What is a Health and Wellbeing Coach?

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A Health and Wellbeing Coach is a professional who helps people improve their overall health by supporting behaviour change, setting personalised goals, building motivation and self-management skills. Coaches work with a range of health concerns, from long-term conditions to stress, weight management and lifestyle habits. Physical and mental challenges can be overcome.

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How is health coaching different from seeing a doctor or nurse?

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In health coaching, you are the expert on your own life. The coach guides and supports you in setting and achieving your goals, rather than prescribing treatment. Coaching focuses on your whole wellbeing, not just illness or symptoms.

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Is it like counselling or therapy?

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There are some similarities between health coaching and counselling, including active listening, rapport building and empathy. I draw on some counselling modalities where relevant, including psychodynamic (Freudian, discussing past experiences), person-centred (walking in your shoes and dealing with the present) and CBT (goal-setting and solution-focused). In this way it is integrative and inclusive. But there are also some ways in which coaching is quite different from counselling and therapy – coaching is practical and driven by what you’d like to achieve, making tangible progress and finding a way through together.

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What can I talk about with my coach?

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You can discuss any area of your wellbeing, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, relationships, life satisfaction, and mindset. The focus is on what matters most to you. I will be guided by what you bring to the session. In terms of strategies and tools to be discussed, I use The SCALES Model, which you can read more about here.
 

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How many sessions will I need?

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There’s no set number. Some people benefit from just a few sessions, while others prefer ongoing support. Sessions are tailored to your needs and goals. I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation where we can get to know each other and find out whether it is a good fit for you. It is quite common for my clients to book a block of eight sessions, and we can achieve a lot in that time. Equally, you may want to pay as you go in an ad hoc way that is flexible and suits your schedule.

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What will it cost?

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I always begin with a 15-minute free of charge phone call or FaceTime so that we can start to get to know each other. From then on you can book a 60-minute session for £60, or the recommended option is to book on to the eight-session SCALES programme for £400 (£50 a session). In this way, my coaching sessions are more affordable than the average price of a session with a counsellor or therapist.

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Are sessions confidential?

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Yes. Everything you share with your coach is confidential and your privacy is protected. There may be times when particularly sensitive information may need to be shared, if there is a safeguarding risk. I will make this clear to you if it arises.

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Do I need a medical condition to see a coach?

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No. Health and wellbeing coaching is for anyone who wants to make positive changes, whether you’re managing a health condition or simply want to improve your lifestyle.

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How can coaching help me make lasting changes?

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Coaches help you break down your goals into small, achievable steps, providing encouragement and accountability along the way. This approach supports lasting, meaningful change. The coaching relationship is a partnership with shared experience and problem-solving.

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How do I get started?

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You can usually self-refer or be referred by a healthcare professional, depending on the service. Check with your local provider for details. If you have any further questions, please email me at tom@tomryderwellbeing.co.uk