Coaching for health and lifestyle change: Theory and guidelines for interacting and reflecting with women about their challenges and aspirations

Abstract

Coaching is increasingly applied throughout life and work domains as a relatively new way to support the learning and development of individuals and groups. In a research project group coaching was applied and explored with menopausal women (45 to 55 years of age). The goal of the research project was to support women in their attempts to remain physically active and to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The main objective of this article is to take a close look at the best way to achieve this – not by telling the women what to do or by pushing them towards specific goals, but by inviting them into a space of common reflection and joint action. In that sense, the interaction (not intervention) will take its point of departure in a broad, collaboratively inspired approach that is broader in focus than widespread interventions, which are often exclusively based on motivational interviewing. The goal of this article is to present a theoretical basis and practice guidelines for a series of group coaching dialogues and to serve as an inspiration for the further development of the reader’s own practice.