Health and wellness coaching is a valuable intervention to help individuals improve their long-term physical, psychological, and social well-being. Coaches, individuals who employ motivational strategies through trusting relationships, have shown success in supporting individuals’ pursuit in creating and sustaining healthy lifestyle changes. We discuss the theoretical principles underlying coaching practices and present essential coaching behaviors that influence the quality and strength of the client–coach relationship. We acknowledge scenarios in which the client–coach relationship has grown stale or is incompatible; in these cases, we propose lateral referrals, which we define as identifying and redirecting clients to another coach possessing similar abilities to continue the coaching relationship. This strategy need not be exclusive to coaching as it would likely be beneficial for other health care professionals. Lateral referrals are promising as they provide an opportunity to meet individuals’ unique needs and enhance the likelihood of sustained changes.
KowalskiKCBillingsDMKowalskiK, eds. J Contin Educ Nurs; 2020, pp. 12-14.
2.
BerzinsNJOrsega-SmithEMackenzeM, et al.What do we know about group health coaching and cancer survivorship? A scoping review. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2001;1:1. doi:10.1177/15598276241303444
3.
HollandSKGreenbergJTidwellLMaloneJMullanJNewcomerR. Community-based health coaching, exercise, and health service utilization. J Aging Health. 2005;17(6):697-716. doi:10.1177/0898264305277959
4.
RiceJThombsDLeachRRehmR. Successes and barriers for a youth weight-management program. Clin Pediatr. 2008;47(2):143-147. doi:10.1177/0009922807306168
5.
SuzukiHSekiAHosakaT, et al.Effects of a structured group intervention on obesity among breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer. 2020;27(2):236-242. doi:10.1007/s12282-019-01013-x
6.
OlsenJMNesbittBJ. Health coaching to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors:An integrative review. Am J Health Promot. 2010;25(1):e1-e12. doi:10.4278/ajhp.090313-LIT-101
7.
KiveläKEloSKyngäsHKääriäinenM. The effects of health coaching on adult patients with chronic diseases: A systematic review. Patient Educ Counsel. 2014;97(2):147-157. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.026
8.
ValeMJJelinekMVBestetAJD. Coaching patients on achieving cardiovascular health (coach). a multicenter randomized trial in patients with coronary heart disease. ACC Curr J Rev. 2004;13(3):28. doi:10.1016/j.accreview.2004.02.022
9.
WoleverRQDreusickeMFikkanJ, et al.Integrative health coaching for patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educat. 2010;36(4):629-639. doi:10.1177/0145721710371523
10.
FisherEBStrunkRCHighsteinGR, et al.A randomized controlled evaluation of the effect of community health workers on hospitalization for Asthma: the Asthma coach. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(3):225. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2008.577
11.
OliverJKravtizRKaplanSMeyersF. Individualized patient education and coaching to improve pain control among cancer outpatients. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19(8):2206-2212. doi:10.1200/JCO.2001.19.8.2206
12.
ShermanRPPetersenRGuarinoAJCrockerJB. Primary care–based health coaching intervention for weight loss in overweight/obese adults: A 2-year experience. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2019;13(4):405-413. doi:10.1177/1559827617715218
13.
SimpsonVPedigoL. Nurse and physician involvement in health risk appraisals: An integrative review. West J Nurs Res. 2017;39(6):803-824. doi:10.1177/0193945916660341
14.
ClarkeJLBournSSkoufalosABeckEHCastilloDJ. An innovative approach to health care delivery for patients with chronic conditions. Popul Health Manag. 2017;20(1):23-30. doi:10.1089/pop.2016.0076
15.
McDonaldHPGargAXHaynesRB. Interventions to enhance patient adherence to medication Prescriptions. 24th ed. JAMA; 2002:289, 2868-2879.
16.
JordanMLivingstoneJB. Coaching vs psychotherapy in health and wellness: Overlap, dissimilarities, and the potential for collaboration. Glob Adv Health Med. 2013;2(4):20-27. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2013.036
17.
FifeSTWhitingJBBradfordKDavisS. The therapeutic pyramid: A common factors synthesis of techniques, alliance, and way of being. J Marital Fam Ther. 2014;40(1):20-33. doi:10.1111/jmft.12041
18.
AckermanSJHilsenrothMJ. A review of therapist characteristics and techniques positively impacting the therapeutic alliance. Clin Psychol Rev. 2003;23(1):1-33. doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(02)00146-0
19.
FratesEPBonnetJ. Collaboration and negotiation: the key to therapeutic lifestyle change. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016;10(5):302-312. doi:10.1177/1559827616638013
20.
BischofGBischofARumpfHJ. Motivational interviewing: an evidence-based approach for use in medical practice. Dtsch Ärztebl Int. 2021;2:1. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0014
21.
HashemzadehMRahimiAZare-FarashbandiFAlavi-NaeiniADaeiA. Transtheoretical model of health behavioral change: a systematic review. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2019;24(2):83. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_94_17
Holt-LunstadJ. Why social relationships are important for physical health: A systems approach to understanding and modifying risk and protection. Annu Rev Psychol. 2018;69(1):437-458. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-122216-011902
24.
SeligmanMEPCsikszentmihalyiM. Positive psychology: An introduction. Am Psychol. 2000;55(1):5-14. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5
25.
ThomDHWolfJGardnerH, et al.A qualitative study of how health coaches support patients in making health-related decisions and behavioral changes. Ann Fam Med. 2016;14(6):509-516. doi:10.1370/afm.1988
26.
IslamNSZanowiakJMWyattLC, et al.A randomized-controlled, pilot intervention on diabetes prevention and healthy lifestyles in the New York city Korean community. J Community Health. 2013;38(6):1030-1041. doi:10.1007/s10900-013-9711-z
27.
KatigbakCVan DevanterNIslamNTrinh-ShevrinC. Partners in health: A conceptual framework for the role of community health workers in facilitating patients’ adoption of healthy behaviors. Am J Publ Health. 2015;105(5):872-880. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302411
28.
RoterDLHallJA. Physician gender and patient-centered communication: A critical review of empirical research. Annu Rev Publ Health. 2004;25:497-519.
29.
ParryCKramerHMColemanEA. A Qualitative exploration of a patient-centered coaching intervention to improve care transitions in chronically ill older adults. Home Health Care Serv Q. 2006;25(3-4):39-53. doi:10.1300/J027v25n03_03
30.
FredricksonBL. The role of positive emotions in positive Psychology. 3rd ed. Am Psychol.2011:56, 218-226.
31.
HillSEMWardWLSeayABuzenskiJ. The nature and evolution of the mentoring relationship in academic health centers. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2022;29(3):557-569. doi:10.1007/s10880-022-09893-6
