an Area of Focus

Finding a health coach that received a degree or certificate from a training program is a great place to start. If you’re content with that, you should have a fairly easy time finding a qualified coach to help you.

But, if you have specific needs that you want to focus on, you should choose a coach that will also focus on those things.

For example, if you’re recovering from an accident or you’re a senior with limited mobility, your ultimate goal might be to move more and to strengthen your muscles and bones. You might want to choose a health coach who specializes in exercise and fitness. Or, choose one who will help you focus on multiple ways to prevent aging, like honing in on your nutrition, getting enough sleep, and practicing self-care.

If you’re more concerned about your mental health, a coach who focuses on ways to manage depression and anxiety could be your best solution. They should promote everything from exercise for your mental health to mindfulness and meditation techniques.

Coaches who go that extra mile for a specialty will make your job easier. You can specifically look for those who have their specialties listed, and consider how they might fit with your personal wellness needs.

Where Can You Find a Health Coach?

Chances are, some of you reading this have never considered working with a health coach before. Maybe you’ve never even heard of it before. But, if you’re looking for some help to reach your personal health goals, a coach is a great way to go.

But, how can you find one, even after doing your research and knowing what you want? Thankfully, technology makes that process easier than ever. You can find a health coach by doing a little digging in any of the following places:

• Social media
• Your doctor’s office
• Wellness centers
• Gyms
• Spas

Getting a personal recommendation from a trusted friend or family member is also a great way to feel confident in a health coach. If you truly value that person’s opinion, they won’t steer you wrong when it comes to a qualified coach. It also might be easier to directly connect with a coach right away if you get a recommendation.

Finding someone online or from an advertisement is a fine option. But, if they are working with a lot of clients, you may have to wait.

Dealing with mental or physical health issues can be overwhelming on your own. Having a health coach by your side to guide you down the best possible path will take some of that weight off of your shoulders. Do your research, consider your needs, and you can find a health coach that will be with you every step of the way on your wellness journey.