|
Most coaches would argue passionately that coaching changes lives. But does coaching save lives?
New research suggests wellness coaching may make significant strides for recovering cancer patients, putting them on track for healthier, longer lives. “We are excited about our initial results,” said Dr. Mary Lou Galantino, a professor at Stockton College and Adjunct Research Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania who was the principal investigator on the new study.
The study, published in the International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, is among the first to test the efficacy of wellness coaching, a recent field of coaching based on the “growing science of coaching psychology which draws from 15 or more theories or evidence-based domains,” according to the report.
“From a multi-disciplinary view, wellness coaching is one such modality that allows the individual to discuss issues that impact their health and well-being, regardless of the discipline. Wellness coaches can support follow through of recommendations given by doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, psychologists and other professionals.”
Wellness coaches have long believed their work made profound differences, especially among some of the twelve million cancer survivors in the U.S., people who are often at risk of developing a second cancer, and are under increased risk of associated illnesses, such as hypertension. And yet recent surveys cited in the study found survivors found maintaining a healthy lifestyle challenging.
” Less than one quarter of cancer survivors were physically active on a regular basis, with more than 18% being obese, and 34% overweight. Only 5% met guidelines for a cluster of healthy behaviors, including fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and cessation of smoking,” the researchers found.
The researchers wanted to know if wellness coaches could help turn those statistics around, an idea that dates back to 2004, when wellness coach Pam Schmid was diagnosed with breast cancer. ““Being a professional, I knew what I needed to do to be healthy and feel my best, yet so many obstacles came my way. I watched others struggle and saw no real support for them,” said Schmid. “Some health behaviors can reduce risk of recurrence or dying of their cancer as much as 50%. It’s critical to support survivors to do the things they can do to not only improve their risks but to improve their quality of life.”
In the study, 30 cancer survivors–they included survivors of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer–received six coaching sessions over a three-month period. The coachees were followed for a year after the intervention to evaluate the sustainability of changes. The coachees were asked about their intake of healthy food, whether they were experiencing anxiety and depression, and whether they exercised.
The results?
Coaching made lasting, positive changes in the cancer survivors’ lives. “Instead of being stuck, they have a partner to start moving ahead to be their best,” said Schmid. “As one survivor told me, ‘This is not like anything I’ve experienced. It’s given me a pathway out … I need to move forward to do the things I know I need to do to be my best’.”
The study’s results are limited–there was no control group–and the sample size was small. But the researchers are encouraged. “Positive trends were noted in all variables measured in this study,” they wrote. “As the clinical field of (wellness coaching) emerges, rigorous research is needed to optimize the intervention and evaluate its multidisciplinary impact. The merging of the two new fields of (wellness coaching) and survivorship may improve the quality of life and survival for many individuals whose lives have been impacted by cancer.”
Tweet This
Email to a friend
There are 6 Responses so far...
I am particularly intrigued by what I read about “wellness coaching” especially using a coaching process versus a counselling process.
Drawing impactful concepts, models, methodologies, approaches, processes, and procedures from 15 or more theories and evidenced-based domains means to me that coaching does encompasses and borrows from ‘other domains’ to be efficient, effective, and result-oriented’
This often leads to the question, what exactly and how do we define coaching (since coaching draws from so many impactful domains) and in this case, how do we define ‘wellness coaching’?
Pardon my ignorance, is ‘wellness coaching’ for the healthy person or for someone who needs ‘fixing’ because of an existing medical condition, or both?
Are we focusing on the ‘wellness coaching’ process irrespective of whether the person is healthy or have a medical condition?
Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.
Mark,
I just dropped by your blog, and I found a wealth of valuable information. This post about cancer patients reinforces my belief that coaching, specially NeuroCoaching, is a powerful tool for change, for seeking meaning and survival strategies.
As a clinical psychophysiologist, and having worked in ICU environments, I can attest of the powerful results attained by our patients and their families, when coached properly through their times of active disease.
Thank you for providing us with such powerful tips and direction. I do believe in this fields to make a real difference in many people’s lives, starting with our own.
Best regards,
Luis Gaviria
http://www.luisgaviria.org
I am a firm believer that the coaching profession can make a huge impact on the lives of cancer survivors, not just in terms of overall wellness, inside and out. Besides the accountability that a wellness/life coach provides, the coach can also help the cancer survivor move forward mentally and emotionally from patient to survivor. Battling cancer can be all consuming. As you cross over from patient to survivor, a coach can help you to set new goals for your life. Goals are like gears on a bicycle…they keep you engaged and moving forward.
So are we saying that the starting point for wellness coaching is that the coachee/client is already healthy and moving forward with his/her life or is still in the recovery stage, though not entirely in full health?
The distinction could clarify which intervention works better?
I am particularly interested to have an insight of what the wellness coaching processes look like.
Is it purely a coaching process or a combination of other techniques found in other domains?
Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.
@ Billy Teoh: Most wellness coaches work with individuals who want to improve something in their life, whether they are “healthy” or not. My personal goal is to help a client Be The Best he or she Can Be (like the military saying). So if a client is lacking health in some area of their life, and that is what they wish to work on, then that will be our focus. If a client is in good general health they may want to work on how best to stay healthy with so many alternative approaches out there, or they may want to focus on something else, like developing a strong meditation practice, etc. and that is where this coach will put her energies and attention. Hope that helps.
Thanks Stacy for sharing your practice. In Malaysia, there are many wellness coaches working in synergy with those in the direct selling professionals in health products and those in the ‘help’ professions including doctors.
It is like a ‘cross-sellng’ synergy.
My concern is that whether ethical issues could emerge through such synergies?
Another concern is that where does the line be drawn between using a coaching process versus other domains’ processes?
The state of health status at the point of the intervention, whether coaching or otherwise could end up whether the intervention is effective and appropriate or not?
My personal practice is that I am not ‘qualified’ to work with someone diagnosed with a prolonged illness. However, if the person is fully recovered from the prolonged illness and is considered healthy, coaching would be possible.
In other words, I work with ‘healthy’ persons who want to specifically improve certain aspects of their life using a coaching process.
Would be interested if you could share some insights of the processes when you work with ‘not so healthy’ clients.
Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.