When someone feels bad physically, it’s a slippery slope to feeling bad mentally and emotionally. Being in a negative headspace while recovering from an injury or coping with a chronic illness only compounds the problem. That’s how potent the mind-body connection is, and a big reason why wellness coaching is such a beneficial component to occupational therapy.
While occupational therapy is well-known for helping patients with chronic ailments and impediments adapt to new physical limitations and ultimately improve their abilities, it’s probably less well-known how incorporating wellness coaching can optimize the entire process.
Take a person diagnosed with chronic arthritis. The arthritis will not likely ever fully go away, but through a combination of occupational therapy and wellness coaching, the patient can learn effective direct strategies for pain management as well as other indirect strategies for mindfulness, sleep hygiene, etc. that can bring about a more holistic overall improvement.
Stress, anxiety, and emotional strain can translate into physical pain, just as physical pain can trigger heightened stress or anxiety. When physical pain becomes a chronic, daily challenge, it’s all too easy for feelings of frustration, depression and anxiety to quickly ratchet up.
That’s why wellness coaching is so well suited for occupational therapy. While occupational therapy helps people regain, develop or master everyday skills, wellness coaching pulls in the other areas that support that process. By analyzing mental and behavioral wellbeing in addition to physical health, wellness coaching takes a more comprehensive approach that helps patients improve across multiple areas.
Diet, exercise and sleep changes work together to contribute toward a patient feeling better overall. Mindfulness practices help patients calm feelings of stress and anxiety, which can release physical tension.
When occupational therapists incorporate wellness coaching techniques into their practice, they empower patients to be more actively involved in their recovery and personal growth. Setting achievable goals and milestones not only gives patients a sense of progress, it’s an effective tool to keep them engaged and focused on becoming the best version of themselves.
The mind and body are integrated systems, each influencing and building on each other to create inner harmony. Damage to one system affects the other, and the same goes for positive impacts. That’s why the more personalized approach of wellness coaching works so beautifully with occupational therapy.
Ready to broaden your horizons? Learn more about becoming a certified wellness coach and how it can mutually benefit your occupational therapy practice and you.
