Our Health Coaching Model
The three elements of Health Coaching
The effective provision of health coaching requires practitioners to integrate three areas:
1. Skills, techniques and mindset from Performance and Development Coaching
Being able to effectively use general non-directive and directive coaching skills and techniques (e.g. using a coaching model to structure the conversation, supporting the development of options and providing supportive challenge etc.)
2. Principles and models from Psychology and Behaviour Change Science
Applying evidence based insights, models and processes (e.g. using patient activation, behaviour change models like COM-B and supporting intrinsic motivation etc.)
3. Knowledge, skills and expertise of Practitioners
Drawing on their own specific knowledge and skills as a practitioner, or lived experience if a volunteer (e.g. their knowledge about local assets, or the condition and treatment options, etc.)
For example:
A practice nurse may use health coaching to support someone to manage their diabetes...
- Through conversation the nurse integrates his or her clinical knowledge, offering guidance and managing risk where appropriate
- While applying the principles of behaviour change that relate to improving adherence with a management plan
- And structuring the conversation using a coaching model and advanced listening skills to recognise someone’s potential to self-manage.
A social prescriber might use a Patient Activation Measure questionnaire to understand how to tailor their approach with someone who plans to become more physically active...
- While using coaching skills to discover what's important to them and establish meaningful personalised goals
- Drawing on their own specialist knowledge and experience of local community assets to support a conversation about options about community activities the person could join.
An exception to this general three-tier principle of health coaching is when practitioners are delivering services with people who have low levels of activation and a more traditional non-directive coaching approach has been found to be more useful.
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