Health coaching is the evidence based application of questioning, conversational and goal setting skills to assist patients to make sustainable health behaviour change consistent with their own values and personal strengths. It seeks to empower patients to locate their own unique motivating forces to respond to the health challenges specific to them. Health coaching approaches can be taught and integrated into routine medical and health consultations and provide both patients and health care providers with skills to identify and secure lasting behavioural change and to respond effectively to uncertainty and ambivalence about change.

In short, health coaches are expert facilitators of mindset and behaviour change that generates sustainable healthy lifestyles to prevent and treat disease and foster well-being and thriving.

Over the course of a few consultations, a patient will first identify an overall health or lifestyle goal – for example, increasing vegetable intake or exercise activities. The health coach uses his or her skills to help the patient connect this vision with their own values and strengths. Reachable goals are set and barriers can be managed where necessary. Over the course of a few subsequent meetings, patients review progress, challenges and next steps.