Health Coaching in Healthcare: A Coach’s Journey

From Curiosity to Coach of the Year: My Journey in Health Coaching

By Jessica Cairns, Health Coach, Nutritionist and Health & Happiness Advocate working at Melbourne Functional Medicine and the Award Winner HCANZA Coach of the Year in a Health Care Setting for 2025.

When I was awarded the HCANZA Health & Wellness Coach of the Year in a Healthcare Setting 2025, I felt proud – but also reflective.

The award represents more than individual recognition. It highlights something important: health coaching has a valuable and growing place within healthcare settings.

My path into health coaching came later in life. I spent over a decade working in the corporate travel industry before a life-changing trip abroad prompted me to reassess what I truly wanted from my career. Health has always been part of my identity. I grew up as a sporty child and was always interested in food and cooking. I decided to follow that interest and completed a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition.

Life shifted again as I focused on raising my young family. When I began emerging from the busy years of early motherhood, I found myself searching for meaningful work that combined my interests in nutrition, health and behaviour change. Health coaching felt like the perfect intersection of those passions.

My journey wasn’t perfectly planned. I moved from private coaching into an unexpected and incredible opportunity to coach within a clinical setting at Melbourne Functional Medicine. It grew from curiosity, practical experience, and a strong belief that behaviour change is often the key that enables someone to successfully implement a treatment plan.

How I Knew I Wanted to Become a Health Coach

I’ve always been interested in human behaviour. In my twenties, I experienced my own health challenges and had to learn how to implement change and create sustainable health outcomes.

Looking back, this was where the foundation for my future career was laid.

We live in an era of extraordinary access to health information. Most people understand what would improve their well-being, yet many struggle to follow through.

Through lived experience and professional exposure, I realised I was most energised by helping people translate recommendations into daily habits.

The Path That Brought Me Here

There was no single defining career move. Key milestones included:

• Completing a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition
• Undertaking formal health coaching training through Wellness Coaching Australia
• Establishing my own coaching business
• Transitioning into a clinical role within a functional medicine practice

I have now been working in a clinical setting for over five years. Working in this environment required understanding medical terminology, testing protocols and practitioner-led strategies, and helping patients integrate these in a realistic way.

Who I Work With – And Why

I primarily work with people managing chronic or ongoing health conditions, including autoimmune, digestive, skin, cardiometabolic, women’s and thyroid health. Many have tried multiple approaches and still feel stuck.

Health coaching provides space to prioritise, build consistency and strengthen self-trust. It is less about doing more and more about doing what matters well.

A Patient Moment That Stays With Me

One review from a patient stands out:

“Coming into the program, I was desperate to see some results but anxious/sceptical as everything else I had tried failed. My work with Rebecca, Jess and the team has been life-changing. I was suffering from very painful eczema and swelling on my face and body which was impacting my whole life, 99% of which has now cleared up (plus I’ve learnt how to manage symptoms/lifestyle to avoid flares). Very happy and couldn’t recommend more. Thank you MFM team.”

Patient experiences like this bring immense meaning to my work.

I remember how unsure this patient felt at the beginning of her journey. What made the difference was not just the treatment plan – it was her commitment to the process and her consistency in showing up for coaching. She committed to weekly actionable goals and gained insight into how her habits influenced her health outcomes.

Watching her progress over time was incredibly rewarding. Hearing her describe the process as life-changing was the icing on the cake.

Health coaching often works quietly. It builds self-trust, clarity and consistency over time. I have witnessed countless patient experiences where this steady, structured support has had the greatest impact.

What Makes Health Coaching Different

In healthcare settings, many professionals focus on diagnosis and treatment. Health coaching focuses on implementation.

It centres on:

• Behaviour change
• Accountability
• Self-efficacy
• Long-term sustainability

Health coaching does not replace clinical care – it enhances its effectiveness.

The Skill That Has Been Most Important

Collaboration and listening.

Many of our patients have been on long health journeys that have left them feeling unheard or disempowered. When patients feel heard without judgment, they become more open to change.

Creating a space where someone can explore obstacles, reflect honestly, and feel supported rather than judged is incredibly powerful. Asking thoughtful questions and allowing silence for reflection enables patients to generate their own ideas and solutions. That process builds empowerment and confidence far more effectively than simply telling someone what to do.

My Biggest Challenge

Early in my clinical role, I had to learn how to support patients in staying aligned with practitioner-led treatment plans while also allowing them autonomy over their own journey.

There is a delicate balance between being fully in “coaching mode” and recognising when education and clarification are needed to help someone move forward. Navigating this dance between practitioner-led strategy and meeting the patient where they are – advocating for what they are capable of in that moment – was an important skill to develop.

Learning to trust both the process and the patient was a significant professional shift.

What Excites Me About the Future

Integration.

Healthcare systems are recognising that advice alone doesn’t improve outcomes. Implementation does.

As chronic conditions continue to rise, structured behaviour change support becomes increasingly important.

Health coaching in healthcare settings isn’t a trend. It’s a necessary evolution.

I’m looking forward to seeing more coaches confidently step into this space.

Behaviour change is not peripheral to healthcare – it is central to it.

To learn more about approved training programs, visit HCANZA’s directory

To find a coach https://hcanza.org/find-a-coach/

About the Author

Jessica Cairns – Cert. 3 Wellness Coaching, Dip. Human Nutrition, HCANZA. 2025 Health & Wellness Coach of the Year in a Healthcare Setting award winner, HCANZA