A steady hand on your wellness

What is coaching?

Coaching is a working relationship between coach and client wherein a client’s intentions move into action, then action turns into change that can be maintained. These actions involve making small, consistent changes each day that gradually build new habits while at the same time eroding damaging ones. Part of my job as your coach is to identify barriers in your life that are inhibiting your goal(s). During sessions, we will discuss your goal(s) and devise strategies for you to perform in between sessions. You will receive education, instruction, advice and support both during and in between sessions.

Who can benefit from health and wellness coaching?

Health and wellness is not only about losing weight or being physically fit. Lifestyle factors can contribute to many imbalances and dysfunctions of your brain and body. The aim of lifestyle wellness is to create conditions the body needs to heal naturally and start functioning properly again. Assisting you in identifying what is getting in the way as well as making life changes permanent is what I am here for. I work with you to restore or achieve wellness in ways such as:

• Build sustainable eating habits
• Reduce stored body fat
• Gain lean muscle
• Establish daily movement and strength
• Improve sleep quality
• Manage everyday stress
• Support gastrointestinal and microbiome health
• Support thyroid and hormone balance
• Support women's health across life stages
• Prepare for a healthy pregnancy
• Address metabolic dysfunction
• Address immune dysregulation
• Support cardiovascular health
• Age with strength, energy, and clarity

What happens during sessions?

The initial session is about us getting to know each other. You communicate your goal and I learn about your environment and what will be needed for you to attain that goal. I gather a food log from you and some paperwork that allows me to make appropriate and safe recommendations for your particular needs. We talk about coaching duration, location of sessions, fees and sign a written agreement to fulfill each of our assigned roles. This is not an obligatory contract. You are free to terminate coaching sessions at any time. The written agreement ensures you understand what you are paying for, when payment is expected and you have confidence that I will be taking our working relationship seriously.

Follow up sessions begin the actual coaching process. We talk about your particular goal and develop a strategy to work on each week. These goals are small and attainable. Small goals will likely be varied and cover multiple areas of life but always work towards your larger goal. Each session we will discuss your progress from the previous week and build upon the previous goal. Small, consistent changes are what lead to behavior modification. Behavior modification creates new neural pathways that create new habits. Before you know it, these new habits start to become automatic and feel easier to accomplish.

Where do coaching sessions take place?

In short, wherever is most convenient for you and you feel most relaxed. Some options may be at a cafe, park or grocery store, at your home or office and even virtually. In some cases, I will recommend a certain location if it seems to harmonize with your health goal.

What do I not do?

I do not believe in quick fixes. A quick fix mentality often leads to failure. This can leave you in a worse situation than when you began and can crush your ego and desire. Making drastic changes also puts undue stress on the body and activates the body’s survival mode. You are designed to survive. Making too many changes too quickly will cause the brain to send signals for hormones to be released that make you feel fatigued, irritable and increase your appetite, cravings and desire for the things you are trying to eliminate and it won't stop until you give in. Making small but consistent changes over time keeps you in control of the brain. Gradually, old neural pathways will degrade by you not using them anymore and new pathways that stem from healthy habits practiced daily will form until they become second nature.