Health Coach

What health coaching is (and isn’t)

As a Health Coach, I bring together years of experience as a Mental Health Nurse with a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology.

Health coaching sits where those two worlds meet: it takes the evidence-based science of what helps people flourish and applies it to the very real, very personal business of looking after your body.

I want to be upfront about what this is, and isn’t. I’m not able to diagnose, prescribe or treat a medical condition, and health coaching is never a substitute for medical care. What I can offer is dedicated, one-to-one support to help you take ownership of a health challenge, build habits that actually last, and feel less alone while you do it. If it becomes clear that a different kind of support, medical or therapeutic, would serve you better, I’ll say so and help you find the right place to go.

Who I work with

Taking care of our health has increasingly become something we’re expected to manage ourselves, and that can feel overwhelming when you’re navigating it alone, often while still trying to hold down a job, a family, or simply an ordinary week. I work with people managing a wide range of health challenges, including:

● Long Covid and its lingering effects on energy, concentration and daily life
● Weight loss, approached in a way that’s realistic and free of fad-diet thinking
● Nutrition, and finding an approach to food that genuinely fits your life
● Living well with chronic conditions
● Living well with chronic pain
● Adjusting to life after a major health diagnosis
● Living with cognitive impairment

How a programme works

Every programme starts with a careful, unhurried conversation about where you are and what you actually need, because no two people arrive at a health challenge the same way.

From there, we build a dedicated plan together, typically running over 6-8 weeks, with weekly one-to-one sessions, structured workbooks, so the work continues between our calls and not just during them.

This isn’t generic advice pulled from a template. My nursing background means I understand the clinical realities of what you’re dealing with, while my training in Positive Psychology means our sessions focus on your strengths, your values and what’s already working, rather than dwelling only on what’s going wrong. We look at motivation, resilience and the mindset shifts that make new habits stick, because willpower on its own rarely carries anyone through eight weeks of change.

My approach

Clients tell me I’m warm, straightforward and easy to be honest with, and I think that matters enormously here.

Health struggles are often tangled up with fear, frustration or grief, and I want our sessions to be a space where you can bring all of that, not just the practical side.

We’ll set goals that are genuinely yours, track what’s working, adjust what isn’t, and by the end you’ll have tools you can keep using long after our sessions finish.

Joanna Nodes health coach

Health coach FAQs

Is a health coach the same as a doctor or nutritionist?
No. A health and wellbeing coach does not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medication or replace advice from a doctor, registered nutritionist or other qualified healthcare professional. Instead, coaching focuses on helping you understand your goals, build healthier habits and make sustainable changes to support your overall wellbeing. Where specialist assessment or treatment is needed, you will be encouraged to speak with the appropriate healthcare professional.
Can a health coach help with Long Covid?
Yes. Health coaching can provide personalised support to help you manage the ongoing impact of Long Covid on your daily life. Your programme may explore areas such as pacing, rest, sleep, stress management, energy conservation, gentle activity and nutrition. The approach is adapted to your symptoms and circumstances, working alongside—not replacing—any medical care you receive.
How long does a health coaching programme last?
A typical health coaching programme lasts between six and eight weeks, with one session each week. This provides time to identify your priorities, introduce manageable changes and review your progress. Your programme will be tailored to your individual goals, needs and pace.

Book a discovery call

If you’re managing a health challenge and want support that treats you as a whole person rather than a diagnosis, I’d love to hear from you.

Book a free discovery call and let’s talk about whether we’re a good fit.

    Joanna Nodes
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