What is Coaching – And How Does It Help With Eating Disorders?
The reason I chose “Transcend Bulimia” for the title of my blog is exactly how I feel about coaching. Coaching changed my life because instead of being about someone forcing me to stop my eating disorder, it allowed me to create my life my way – allowing me to move beyond the eating disorder.
Rather than focusing on your eating behavior, coaching is about identifying how you want your life to be. As your coach, I work with you to take steps toward your ideal life – toward living your life, your way. Together, we identify action steps, allowing you to experiment with ways to create a life you’ll love. You learn what works for you and begin to craft a life aligned with your values and desires.
As a coach, I know you are a smart, capable, talented person. There are many reasons you many have chosen an eating disorder as a coping mechanism –digestive issues, food allergy, pressure, control — everyone comes to it a bit differently. This coping mechanism serves to put your mind & body at war. It’s possibly keeping you out of a life where you can truly be joyful (from the inside) and trust the process of life. It may panic you every now & then — about your health, others finding out, how you see yourself, etc. In any event, it is a source of anxiety or discomfort at times. That’s how it was for me.
Coaching is About Harnessing Your Power
You come to coaching because you want to recover and would like to walk the path with someone who understands and can be a guide, confidant and supporter. You come to coaching because you want ideas, to be challenged and to share your triumphs or struggles. You come to coaching because you know you can manage your life – and you just want someone to troubleshoot and strategize with. Coaching allows you to harness your power – to create the life you love, to heal, to recover.
For me, recovery is about loving your life and having radiant health — when that is your focus, it’s not about the eating disorder or whether you want to give it up. It’s about creating the life you want — once you get a taste of that, the eating disorder tends to fade more & more until it’s gone.
Taking Action
Coaching is about taking steps — they can be as small as you want them to be. It’s not about being forced to stop your behavior. Coaching is about you making the choices you want to make. I have no judgment about whether you decide to stop or not — I know no one could have “made” me stop.
Coaching can be done by e-mail or phone. It involves client & coach working together to look at the life you really want and how your mind is supporting you in achieving that. We work on developing awareness of how you use thoughts — and how you can harness the power of your already smart mind. Athletes use techniques like this to create better performance. I work with people from all walks of life – college students, homemakers and professionals — who want to change their lives to live their dreams. My work with people is practical & realistic, honors how you want to live your life — and creates amazing changes toward your ideal goals.
Typically the client sets a goal or goals, and the coach & client set up actions, strategies & plans to get there. The goals are challenging — and fun. Rather than the focus being heavy or depressing — coaching focuses on creating joy & positive experiences — while also honoring & understanding the struggles.
Just like at the Olympics, as your coach, I don’t perform the event – the athlete does – and I am there on the sidelines, listening, supporting, guiding & cheering you on.
With love,
Heather
For More Information on Eating Disorders Coaching, Visit My Website: Now Radiant Health
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