What is health coaching?

What is health coaching?

Most healthcare services fall short in supporting patients after they leave the clinic, making it harder to follow treatment plans and see real improvement. Without guidance, many feel overwhelmed, forget key details, and struggle to make lasting changes.

Health coaching bridges this gap. It’s a supportive partnership that helps people regain control of their wellbeing through personalised guidance, encouragement, and practical strategies. Coaches identify obstacles, break unhealthy habits, and empower sustainable change – not just to manage symptoms, but to build a strong foundation for long-term health and recovery.

Evidence-based benefits of coaching

Health coaching is a proven, evidence-based approach that enhances traditional healthcare by prioritising behavioural change, empowerment, and long-term health improvements. Research consistently demonstrates that health coaching leads to better patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and higher satisfaction. It’s particularly effective in supporting people with health challenges, significantly improving their long-term results.

Studies have shown that health coaching is especially beneficial in the following areas:

• Increased compliance: Health coaching plays a critical role in improving adherence to treatment plans, including medication, diet, and exercise. By offering continuous support and guidance, it helps patients stay on track with their health goals
• Better chronic disease management: Coaching has been proven to improve the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, with notable improvements in blood sugar control, lower BMI, and reduced blood pressure. For example, a study published in JAMA found that health coaching enhanced patient activation, diabetes self-efficacy, and healthy eating behaviours. It has also proven effective in improving quality of life and symptom management
• Improved cognitive health: Health coaching can positively impact cognitive function, especially in older adults at risk of dementia. Additionally, it helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, providing emotional support and effective behaviour change strategies
• Enhanced lifestyle changes and reduced risk of disease: By helping people adopt healthier habits, health coaches support positive changes in nutrition, exercise, and weight management, all contributing to reduced disease risk. Those who work with a coach are more likely to sustain these positive changes compared to those who don’t have this support, ultimately reducing their risk of disease
• Empowered decision-making: Health coaching fosters better decision-making, leading to improved health outcomes by creating strong patient-practitioner communication

In our clinic, health coaching goes beyond these proven benefits by enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare. Our coaches ensure you make the most of your time with your practitioner by offering personalised support between appointments. Your coach acts as a go-between, helping you stay on track, answering questions, and addressing concerns as they arise, so you don’t have to wait until your next practitioner appointment. This continuous support helps prevent any delays in your progress and ensures you’re consistently moving forward toward lasting recovery.

How our health coaches provide support

At Melbourne Functional Medicine, our health coaches play a vital role in bringing your treatment plan to life. After your practitioner provides the foundation of your care, your coach becomes your trusted partner, guiding you through the implementation process. They help you navigate any challenges that may arise during your recovery, offering continuous support to ensure your progress stays on track. Your health coach works with you to integrate changes into your daily routine, so they become a natural part of your lifestyle, avoiding common setbacks and empowering you to thrive.

Your health coach will support you in various ways to ensure you make meaningful progress toward your health goals:

They help you set clear, achievable goals, breaking down your larger objectives into manageable steps that lead to tangible results. By keeping the focus on what you can do today, you’ll start seeing the rewards of your efforts.

Through thoughtful, insightful questions, your coach helps you clarify your priorities and ease any feelings of overwhelm. They ensure that the changes you make are aligned with what matters most to you, keeping you motivated and focused.

Understanding your unique motivations is key to long-term success. Your health coach takes the time to explore what drives you, tailoring their support to ensure your recovery journey is meaningful and motivating.

They observe patterns in your behaviours and routines, providing insights that help uncover opportunities for growth and areas where progress may be blocked. With this information, your coach can offer practical strategies to help you overcome barriers and stay on course.

Harnessing your strengths is a powerful way to build momentum. Your coach helps you identify your natural abilities and uses them to propel you forward, keeping your journey energised and productive.

If sabotaging thoughts arise, your coach works with you to address them, offering strategies to overcome self-doubt and reinforce your commitment to positive change. They keep you grounded in your goals and focused on the long-term picture.

Encouragement is a key part of the coaching process. Your coach is there to cheer you on, providing motivation and inspiration when you need it most, ensuring you remain optimistic and confident in your ability to succeed.

Additionally, your coach acts as a bridge between you and your practitioner, facilitating quick adjustments to your treatment plan when needed. If any questions or concerns arise between appointments, your coach helps address them, preventing delays in your progress.

Finally, your health coach educates you about health and wellness, empowering you to take charge of your self-care. They help you build a deeper understanding of your body and the choices that support your healing, so you can continue making informed decisions even after treatment ends.

Ultimately, your health coach is there to support, guide, and advocate for your well-being every step of the way, ensuring that your journey toward lasting health is smooth, efficient, and focused on results. With their help, you’ll never feel alone in your recovery process, knowing you have a dedicated partner in your corner.

Health coaching in action: case studies

Explore a sample of our case studies to see how health coaching is integrated into our approach, and how it helps patients achieve meaningful improvements, even when facing unique health challenges. To view more case studies, head to our success stories page. 

Meet our health coaches

Our health coaches are fully accredited by HCANZA, ensuring they uphold the highest standards of professionalism, expertise, and continuous development.

How to be ready to work with a health coach

If you’re ready to take control of your health and make meaningful, lasting changes, it’s important to first assess whether you’re in the right mindset to partner with a health coach. The process of transformation takes commitment, effort, and openness, and being prepared to embrace this journey will help ensure your success. Consider the following:

• You’re at least a 7 on a scale of 1-10 when it comes to being ready to make lifestyle changes. Change is challenging, but it becomes much more manageable when you’re genuinely ready to take action. If you’re feeling motivated and prepared to invest in your health, you’re on the right track
• You take full responsibility for your health choices. Working with a health coach requires accountability. You’ll need to make choices that align with your health goals, knowing that the steps you take – no matter how small – have a direct impact on your wellbeing. Taking responsibility for your decisions empowers you to create lasting change
• You’re open to trusting the process and your health team’s guidance. Your coach and practitioner are here to guide you through the complexities of your healing journey. Trusting their expertise and being open to their recommendations, even when they challenge you, is crucial for moving forward
• You’re ready to embrace a partnership with your practitioner and coach. Health coaching is a collaborative process. It’s not just about receiving advice – it’s about building a partnership. You’ll need to engage with your coach and practitioner, work together as a team, and be open to their input as you work toward your goals
• You’re willing to sacrifice short-term rewards for long-term health benefits. True transformation often requires delayed gratification. You might need to give up short-term comforts (like a certain food or habit) for the long-term health outcomes you desire. Being ready to make these sacrifices will help you stay focused on the bigger picture
• You’re ready to experiment, track progress, and adopt a growth mindset. Working with a health coach means being open to trying new approaches and tracking your progress along the way. It’s about embracing the idea that setbacks are opportunities for growth, and that each step – whether a success or a challenge – contributes to your overall journey

If you resonate with these points, you’re likely in the right place to benefit from working with a health coach. By embracing this mindset, you’ll set yourself up for faster, more lasting results on your path to better health and well-being. With the support of your coach, you’ll not only achieve your goals but gain the tools and confidence to sustain them long-term.

Let’s get you feeling yourself again

Our cutting edge healthcare program will give you the guidance and support you need to get there.