Health Coaches - worthwhile?

ONUnicorn

Has anyone here had good experiences with health coaches? Are they all like the two types I've experienced?

The first type of health coach I encountered came in the form of two of my Facebook friends, one of whom has been involved in MLM of all stripes before (Herbalife, Partylite candles, Tupperware, Mary Kay, 31, Lularoe). When she announced that she was becoming a health coach I figured it was some sort of MLM thing and sure enough, she's selling supplements. Shortly after I had another Facebook friend who also stated billing himself as a health coach, selling the same supplements. They both post the same before and after pics and heart-warming stories about people for whom "the program" has worked wonders. 🙄

The second type of health coach is provided by my insurance company. If we do 4 telephone coaching sessions by the end of September we get a 20% discount on our health insurance. I've had 3 of them. Each one was with a different coach. Here's an excerpt of the type of conversation we have, H.C. "So, I see you have weight loss as a goal." Me: "Yes." H.C. "Have you ever heard of BMI?" 🙄 Then there was this; H.C. "What do you like to drink?" Me: "Water, mostly. Sometimes milk, and a fair amount of tea." H.C. "Do you drink soda?" Me: "Rarely. Maybe one every other month or so." H.C. "You should drink more water and less soda." 😶 I swear they are following a script and aren't listening to what I say at all, and the script was clearly designed for people who know nothing about health and nutrition and have been living under a rock for the past 20 years.

I guess I partly just want to vent. But I also am actually wondering if there are health coaching programs that actually help people make the changes they need to make to be healthier? Ones that aren't MLM schemes pushing dangerous supplements, and that don't assume everyone is an idiot. Ones where the coach actually works with the client to overcome their specific challenges. Has anyone found anything like that?

MikePTY

I am always very skeptical of any sort of title that is not regulated and does not require a certification. Anyone can be a "Healthcare coach" because it is a term that doesn't mean anything and doesn't have any standards. I would not trust any advice I received from someone calling themselves that.

88olds

Well, you’re right, there’s going to be
a financial angle. It’s either going to be sales, the insurance company trying to save money or a fee for service.

I have a friend who is a social worker at an out patient medical clinic. She spends a lot of time problem solving with folks who need to make lifestyle changes. Four 1 hr sessions would be typical. The field is called behavior health. You might look around for something like that in your area.

But she’s a licensed clinic social worker. The service is paid for by medical insurance. It’s more than just coaching.

And those folks on the phone don’t think you’re an idiot. Some people actually need that sort of information or need to be reminded of its importance. Insurance companies keep a lot of statistics. They’ve got something suggesting that working on that level helps them save money or they wouldn’t do it.

And getting back to my friend, loads of folks with serious problems just stick their heads in the sand. The coach is working on the level of “ take your meds, go to your Dr appointments, and stick to your diet.” Many people don’t.

PKM0515

I've used health coaches through my workplace insurance and been happy with them for the most part. For me, it's mostly about the encouragement they provide. I've also gotten various handouts/PDFs with a lot of useful information re diet, exercise, and diabetes.

I love the current diabetic coaching/program I'm involved with (Livongo). Phenomenal program and support!

With these programs, I think you need to be receptive and to establish a good rapport with your coach. Sometimes it just might not be a good fit, in which case I think you could ask for a different coach. To an extent, I also think you get out of it what you put in.

lrsirius

I went weekly to a health coach provided by my employer, they contracted with TrestleTree LLC. I found the encouragement was helpful in keeping me focused, and that I could troubleshoot my nutrition and fitness goals/concerns with her. She is an RN/BSN and was up to date on the latest in diet and fitness. I agree that establishing a good rapport is essential, and clearly define what you want out of the sessions. Overall, it was a positive experience because I liked and trusted my coach. If I had to pay for it myself, I wouldn’t do it. I had more success when I used a certified and knowledgeable trainer to help me achieve my goals.