The Power of a Coach-First Approach in Health Coaching
By Cliff Harvey PhD, DipFit, DipNat, MNHMHNZ, AccSpNut, FCNA
Discovering Synthesis in Health Coaching
When I reflect on my journey in the health coaching world, one word continues to come to mind: synthesis.
Synthesis, in this context, is the integration of various skills and knowledge into a single practice or framework. For me, it was health coaching skills that created this synthesis and elevated my practice.
A Circuitous Path to Coaching
I came to health coaching by a circuitous route. Initially, I was dismissive of health coaching because the “health coaches” I saw in the market were underqualified practitioners engaged in, at best, incomplete and, at worst, potentially dangerous health practices.
It wasn’t until my good friend and colleague Michelle Yandle enlightened me to the reality that these people weren’t, in fact, health coaches … that my eyes were opened.
A Turning Point in Practice
I went on to study health coaching in patient care and realised that health coaching embodied core skills essential to practice—many of which I was already using. Perhaps, by virtue of that, I was “accidentally” a good practitioner!
More importantly, this coach-first approach provided a synthesis of client-centred care within which I could integrate the various aspects of my education, experience, and the clinical tools from my qualified and registered scopes of practice.
Teaching the Next Generation
This synthesis was mirrored when we began delivering health coaching education at the Holistic Performance Institute. Many of our members, when first told they would need to attend live health coaching practicums, agreed to do so “to get the qualification.”
But upon finishing, we consistently heard something quite different. Our students told us that studying health coaching wasn’t merely useful but fundamentally life-changing—both professionally and personally. These experiences highlighted the true benefits of health coaching: growth that extends beyond the clinic and into everyday life.
The Power of Intrinsic Motivation
As a businessperson, and someone who has been called upon to lead in sport and in my industries, I have been fascinated by what motivates people and drives positive actions.
Unsurprisingly, it isn’t the extrinsic drivers of money, fame, punishments, or treats. Instead, the best (and most sustainable) drivers of motivation are intrinsic ones—personal values and passions that inspire long-term, meaningful action. The motivations speak from, and to, our ethos and highest values.
As a practitioner, the evidence is clear that this idea translates almost exactly to efficacy in practice. In other words, when people are driven by extrinsic motivations like – what people will think of them, a number on a scale, or a punishment or reward, they will be less likely to succeed. However, if the goals are aligned with intrinsic motivators like their ‘WHY’, and all of the things that make up their ideal life of passion and purpose they have greater success in changing their behaviours or beliefs.
This connection between intrinsic motivation and coaching is central to why the coach-first approach is so effective in practice.
A Coach-Approach in Parenting
Similarly, as a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how a coach-approach—especially fostering self-efficacy and autonomy—leads to remarkable personal growth.
Research shows that self-empowerment, self-efficacy, autonomy, and being true to one’s own values not only result in better learning, but also lead to better health and happiness outcomes in the longer term for our kids.
The Universality of Health Coaching Skills
In both evidence and practice, we see the profound benefits of a coach-first approach flowing into every part of life. At their heart, health coaching skills are human skills—skills that enable us to connect more deeply, support growth, and create lasting change.
Whether as business people, parents, partners, friends, teammates, or practitioners, embracing these skills helps us not only to guide others but also to live with greater purpose and authenticity ourselves.
To learn more about approved training programs, visit HCANZA’s directory
To find a coach https://hcanza.org/find-a-coach/
About the Author:
Dr Cliff Harvey PhD, DipFit, DipNat, MNHMHNZ, AccSpNut, FCNA, is a registered clinical nutritionist & accredited sports nutritionist, strength coach, researcher, and lecturer. He is the founder of the Holistic Performance Institute, a private tertiary college that trains registered health coaches, accredited sports nutritionists, and registered clinical nutritionists. Cliff is the CEO of the Association of Accredited Clinical Nutritionists, a board member of the Sports Nutrition Association and the Health Coaches Association of New Zealand & Australia, and a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honour Society.
