Life Coaching FAQ for Medical and Health Practitioners
- Are coaches qualified to work with clients with a medical condition?
- Will coaching undermine my interventions and advice?
- Is counselling or coaching more suitable?
- What specific health issues can be helped by coaching?
- What other life issues are relevant to coaching?
- Can my patients afford coaching?
- How could coaching help me?
- Got another question?
Are coaches qualified to work with clients with a medical condition?
In most cases no. However Ken's background as an Occupational Therapist means he is well equipped to work with patients with a medical condition. The folllowing experience makes Ken a valuable assett in your health management team. His 15 years of clinical experience includes:
- Cardiac Rehab and Education
- Renal
- Respiratory Disease
- Musculoskeletal Outpatients
- Pain Management
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Neurological Rehabilitation
- Lifestyle change including weight management and smoking cessation.
- Occupational Health, Saftety and rehabilitation.
- DSP Assessments for Centrelink
Will coaching undermine my interventions and advice?
Coaching is not about giving medical advice. As a firm believer in evidence based medicine, I encourage my coaching clients to evaluate the evidence for treatments they wish to pursue, and to discuss them with their Doctor. I advise them to take a proactive and collaborative role in managing their health. I discourage unproven quackery, although as you know, some patients will do it anyway.Is counselling or coaching more suitable?
This needs to be determined on a case by case basis.Counselling is more suitable for patients with:
- Moderate to severe psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression.
- Issues related to abuse.
Coaching is more suited to patients who are:
- Motivated but frustrated by lack of success.
- Resistant to the concept of counselling.
- Stuck in a rut.
- Disorganised or unfocused.
For more about the differences between coaching and counselling click here
What specific health issues can be helped by coaching?
- Weight management.
- Exercise.
- Stress, particularly when related to work/life balance or lack of direction or satisfaction with life.
- Maladaptive activity/rest patterns in pain and chronic fatigue.
- Addictive behaviours in motivated clients.
- Unhelpful behavuoiurs such as Doctor shopping and innappropriate use of alternative therapies.
- Mild depression and anxiety can be helped by coaching.
What other life issues are relevant to coaching?
- Mid-life career change.
- Coping with retirement/retrenchment.
- Coping with chronic illness or pain.
- Gertting organised.
- Achieving a lifelong dream.
- Achieving career success.