What Does a Health Coach Actually Do?

If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “So what does a health coach actually do?”, you’re not alone.
It’s a question I get asked all the time.

And it's a great one because with so many health professionals out there (nutritionists, personal trainers, naturopaths, psychologists), it’s easy to assume a health coach just ticks another box in the wellness world. But the truth is, health coaching fills a very different gap. And in many cases, it’s the missing piece people have been looking for.

What Is a Health Coach, Really? A Bridge Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be

If you're feeling stuck, tired, overwhelmed, burnt out and like you're not showing up for yourself the way you want to, you're not alone.

In conversations with women navigating midlife, I often say:
"Let me see if I understand you. What I’m hearing is that you want to move away from [insert your struggle here] and feel more [insert your desired outcome]. Does that sound right?"

You might want more energy. More balance. More calm. More confidence.
But right now, you're on one side of a river, and all of that is on the other side. And in between? That river is filled with everything that’s been getting in your way.

You might even recognise some of these:

• “I know what I should be doing, I just don’t do it.”

• “I’ve tried so many things before and nothing has stuck.”

• “I feel like it’s all or nothing. If I can’t do it perfectly, why bother?”

• “Self-care feels like a luxury, not a necessity.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the good news: there is a way to get across that river. And it doesn’t have to be hard, rigid, or overwhelming.

Crossing the River: What Makes Change Actually Stick

Through my own experience and the hundreds of women I’ve supported, I’ve seen that lasting change happens when you have three key ingredients. I call them the three legs of a stool.

Take one away, and the stool topples.

1. The Right System

This means taking the right steps, in the right order. Not trying to change everything all at once. Not jumping to the next “quick fix.” But having a clear roadmap that’s simple, flexible, and fits your real life.

2. The Right Support

You don’t need someone to shout at you to "try harder." You need someone who sees your potential, reminds you of what matters helps you to keep exploring options until you find what works and to help you reconnect with yourself when life gets busy.

3. The Right Accountability

Let’s be honest, most of us know what to do. But we fall into old patterns, default to all-or-nothing thinking, or forget to prioritise ourselves. That’s why gentle accountability is powerful. It’s not about pressure, it’s about someone holding space for the version of you that you’re working towards.

At its core, health coaching is about helping you bridge the gap between what you know you should be doing and what you’re actually doing. It’s about clarity, support and accountability so you can take real, sustainable action, without burning out or trying to overhaul your life overnight.

Unlike a nutritionist who focuses mainly on food, or a personal trainer who guides your workouts, a health coach looks at the whole picture: your nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, self-care. All of it.

But here’s the thing: I don’t just throw a plan at you and say, “off you go.” A coach is there to support you along the way, to celebrate your wins and to help you navigate challenges that come up along the way when things don’t go as planned.

What a Health Coach Really Does

A coach isn’t here to give you another list of rules or make you feel bad about what you’re not doing. That’s not helpful and you’ve probably already tried that.

Instead, I’m here to help you:

• Get clear on what really matters to you

• Reconnect with your vision of how you want to feel and live

• Identify what’s getting in the way (and why)

• Create small, meaningful steps forward that feel doable

• Build momentum, even when motivation fades

• Keep going when life throws curveballs

One of my clients recently said:

“I’d tried so many programs before but always fell off track. Working with you made it feel manageable again and more importantly, like I wasn’t failing if I tried something that didn’t work and needed to reset. Now I feel like I’m finally back in the driver’s seat.”

That’s the magic. Not perfection. Just progress that feels aligned and sustainable.

What Makes My Approach Different

Before we talk about food or fitness, we talk about you.

We begin by creating a clear vision for your future: what you want your life to feel like, how you want to show up, and what wellbeing truly means to you. Because when you start with a strong why, the habits that follow have a purpose. You’re no longer just ticking boxes, you’re building a lifestyle that feels aligned and energising.

From there, we look at the five key pillars of health, because they’re all connected:

1. Nutrition

1. Movement and Exercise

1. Sleep

1. Managing Stress

1. Self-Care

You can’t improve your energy if you’re running on five hours of sleep. It’s hard to eat well when you’re stressed and always in a rush. And trying to build a workout habit when you’re already exhausted? That’s a quick path to giving up.

That’s why real change rarely happens by fixing one thing in isolation.
It happens when you look at the whole picture.

But here’s what truly sets my coaching apart:

1. We Start With Your Vision

Before we jump into goals or action steps, we start with where you want to go. I’ll often say to clients: "We plan for our careers, our finances, our holidays, but how often do we sit down and actually plan for our health?"

