Approximately one in three working-aged people has a chronic illness and that number is expected to rise dramatically over the next decade. Because of this, more people are beginning to seek out chronic illness professionals to help them improve their lives.
People with unpredictable, invisible, long-lasting conditions often deal with similar issues - so getting professional help doesn't have to be disease-specific. In fact, within each disease, symptoms can manifest themselves in vastly different ways - meaning each person often has a unique mix of challenges and issues they have to deal with.
This is why the process of coaching works so well in helping people adjust to chronic illness. Coaching is a process that treats each person as a unique collection of values, strengths and conflicts. The client and the coach work towards an individual solution that is specific to that person.
Ground-breaking studies from Stanford University show that individuals using chronic illness coaches over a three year period showed significant health improvement, spent fewer days in the hospital and saved four dollars in various health costs for every dollar spent on coaching. In his new book, Creating Healthy Organizations, author Graham Lowe describes a similar program put in place by Dow Chemical, for their workers, which yielded a return on investment of eight dollars for every dollar spent.
Considering the significant return on investment that a chronic illness coach can bring, the next question becomes: Where do you find these coaches and what exactly do they do?
Chronic illness coaching Is still a young and growing field. If you know of someone who has used a C.I. coach and can recommend them, that's probably the best place to start. If you do not have a personal connection to anyone, the Internet can be helpful.
How do you find the right coach for you?
Coaching is inherently holistic, so most coaches will touch on topics like taking care of your health, and dealing with work, relationship and lifestyle issues. However, a chronic illness coach often has special skills in a particular area. Here is a quick run-down:
Health-oriented coaching
These coaches often come from nursing or occupational therapy backgrounds. Sometimes they work for a local hospital, employee assistance plan or health care organization. These coaches can sometimes be very disease-specific. For instance diabetes coaches can help with tips on when and how to monitor blood sugar, what to eat, etc.
Life-oriented coaching
There are some life coaches that specialize in helping people with chronic illness. Many of these coaches live with chronic illness themselves and some have therapy background. These practitioners can help their clients not only with their health, but also help develop coping skills to deal with the dramatic changes that a chronic illness often brings to a person's life. We live in a society that expects illness to be visible, predictable and treatable, so having an unpredictable and invisible chronic illness has a huge effect on how a person perceives themselves and relates to other people.
Since coaching often takes place over the phone, geography is not a barrier. The best place to look for these types of coaches is on the Internet.
Career-coaching and high-performance coaching
Dealing with demands of a workplace that does not understand or acknowledge the realities of chronic illness is a difficult challenge. Being able to tackle these sorts of issues is what sets the career or high-performance coach from the pack.
These elite coaches are often former professionals or managers who have succeeded in highly competitive industries despite their illnesses. Some coaches work with people in all types of jobs while others specialize.
The high-performance coach works with managers, executives and people in demanding industries such as journalism, law and medicine. These coaches still work holistically but with the understanding that their clients are highly-driven people who are looking for a life and career plan that is both rewarding and sustainable despite their illness.
Again, a web search is your best bet as these people coach clients by phone across North America and the World. These coaches often write or speak on chronic illness issues at conferences and organizations or in the media.
How is a coach different from a counselor or psychotherapist?
While coaching and psychotherapy do have some similarities, there are many important differences.
Rather than concentrating on defining issues that have occurred in the past, coaching is forward-thinking and goal-oriented. The coach helps the client identify their strengths and values and clearly define the challenges and obstacles ahead. The coach then helps the client deal with their challenges and move toward their larger goal.
Chronic illness is inherently challenging, so having a coach in your corner can provide you with the focus and the resources to make the most out of your situation.
Jason Reid is owner of Sick with Success, and a high-performance chronic illness coach. He also educates organizations about the challenges faced by those with invisible, chronic illness.
A former award-winning journalist, Jason Reid has battled Crohn's disease for most of his life. He also has experience managing employees challenged by cancer, arthritis, depression and other chronic diseases.
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