Group health coaching for the underserved: a case report^*

* A signed Consent Form and a signed Confidentiality Agreement for each participant are stored in a secure server file at the University of Minnesota, Center for Spirituality and Healing.

ABSTRACT

This case report features an integrative group health coaching (IGHC) experience that incorporates mind-body-skills exercises, goal setting and facilitated discussions to help group participants move forward in their sense of personal well-being. Four participants from a diverse, underserved population, completed the four weekly sessions at a student-led free health clinic. The facilitators applied their skills and knowledge in health and wellness coaching, and in psychology to lead this group. The pre- and post-group drawings assessment demonstrated that participants generally improved important aspects of their personal well-being. The participants broadened their perspectives, experienced self-efficacy, and generally improved their sense of well-being. This report outlines the process of conducting an IGHC programme for practitioners and may serve as a feasibility study for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Group coaching
• well-being
• underserved
• integrative health coaching
• wellbeing
• integrative group health coaching
• case report

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Cynthia Schultz, MA, LP, NBC-HWC, is a licensed psychologist and was a graduate student and faculty member at the University of Minnesota, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, Integrative health and Wellbeing coaching programme at the time the study was conducted. She serves on the board of the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (www.NBHWC.org) and is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. (www.seekinnerwisdom.com).

Claire Stuckey, MA, LPCC, NBC-HWC, is a licensed clinical counsellor and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach in private practice (www.clairestuckey.com); (www.linkedin.com/in/claire-stuckey-ma-lpcc-nbc-hwc-5994051a). Claire was a graduate faculty and student in the Integrative Health Coaching programme at the University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the time this feasibility study was conducted.

Karen Lawson, MD, ABIHM, NBC-HWC, is a physician, board-certified in integrative and holistic medicine, a past-president of the American Holistic Medical Association, and a founding Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine. She is the Director of Integrative Health Coaching at the UMN Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing. She is a founding board member of the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (www.NBHWC.org).

Notes

* A signed Consent Form and a signed Confidentiality Agreement for each participant are stored in a secure server file at the University of Minnesota, Center for Spirituality and Healing.