In the same way the coach of a sports team helps players perform at their highest level, well-being coaches help people achieve their best health possible.
“Our ultimate goal is to help you make long-lasting lifestyle changes that can be easily incorporated into your everyday life,” says Kathy Robb, a well-being coach at Atlantic Health System’s Chambers Center for Well-Being.
Well-being coaching at The Chambers Center for Well-Being focuses on three areas: nutrition, fitness and stress management. Coaches work with clients to help set goals and hold them accountable on their path to achieving total well-being.
Who benefits from a well-being coach?
Sometimes people seek well-being coaching after receiving a life-changing diagnosis. For example, someone who just learned they have to reduce their Body Mass Index may seek coaching as a way to improve their health and reach their weight loss goals.
Other times, people seek coaching to help adapt healthier habits. Well-being coaching may be right for someone who says:
- My clothes don’t fit anymore
- I’m sick of having no energy
- I’ve never exercised before and don’t know where to start
- I struggle to handle all the stress in my life.
- I want to start a new routine.
Well-being coaches help people take these statements and develop action plans that help them reach their goals—whether it’s helping an older adult regain flexibility and balance, a teenager lose weight before attending the prom, or guiding someone who never exercised before all the way to running a 5K race.
What happens during a well-being coaching session?At the Chambers Center, well-being coaching begins with a conversation. “During a client’s first appointment, I do a lot of listening,” Robb says. “I want to hear what people want to work on, what they think they can accomplish, and where they are in their stage of change.”
Once a coach understands your needs, she’ll help you set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based) goals. “We don’t tell people what to do,” Robb says. “Instead, we help them find answers on their own that help them improve their overall health.”
For example, initial goals may include:
- Walking for 10 minutes three times a week
- Cutting back on the amount of sugar in your diet
- Reaching for a healthy snack (instead of cookies) when you feel stressed.
Initial client coaching visits last for one hour. Follow-up sessions may last 30 or 50 minutes depending on the client’s needs. During follow-up visits, coaches work with clients to review their goal progress and set new goals to keep their progress on track. “I tell clients that coaching is a commitment,” Robb says. “It provides a level of accountability, so people don’t get stuck on their journey to personal wellness.”
At every step, the client is in the driver’s seat. “Some people seek coaching for a few weeks or months; others are with us for years,” Robb says.
- Appointments available virtually and in-person.
- Clients can purchase coaching sessions at the Chambers Center individually or in packs of 12.
- For more information, call 973-971-6301.
- Check out our complete menu of well-being services >