What’s with all these coaches?

?Since my announcement to leave corporate and focus on Holistic wellness, I’ve received a few frequently asked questions including what does a holistic wellness coach do? And what does holistic mean, anyway?? Why would I hire a holistic wellness coach specifically? ??

?So, let’s dig in. If you have ever worked with or seen a personal trainer on TV, you’ll know that these trainers are specialized in exercise science and usually help their clients do one of two things: lose weight and/or gain muscle (I know they do much more, but for simplicity sake). They are trained in knowing specific exercises to affect and change the body.? Trainers are a type of fitness or wellness coach. They coach you in exercising in a certain way to get a specific result you are looking for in your physique. ??

?A life coach, on the other hand, is trained in certain coaching techniques to help you identify outcomes you are looking for in your life, and then collaborate with you to create action plans to achieve those outcomes. It could be anything from setting goals for your life, finding the partner of your dreams, achieving a major milestone, you name it. There are career coaches, specialized in career strategies; business coaches, specialized in starting or scaling your business; writing coaches, specialized in writing books or articles; if there is a skill, there is likely a coach who is an expert at these skills??

?So now to a holistic wellness coach, and specifically the area I have decided to specialize in. Holistic just means that it is an approach to address the whole person, not just one area of their life. It is a systems approach.? Similar to how a systems engineer looks at the process from beginning to end; similar to how a functional medicine doctor looks at all manners of your physical body, versus a specific part, like a cardiologist who specializes in the heart and circulatory system. ??

A holistic wellness coach supports you in your whole being including your physical, mental, and spiritual needs. ??

Why is that important?? Well, you might have career goals, but once you get the promotion you realize that your health has gone from bad to worse, or your relationship is on the brink of divorce. Or, everything in your life seems to be on track, the career, the marriage, the house, the finances, but still you find yourself unsatisfied, feeling empty, or even depressed. Or you’ve had an amazing career, and now you are retired (the thing you’ve been working for your entire career) and now you’re bored, dissatisfied, or your health is a concern. You’re worried that your best years are behind you. ??

Obtaining the status or the thing, didn’t give you fulfillment. This is so common in high achievers!? It’s one of the things I help clients address. ????♀?

?A holistic approach looks first at what your goals and obstacles to achieving them are, what they will bring to your life physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and then puts them in context to your whole being. We look at how this works with your life, your relationships, your fulfillment, your contribution not only to society but to our world. ??

I help my clients address the six human needs to a fulfilling life. These are needs of Certainty, Variety, Significance, Connection/Love, Growth, and Contribution (as identified by Robbins Research International). ??

?Success does not ensure fulfillment. And often, just a 2mm trajectory change, a simple but profound change in perspective, can lead to how you approach and obtain results that make you feel fully alive and fulfilled again. ??

THAT is the reason I am dedicated to holistic wellness. My mission is to be fully alive, to enjoy personal growth and abundance, and to create powerful results for myself and others.? ??

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What’s the point of having all the money or the fancy title, if your health is in the toilet? Or you have no one to share the wealth with?? I work with my clients to design their lives to be more fulfilling, because I know it is possible. ??

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So, if you are achieving in several areas, but are burning out in others, consider working with a holistic coach. I did many years ago and it changed my life, so much so that I now dedicate my life to it. ???????

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If you are curious about the many different types of holistic coaches out there, check out the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine directory website.? And you can find me there as well. ??

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And remember…self-care isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity!

Yvonne Lee-Hawkins is a stress strategist, writer, and holistic wellness coach. She has tried and tested countless health and wellness strategies to help her deal with the relentless pressures of her former high achieving corporate career and motherhood. When she is not working, she loves to go on adventures with her family, in the Pacific Northwest where they call home. You can find out more on her website .