{"id":1240,"date":"2021-08-18T17:29:25","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T17:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/how-health-coaches-can-address-common-wellness-related-themes-coming-up-during-the-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2021-08-18T17:29:25","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T17:29:25","slug":"how-health-coaches-can-address-common-wellness-related-themes-coming-up-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/how-health-coaches-can-address-common-wellness-related-themes-coming-up-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"How Health Coaches Can Address Common Wellness-Related Themes Coming Up During the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Navigating Where Health Coaches Fit into the Equation<\/p>\n
Certainly, the pandemic has given rise to many clinical challenges in wellness. From a holistic health coach perspective, it can be hard to separate themes to offer expert support in and themes to relegate to trained clinicians. After compiling several months of community shares, there are group wellness issues that can certainly be mitigated from an integrative approach. Health coaches also productively contribute to aftercare in helping clients to feel comfortable in their healing process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that one of the most successful prevention and recovery relationships is when health coaches and medical experts work together. This article will provide avenues for health coaches to be even more important in these pandemic times while also acknowledging it is an incredibly responsible move to identify when health coaches should either liaise with clinicians or hand the question entirely to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One way to identify what is within the means of health coach proficiency is to assess the patient for signs and symptoms. Similar to the stages of burnout, here are some of the key indicators that a condition is still within reach of health coach-generated solutions:<\/p>\n
Should support be needed beyond steps 1-3, such as with severe mental health issues and\/or a complete overtaking of the client\u2019s life, it makes sense in these phases of ascending intensity to refer out, too.<\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ll want to run these categories through the three aforementioned questions to see the degree in which they\u2019re showing up in your client\u2019s life and health. Based on the degree of intensity, you can choose your level of involvement:<\/p>\n In \u201cThe Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use,\u201d Nirmita Plancha et al. (2021) report how \u201cDuring the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from 1 in 10 adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019.\u201d More specifically, much of that anxiety and depression is related to worrying about COVID-19 itself (regardless of whether someone has had it or not). Doing an intake interview with your client to get a better understanding of what particularly worries them and how they experience it in their bodies and minds is a solid starting point. Further, there are natural ways to reduce anxiety<\/span> as well as methods to strategically target and heal anxiety about COVID-19<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Isolation on any normal day or period of life can feel debilitating. In fact, \u201cHawkley points to evidence linking perceived social isolation with adverse health consequences<\/span> including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and impaired immunity at every stage of life\u201d in \u201cPerceived social isolation, evolutionary fitness and health outcomes: a lifespan approach\u201d (Hawkley, 2015). Subsequently, that isolation that is so prevalent, difficult, and potentially life-threatening already has become our societal norm in large amounts with the responsibility to staying safe from COVID-19. The net effect is a sort of compound isolation that may endure past the body and mind\u2019s capacity to integrate it.\u00a0<\/p>\n The human body has adapted and changed as best it can to deal with the pandemic. Fitness consequences include difficulty gaining or losing weight as well as feeling nutritionally satiated and absorbing proper nutrients. The American Psychological Association detailed how \u201c61% of U.S. adults reported undesired weight change since the pandemic began\u201d and prompted pieces such as our very own \u201c8 Ways Personal Trainers May Design Healthier Post-Pandemic Weight Loss Programs.\u201d Adapted from \u201cHow Stress Depletes Essential Nutrients, and What You Can Do About It,\u201d the following is a list of nutrients depleted by stress that can influence fitness results:<\/p>\n According to NPR and countless other sources, \u201cIncreased household responsibilities have forced many working mothers\u2014and especially Black and Latinx mothers\u2014to scale back on their hours or leave the workforce entirely during the pandemic, further widening economic and racial disparities.\u201d This finding really encapsulates the larger picture that the wellness of not only mothers but also certain cultural and socioeconomic groups is even more challenged by the pandemic. As definitions, signs, and symptoms of wellness and its practices can vary across genders, cultures<\/span>, etc., it is a more important time than ever for holistic health coaches to make themselves aware of diverse populations and the spectrum that is health itself.<\/p>\n As noted before, the importance of assessing client needs and comparing them to your level of involvement is crucial for success. A simple intake interview may suffice to accomplish this\u00a0 or using any of the below AFPA resources can assist health coaches as they navigate this juncture:<\/p>\n Perhaps via the above communication, a holistic health coach identifies anxiety and depression caused by pandemic stress and wants to know whether or not to address it from a holistic standpoint. Answering the guiding questions may look something like this:<\/p>\n In the above sample, there\u2019s no question a health coach can have a significant impact and likely does not yet have to make a clinical referral (though decisions made on that are case by case). The holistic health coach can help their client here to sleep better<\/span> and eat better as a start.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alternatively, if the anxiety and depression are soon-to-reach or have already reached feelings of hopelessness, chronic sleep disturbances, apathy, agitation, despair, unexplained physical problems, and even suicidal ideation, the health coach would bring in additional medical assistance or offer referrals. Illustrating the difference between the levels of intensity within the question schema revolving around wellness challenges particularly arising alongside the pandemic will prove substantially helpful.\u00a0<\/p>\n Health coaches play an integral role in client wellness and, with an eye for particular wellness challenges during the pandemic, can be a huge support system. There is also a level of discernment required that this article details. In addition to the description of Module 1 of the Holistic Health Coach Course which states, \u201cExploring the many facets of personal health and self-responsibility, while focusing on the basic principles of physical, mental, and spiritual health. You\u2019ll learn the tools you need to make informed health decisions that promote lifelong wellness for yourself, your family, and your clients. The lessons encourage personal responsibility to health-related behaviors and outline how to improve overall health through nutrition, fitness, stress management, and the maintenance of an all-encompassing healthy lifestyle,\u201d another way to describe the health coach role is listed on our website for further clarity as follows:<\/p>\n With the right alignment of goals, skills, and outcomes, health coaches contribute to areas of healing that no one else can, inclusive of this pandemic era.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n5 Common Wellness-Related Themes During the Pandemic\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Anxiety and Depression Caused By Pandemic Stress<\/h3>\n
High Levels of Isolation<\/h3>\n
Fitness Setbacks<\/h3>\n
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A Special Note to Mothers and Other Disproportionately Affected Populations<\/h3>\n
Putting Health Coaching into \u201cPandemic Practice\u201d<\/h3>\n
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Main Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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References<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n