Comments on: Research Update: Coaching Guides Cancer Survivors to Better Health

By: Billy C H Teoh

Billy C H Teoh — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:19:14 +0000

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.

By: Stacy Simons, RN CN CH

Stacy Simons, RN CN CH — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 03:49:27 +0000

@ 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.

By: Billy C H Teoh

Billy C H Teoh — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:50:57 +0000

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.

By: Steve Frank

Steve Frank — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:01:13 +0000

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.

By: Dr. Luis Gaviria

Dr. Luis Gaviria — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:29:57 +0000

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

By: Billy C H Teoh

Billy C H Teoh — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:56:14 +0000

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.