The Radical Health Coaching Process
A good doctor is a teacher, healer, and coach. He has an understanding of where health comes from, what makes us sick, what we can do to get well, and what we must do to stay well for decades to come.
I have the opportunity to work with practice members within the walls of my office, but I also work with clients from all over the Country, and have the potential, with new technology, to coach people anywhere on the planet.
Partnering with the Institute for Motivational Living, we have created a unique lifestyle coaching program called the Radical Life Plan. Any company, team, or organization worth it’s weight in salt has a strategy or game plan that governs everything it does. We know that the same principles that cause a highly functional and successful organization, can and should be used by individuals and families to enjoy the highest quality life experience.
Why Radical?
Typically, when one thinks of the term radical, they envision something or someone who is an extremist, a rogue, a rebel, or that which goes against the norm or the grain. That is one expression of the word radical, but radical comes from a Latin word, radicalis, which means to be rooted in, going to the root of, the basis for, the foundations of.
We chose the word radical for our teaching and coaching model because A) we want to help our people to create a very deliberate plan and strategy for achieving a very strong foundation for all aspects of health. We want our people to be rooted and grounded in principles, and B) Most people don’t have a plan, or clearly defined philosophy for why they do what they do, and they become a puppet to whims, cravings, and addictions. Proverbs 29:18 tells us “Without a vision, the people perish.” The Radical Life Plan utilizes the same steps and strategies of highly productive and effective organizations to deliberately produce a healthy life.
The Process:
The first thing we do when we work with a client is to have them fill out 2 evaluations prepared by IML, the DISC Personality System Analysis, and the Stress Evaluation Profile. Together, these evaluations give us foundational information about who we are, how we are wired, our gifts, talents, fears, communication styles; and information about how overall stress levels are affecting us physically, emotionally, and socially (the three aspects of health.)
The second thing we do is to help our client to identify their unique needs. We help them to identify their most pressing issues and ask the question, “where am I, and where do I want to be?” Perhaps there is a serious issue with weight, anxiety, addiction, or finances. Perhaps there is a relationship problem that must be dealt with. We begin the process with a needs assessment that makes clear to both coach and client what must be done.
The third step in the process is to develop the strategic plan. We begin by answering the questions, “who am I, and what is my purpose in life?” We write a Purpose Statement. From the Purpose Statement, we write a Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Values Statement, and Goals. These are important statements and will be declared and decreed on a daily basis. They are dynamic, meaning they are subject to change as we grow, but they will serve to define who we are and what we do every minute of the day. Our statements and goals serve as our compass, map, or game plan for achieving our ultimate destination of complete health.
The fourth step is when we work hard to create and modify our lives to come in line with our statements and goals. This is where we become very deliberate in how we use our time, how we exercise, what we eat, what we think, how we deal with stress and stressors, who we hang out with, and every other aspect of our being. We constantly ask the question, “Is what I’m doing, eating, or thinking bringing me closer to, or further from my goal of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing?” This is the where we become very creative in designing strategies, and developing relationships with others who can help us to implement and support these strategies.
I used to think being radical was a bad thing. Today, I understand that it’s not only a good thing, but it’s everything! I want to be a radical. I want to help others to become radicals. My passion as a Health Coach is to help my people to create their own, deliberate, Radical Life Plan.
- Posted in: Health Coaching ♦ Life Plan