My journey to becoming a Health Coach

If you'd asked me a few years ago what I wanted to do with my life, my answer would have been simple: I just wanted a job where I could help people.

My first "real" job was at Victim Support, and from there I went on to work in housing support, safeguarding, and prisons. I spent over seven years supporting people through some incredibly difficult times. Although I loved the purpose behind the work, I always felt like I was searching for somewhere that felt right. Somewhere that aligned with my values, challenged me in the right ways and, importantly, felt psychologically safe.

Looking back, I think my interest in health actually started long before I became a Health Coach.

When I was 25, my dad died at the age of 52 after years of alcohol misuse and the impact it had on his health. Then, around 18 months later, my aunt - his sister - also died suddenly from a heart attack at a similar age.

Losing two family members so young really shook me. It was the first time I stopped and thought: health isn't something we can take for granted.

It made me think differently about the choices I was making and the way I was looking after myself. I became much more interested in nutrition, movement, and the small things we can do every day to support our long-term health. At the time, I had no idea that those interests would eventually lead me to health coaching.

For a long time, I thought the answer was simply finding the right job. But no matter where I went, I kept ending up in the same place: burnt out.

The last time was particularly difficult. I ended up taking three months off work because I had nothing left to give. During that time, I questioned everything. Did I even want to work in this field anymore? Had I chosen the wrong career?

Around that time, I was offered what I thought would have been my dream job as a Recovery Navigator in a prison. On paper, it was exactly what I'd been working towards.

But I turned it down.

That was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. I knew I wasn't in the right place mentally, and I couldn't support other people in the way they deserved when I was struggling so much myself. If I'm honest, it would have been unfair to both me and the people I'd have been working with.

So instead, I took a step back.

I accepted a role away from frontline work. While it wasn't the long-term career I wanted, it gave me something I'd been missing for a long time: the chance to stop and ask myself... What do I actually want my life to look like? Not just my career, but my life.

I realised I'd spent years hoping I'd eventually stumble across the perfect job. Instead, I started wondering whether I could create it myself. I began searching for courses where I could leave with a practical skill and eventually build my own business.

Looking back now, I think I was coaching myself before I even knew what coaching was. I had a vision of the life I wanted and how I wanted to feel. I broke it down into small, manageable steps. I adjusted my plan when things changed. And, little by little, I started moving towards it.

Then I discovered health coaching.

It felt like everything I'd been looking for came together. I could still support people, but in a way that focused on prevention as well as recovery. I could help people understand themselves better, build healthier habits, and make changes that actually fit their lives.

Most importantly, I realised something that has shaped the way I coach today: You can't pour from an empty cup.

For years, I was so focused on looking after everyone else that I forgot to look after myself. Now, I help other people to prioritise themselves and their health

again.

Ready to start putting yourself first?

Let’s chat about how we can create a healthy lifestyle that actually works for you. Book your free discovery call below:

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