31B. Health Coaching: Empowering Patients for Behavior Change

Focus Area: Supporting Behavioral Change Up to half of all premature deaths in the United States are caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices (smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity). The seven “modifiable” chronic diseases (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary conditions, and mental disorders) cost $270 billion annually to treat. Patients who are trying to make lifestyle changes often feel overwhelmed and discouraged. As a result, admonishment and education alone are ineffective for most patients. Integrative healthcare providers want to help but may lack the skills to empower patients for healthy behavior change. This workshop will describe the skills of integrative health coaching. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice some of these skills so that they can apply them in their own healthcare setting.