The time has come to recognise that we need to tread humbly on the earth.
The origin of Unity Health Coaching.
EARLY EXPERIENCES
After working for over 20 years in the charity sector delivering and developing training, health education and employment programmes it was very obvious that community health challenges were extensive and persistent. Even though many health conditions were connected to lifestyle it did not seem that mainstream medicine was placing a high priority on lifestyle interventions to prevent and treat disease
THE NEED FOR CHANGE
I was becoming increasingly interested in our inherent capacity to self-heal, if the conditions are right. I then decided to train with the worlds largest health coaching school IIN to learn about the latest health and wellbeing research and treatments. Meeting with so many like minded people who wanted to see a much more holistic approach to health care was both reassuring and inspiring. The next challenge was to put that knowledge into practice within the community.
FIRST STEPS
I started working with a charity working within the inner-city to develop and run a pilot health and wellbeing support programme for those with Type 2 Diabetes. Even though we were new to this work participants on the programme were very pleased with the health improvements they were able to make. , I undertook research into GP health and wellbeing prescribing practices. This demonstrated that a better way forward was possible.
SEEKING MORE SYSTEMATIC CHANGE
An opportunity then arose to become a Community Researcher with the University of Birmingham. This enabled me to start to explore what changes needed to be made in the health care system that could improve health outcomes for patients. I undertook research into GP health and wellbeing prescribing practices within Birmingham and evaluated some pilot health and wellbeing support programmes for those with Type 2 Diabetes. Overall the predominant model for treating chronic lifestyle related diseases is still the medical one although there did appear a growing awareness amongst family doctors of the value of health coaching
NEXT STEPS
The mission of Unity Health Coaching is to improve community health , particularly in those communities with the greatest health inequalities. This is being achieved through working in partnership health professionals, offering affordable health coaching services and community health education projects
QUALIFICATIONS
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Certified International Health Coach.
MA in Organisational Psychology
Diploma in Public Service Leadership
PGCE Social Science
BA Psychology
Community Researcher
HE Certificate Quality Management Systems for Non Profit Organisations