MLWT Wellness Facilitation
I believe that we must, first and foremost, become the experts in managing our own lives. There isn’t anyone outside our skin who can know us as well as we know ourselves.
Chances are you already have a support network offering resources to help you put together some health goals. You’ve done some of your own research and have the medical guidance to act as a foundation for what you need to do. Any source of education or behavior change creates a potential support ‘gap’ between knowing and doing, which is where many of us falter in our health goals. Not necessarily because we lack willpower, resources or motivation, but because we need a stronger connection created to what is “real” for us. Once you’re home, you begin your work and find that keeping the momentum or following through with your initial plans aren’t flowing like you had planned.
- Do you find it difficult to remember what you heard during your appointment?
- Do you start out with great intentions but find that things fall apart after a few days?
- Do you hear your support or health provider mention frustration because you aren’t able to follow through with your own self-management responsibilities?
Adhering to any program, especially those that require us to face uncertainty in how our lives are dependent on our health habits, comes with many complications that cannot be (or simply aren’t) addressed in-depth during our appointments. Barriers that occur are more likely due to basic concepts in learning and behavior change, and facilitation is a quick, easy process to gain some clarity on what you have on your plate. Maybe all you need is to have a chance to translate your plans and I do that by simply listening to you.
What is facilitation?
A facilitator’s role is to encourage exploration into finding themes, clarifying definitions and assists in coordinating the process of working towards a goal.
There is a wonderful thing that happens when we have to teach something to someone else: we learn more about ourselves. Facilitation is a short-term, neutral process to help participants identify and initiate their plans, based on what they already understand, toward achieving their objectives with more self-efficacy. My neutral role means I am not there to educate you – only to coordinate the conversation.
Wellness Facilitation builds from the goals and treatment plans that you decide on with your life/wellness health coach, physician, nutritionist, therapist/counselor, physical therapist or other integrative health professionals. Whether it is to explore what you already know or want to brainstorm and problem-solving barriers, these facilitation sessions are aimed to begin with a question or outcome and are designed to offer the answer and results by the end of our time together. These are dynamic dialogues that can offer you reassuring results when you see just how much you do know, that we frequently don’t take the time to consider or are so good at adapting that we don’t take notice of. The information shared by you is limited to general terms and no personal information is required during these sessions.
As a facilitator, I remain clear on the fact that I am not a health expert, therapist or educator. I act only as a translator during our conversation that helps to bridge where you are and where you want to go. I create the environment for you to take a look at your objectives and help organize your ‘notes’, while assisting you in reinforcing and strengthening your chances in reaching the outcomes you strive for. I am merely your muse or white-board. Any questions, topics or concerns that come up during sessions are then written out by you and taken to your next appointment with your physician, counselor, practitioner, coach or other wellness/health professional. By making any barriers more clear to you through these sessions, the information you take back with you will help make your appointments more productive and place you more confidently in your own care.
Group Wellness Facilitation is similar to individual sessions with more participants. I assist in focusing, clarifying, organizing and summarizing key objectives your group chooses to achieve. These sessions are often held during support groups, leader trainings, workshops and retreats. Session topics are chosen by the group and my role is to work with the group in creating a collective plan that will help strengthen their group wellness objectives or help clarify the individual strengths being brought into the development process. These are also great for strengthening connections with families or friends.
Think of me when you hit a wall or feel like you’re talking to one. My job is to listen as you educate me on where you want to go and what you want your wellness goals to be. I am here to help you get there.
There is a place between who you were and who you want to be ~ that place begins here.