Most people don’t, because they’re just trying to get through the day.

My role is to help you zoom out, pause the busyness and really think about the direction your current lifestyle is taking you. We explore what your version of a healthy, energised life looks like, and why it matters. This becomes our anchor: your motivation, your compass, your “why.”

When you’re clear on your vision, healthy habits stop feeling like another task on your to-do list. They become the building blocks of the life you want to live.

Then we work backwards, from your vision for how you want to feel, function, and thrive, to the small, practical actions that will get you there.

2. We Build the Mindset That Supports Your Goals

So many people start off strong. They’re motivated and ready for change, only to hit a wall when the inner critic shows up:

“You won’t stick to this.”
“This is too hard.”
“You’ve tried before and it didn’t work.”

Because change isn’t just about doing more, it’s about thinking differently.

As Einstein said: “You can't solve a problem with the same thinking that created it.”

If you want different results, you need a different mindset.

That inner critic can completely derail progress and it’s one of the biggest reasons change doesn’t last. That’s why mindset support is a core part of what I do. We focus on building a mindset that supports the lifestyle you want, not sabotages it. We work on building self-trust, breaking all-or-nothing patterns, and developing a mindset rooted in self-compassion and progress not perfection.

3. We Focus on Habits That Work for Your Unique Lifestyle

Lasting change doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from doing what matters. We build habits that align with your energy, your lifestyle, and your priorities, so they’re sustainable not stressful.

Because knowing what to do isn’t the problem. Doing it consistently is.

That’s why my approach is always integrated, practical and tailored to real life and most importantly, your unique lifestyle.

Real Talk: What Happens When You Work With Me?

Let’s break down what actually happens if you decide to explore health coaching with me.

Step 1: A Free 15-Minute Chat

We start with a free discovery call, a relaxed 15-minute chat to talk about your health goals, your current challenges and whether my coaching approach is right for you. It’s a chance for both of us to see if we’re a good fit. If not, I’ll happily recommend someone else in my trusted network.

Step 2: Discovery & Strategy Session

If we decide to take it a step further, we book a free Discovery & Strategy Session, where we dive deeper into what’s holding you back, clarify the outcomes you’re hoping for, and outline some possible next steps. This is where we co-create a pathway forward.

Step 3: Choose the Right Option for You

You may be best suited to:

• 1:1 coaching sessions (personalised, flexible, in-depth), or

• A guided wellbeing program (self-paced with expert support)

We’ll decide together based on your lifestyle, needs and level of support required.

Step 4: Personalised Support

If you choose 1:1 coaching, here’s what you can expect:

• 6-12 weekly sessions tailored to your goals

• Tools like meal ideas, recipes, checklists, journal prompts and habit trackers

• Practical strategies to help you take action, not just think about it

• Support between sessions (because life happens between Zoom calls)

And the best part? It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters.

Why It Works (When So Many Other Things Haven’t)

The truth is, many of my clients have already tried diets, fitness plans and wellness programs. But what they often say is this:

"I knew what to do, I just wasn’t doing it consistently."

"I felt like I was constantly starting over."

"I needed someone to walk with me, not lecture me."

Health coaching works because we build your plan, together.

We make it realistic, flexible, and supportive, so you can stop burning out trying to follow someone else’s idea of health and start creating a version that truly fits you.

A Client Story: From Surviving to Thriving

One of my clients, Sarah (not her real name), came to me feeling burnt out. She had tried multiple diets, struggled to stick with exercise, was barely sleeping, and felt like she was on autopilot every day.

In our sessions, we didn’t overhaul everything overnight. Instead, we started with one small win: creating a simple evening routine that allowed her to wind down. From there, we introduced better meals that suited her work schedule, explored her stress triggers, and created time in her week that was just for her. We found ways to incorporate exercise and movement into her day that worked for her schedule and what she enjoyed doing.

Six weeks later, her words were:

"I feel like I have my life back. It’s not perfect, but it feels manageable and I’m finally enjoying taking care of myself again."

That’s the power of coaching.

Curious Where to Begin?

If you’re wondering what area of your wellbeing most needs attention, I’ve created a simple free tool to help.

Take my free Wellbeing Quiz
In just a few minutes, you’ll get clarity on where you’re doing well and where you could use more support. No pressure, no judgment. Just insight.  Click here to give it a go.

And if it feels like coaching could be the bridge you’ve been looking for?
Let’s chat.

Book your free 15-minute call here

I’d love to help you cross that river one step at a time.