Reconnect with your body
How health coaching supports energy, digestion, mood and more
by Lauren Hellicar
Is this you? You’re not exactly sick, but you’re not as well as you could be, either. You’re tired more often than you’d like to admit, your digestion is unpredictable, your clothes don’t feel as good as they used to. In fact, your body just doesn’t feel like ‘yours’ anymore. You might feel like you’re doing all the right things, but nothing’s really working. Maybe you’ve tried cutting back on sugar, getting more sleep, or fitting in the odd yoga class – but nothing seems to stick. It can be so frustrating when there are no clear answers. If this sounds familiar, health coaching could be the support you need to reconnect with what your body is trying to tell you.
What is health coaching?
Health coaching is a collaborative process that helps you improve your health in a sustainable, step-by-step way. It’s not therapy, a diet or personal training. Instead, it offers a space to explore your health goals with personalised guidance, support and accountability.
A health coach helps you:
● Listen to your body’s messages
● Understand your habits, triggers and unmet needs
● Make changes that feel supportive – not restrictive or overwhelming
It’s about meeting you where you are, and helping you move towards where you want to be – with clarity and confidence.
Why coaching helps when you just feel ‘off’
Vague, lingering symptoms like bloating, low energy, irritability or stubborn weight are often seen as just part of life – something to push through or ignore. But they’re often signals that something is out of balance. Perhaps you’ve tried multiple diets or wellness plans that didn’t last. Or maybe you’re stuckin a cycle of second-guessing what your body needs. Either way, it can leave you feeling discouraged or disconnected. Health coaching helps you slow down, spot patterns and gently explore the root causes of your symptoms – from nutrition and sleep, to stress, boundaries and mindset. A coach bridges the gap between your intentions and your actions, with tools and structure that are tailored to your unique life.
How a health coach can support you
Depending on your needs, your coach may support you to:
● Identify foods that energise (and those that drain)
● Tune in to your digestion and mood
● Rebuild a caring relationship with your body
● Navigate emotional eating or mindless snacking
● Support consistent energy through food, rest, movement and boundaries
Sessions often include practical coaching tools to:
● Create a motivating vision for your health and wellbeing
● Explore what’s holding you back
● Swap unhelpful habits for nourishing ones
● Set weekly goals that feel realistic – not overwhelming
Some sessions might involve structured tools; others may focus more on open conversation. It’s a flexible process, built around what you need most on the day.
A real-life example
Anna*, a woman in her 50s, had simply gotten used to afternoon energy slumps, irritability, and feeling bloated after meals. She’d accepted these symptoms as normal. Through eight weeks of health coaching, Anna made small but powerful shifts in how she nourished herself. She began carving out time for lunch each day and enjoying her break without guilt. She also started allowing herself breathing space on a weekly basis – both physically and emotionally. As a side benefit, even a long-standing skin issue cleared up. For Anna, coaching wasn’t about being “perfect” – it was about getting curious, tuning in, and making consistent, manageable changes that made a real difference.
* Name changed for anonymity
What to expect from a coaching programme
Coaching typically involves weekly or fortnightly sessions, either online or in person. Some coaches offer hybrid options – for example, starting with a face-to-face session to help build trust and ease, followed by sessions over video call. Each session is confidential and focused entirely on you. You’ll explore what’s going well, what you’d like to change, and what’s getting in the way. Before each session ends, you’ll set a small, actionable step to work on – something that feels doable, not daunting. The changes you make through coaching tend to stick because they come from within you, not from someone else’s checklist. When the initial programme ends, many coaches offer the option of fortnightly or monthly maintenance sessions to help you stay on track.
How to find the right coach for you
Here are three things to look for:
1. Someone who listens first, advises later. Health coaching isn’t about being told what to do. A good coach will help you explore yourown motivations and support you in making decisions that feel aligned and realistic.
2. Relevant training. Health coaching is a growing field, and qualifications vary. The most comprehensive training (such as the Level 5 Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching) usually takes about a year to complete. You can find a list of UKIHCA-accredited training providers at ukihca.com.
3. A good connection. Feeling comfortable and safe with your coach is what matters most. If your potential coach offers a complimentary introductory session, use it to see whether you feel understood and supported. Your gut feeling here matters more than finding the “perfect” credentials.
Before you go – you’re not imagining it
Whether or not you’ve received a diagnosis, the discomfort you’re feeling is real – and you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Health coaching doesn’t offer quick fixes. What it does offer is personalised, practical support to help you reconnect with your body, uncover what’s holding you back, and take meaningful steps towards feeling like yourself again.
Want to get started?
Email me at laurenhellicar@gmail.com to book your complimentary 40-minute Health & Wellness Review.
Want to learn more first? Visit laurenhellicarhealthcoach.com for details of my 4, 8 and 12 week coaching programmes – which include the option to have the first session of your programme in person at The Open Door.
Sign up to my newsletter – laurenhellicarhealthcoach.com/email-sign-up – for tips, recipes and talking points to support you in feeling genuinely comfortable in your own skin.