“We are stronger together than we are alone”
Walter Payton
If you have been dealing with an autoimmune or chronic disease, chances are that you have experienced how isolating it can be: the symptoms (and possibly the treatment) are affecting your quality of life, and those who surround you may not always understand what you are going through.
Do any of these symptoms feel familiar?
Chronic pain
Digestive discomfort (bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, etc.)
Chronic Fatigue
Energy swings
Challenges with focus
Mood swings/disorders
Blood sugar imbalances
Excess body weight
Skin issues
Etc.
Health coaching is a great way to better understand your condition and symptoms and implement the right changes to your diet and lifestyle to regain your wellbeing. This is something you can do individually with a coach or in the context of a support group.
What does group health coaching look like?
The group meets online twice a month, for three months, to share experiences, listen, and learn. We discuss various topics. I share my knowledge with you, and everyone gets the chance to tell their own experience. The group dynamic is different from individual coaching, and you can expect a sense of community.
What are the benefits of group health coaching?
1. Get your personal support system
Through the sessions, as you share with others and learn about them, you build deeper connections. They are facing similar health issues, so they know what you are going through. They have your back when the going gets rough, and they are your cheerleaders when you want to celebrate victories!
2. Benefit from the collective wisdom
Not only will you be able to take advantage of my knowledge, but you will also learn from the whole group’s experience and wisdom. Look no further, you have found your tribe!
3. Harness the power of the group to keep yourself accountable to reach your goals
It is easier to start a new workout routine with a friend. The same goes with adapting your lifestyle: implementing changes in any area of your life is easier with an accountability buddy. Here you get a whole group!
4. See your situation from a new perspective
As we talk through your health issues together, you benefit from the whole group’s insights, and you can expect to look at your challenges in a new light. A welcome breath of fresh air after trying to sort things out on your own for so long!
5. Get great value for your money
Doing something as a group is usually cheaper, and group coaching is no exception. Get the goodness of health coaching at a fraction of the cost.
6. Make your journey to wellness a social one
Regaining your health and wellbeing can be hard work, but meeting up regularly with the group will energize and motivate you to keep going!
“Olivia is professional, kind and great at listening. I am happy that I have met her because she has supported me and helped me as I was trying to improve my wellbeing. She has guided me as I was regaining control of my health.”
FAQ
1) What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine: it shifts the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach. It seeks to address the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their clients, listening to their health histories, and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic diseases.
Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with complementary medicine. It focuses on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise. It uses the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques. It prescribes the use of botanical medicines and supplements (that can complement the use of traditionally-prescribed drugs). Functional medicine’s toolbox also includes therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, and stress-management techniques.
2) What do you offer that a doctor doesn’t?
Health and wellness coaching helps people to change behaviors. Doctors agree that changing unhealthy habits is hard. Unfortunately, they don’t have the time—nor the training— in a 10-min consultation to address behavior changes. As a Health Coach, I take the time to understand your needs and health goals as well as your limitations and the roadblocks you may face on your way to achieving better health.
I educate and motivate you to adopt a healthier lifestyle. I support and guide you. I can also teach you stress management techniques and help you maintain changes over time and stay on course.
A health coach does not in the least replace a doctor. Actually, the ideal set up is when they can collaborate to help the patients. I believe their work is complementary.
3) What is the difference between a Holistic Health Coach and a Registered Dietician?
Even though health coaches and dieticians work in a similar capacity, their approach and area of focus differ.
Health coaches don’t just focus on diet and nutrition; they assess your wellbeing as a whole, also looking at lifestyle factors such as your sleep, relationships, stress levels and exercise.
Dieticians have specialist nutrition training and are experts in all things related to diet, food and nutritional requirements including nutrition through the life cycle (such as in pregnancy or children) and for specific ailments and conditions. If you have nutritional deficiencies, complex nutrition requirements or you need support with a specific health condition such as diabetes or food allergies, a dietician should be your first port of call.
The other main difference is the approach taken by each modality. Health coaches focus on goal-setting. They create strategies and accountability measures and mentor their clients to achieve their health objectives. On the other hand, dieticians devise nutrition guidelines and meal plans the client has to work from.
4) Why is your program three months minimum?
It takes time to implement changes. We work on rapid relief, but we aim for long-term health benefits. Adapting your diet and lifestyle for sustainable health does not happen overnight. We work together for at least three months to ensure your success.
More specifically, the group and I support you until you have fully integrated your new routine as I know that change can be hard. You may experience ups and downs in your motivation over the first couple of months: we will be your cheerleaders and your accountability buddies to ensure you reap the benefits of all your efforts.
This minimum of three months also allows us to see what works and what doesn’t because everyone is different. That way, we can customize the program to your specific needs.
5) Can I continue working with you after three months? What happens next?
Yes, of course. We can continue the coaching for as long as you wish. I usually meet twice a month with my clients, depending on their needs.
6) How can I know that group health coaching is right for me?
The best way to figure that out is for us to have a chat. Let’s schedule a free consultation to learn more about each other and define if group health coaching is indeed the right approach for you.
7) I don't suffer from anything in particular, but I am curious to try health coaching. Is this possible? If so, how can I benefit from it?
You will always benefit from health coaching because we always have something we want to improve in our health and wellness. Depending on your family history, health coaching can also play an essential role in terms of prevention. Last but not least, we sometimes experience symptoms that we take as normal or unavoidable while we could actually either get rid of them or decrease their impact if we optimized our lifestyle.
Are you wondering whether group coaching is for you? Let’s talk about you and your needs to define what your best option is.
