3 Unexpected Challenges Wellness Coaches Face and How to Overcome Them
Wellness coaching is a rewarding yet challenging field that requires constant adaptation and growth. This article delves into unexpected hurdles faced by wellness coaches, offering practical solutions backed by expert insights. From reframing perspectives on food to empowering self-care and fostering vulnerability, discover how to navigate these challenges and enhance your coaching practice.
- Food as Solution Not Problem
- Empowering Women to Prioritize Self-Care
- Embracing Vulnerability Fosters Deeper Connections
Food as Solution Not Problem
Reframing the Role of Food in the Wellness Journey
One unexpected challenge I've faced is helping women understand that food isn't the problem—it's part of the solution. Many arrive thinking that if they just "fix the food," everything else—body image, self-worth, emotions—will fall into place.
But emotional and binge eating go much deeper than what's on the plate. That's why I work holistically, supporting women in healing not just their relationship with food, but also their emotional well-being, nervous system regulation, and physical health. The goal is not just to stop the binge-restrict cycle, but to build a life that feels grounded, nourishing, and free.
Early in my practice, I tried to shift mindsets with logic alone. But I've learned that deep-rooted beliefs don't change through rules—they change through connection.
Now, I lead with safety and storytelling. I share my own 18-year journey through bulimia and how true healing only began when I stopped fighting food and started building a respectful, compassionate relationship with it. That's when clients start listening in a new way—with openness and hope.
Through loving education and individualized support, women are guided to see that food is not the enemy. It's a biological and emotional need—and when it's met with consistency and care, the chaos starts to settle.
The real shift happens when food is no longer a source of shame or fear, but a tool for healing. That's when their wellness journey truly begins. <3
Empowering Women to Prioritize Self-Care
One of the most surprising challenges I've come up against as a wellness coach is helping high-achieving women in the sandwich generation see that they deserve to be on their own priority list.
They're taking care of everyone -- parents, kids, careers -- but ignoring their own needs. I've worked with women who are beyond depleted, running on fumes, and still feel guilty for doing something as simple as making themselves a real meal. That's when I realized: they don't just need nutrition advice. They need PERMISSION.
That's what led me to create HEAL THRU FOOD™ -- a community where women can stop white-knuckling it alone and start taking care of themselves in a way that actually feels good. It's not about eating less... it's about nourishing more. No fads, no quick fixes -- just real food, real support, and a circle of amazing women on the same path.
What I've learned is this: you can't pour from an empty cup—but you also can't refill it on your own. Once women start giving themselves permission to be somewhere on the list (not even at the top), everything starts to shift. https://www.healthrufood.com
Embracing Vulnerability Fosters Deeper Connections
At first, I found it hard to confront my own vulnerability while helping others do the same. As men, we're often taught to hide our struggles, and even as a coach, I initially felt I had to be "perfect" to support others. But through embracing authenticity — sharing my journey with bullying, family challenges, and healing through therapy — I realized that showing up as my true self is what creates real, lasting change. Now, I lean into this openness and honesty every day, knowing it's what fosters the deepest connections and helps others heal, too.
