The Health Coach Show

When it comes to behaviour change, sometimes it feels like you are pushing a boulder uphill, only to have it roll back down again.

In this episode of The Health Coach Show, Sharon Curtain is joined by Michael Ayling, a specialist anaesthetist and lifestyle medicine practitioner who uses clinical hypnosis in his work.

Michael shares his journey from anaesthesia into lifestyle medicine, health coaching and clinical hypnosis, exploring how attention, perception, language, identity and reframing can influence behaviour change.

In this episode, we explore:

• What clinical hypnosis really is
• The connection between health coaching and hypnosis
• Reframing identity and behaviour
• Motivational interviewing and behaviour change
• Common myths about hypnosis
• How hypnosis can complement other approaches
• Clinical applications of hypnosis
• Professional boundaries and training

A different way of thinking about behaviour change

Michael shares his Sisyphus metaphor: sometimes we keep pushing the same boulder up the hill, only to have it roll back down again.

Rather than simply trying harder, perhaps we can find a different way around the obstacle.

Health coaching can help clients develop a vision, build hope, identify barriers and understand the thinking that may be holding them back. Clinical hypnosis may offer another way of working with those barriers.

Perhaps behaviour change isn't always about pushing the boulder harder. Sometimes it's about finding a different path.

About Michael Ayling

Michael Ayling is a specialist anaesthetist and lifestyle medicine practitioner who uses clinical hypnosis in his work. His interest in behaviour change developed through lifestyle medicine and health coaching, leading to further study in clinical hypnosis and its application across clinical practice.

Contact Michael:

Website: https://www.michaelayling.com.au/

Saje Multidisciplinary Mental Healthcare: https://www.saje.com.au/team/dr_michael_ayling

Disclaimer

The information shared on The Health Coach Show is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical or professional advice.

The views shared by hosts and guests are general in nature and may not be suitable for your circumstances. They are not a substitute for consultation with a qualified health professional.

Please speak with your doctor or another appropriately qualified health professional about your individual health concerns, symptoms, medications or treatment. In an emergency, seek urgent medical attention.

Information and evidence may change over time. While the hosts and guests aim to share accurate and evidence-informed information, no guarantee is made that all information is complete, current or applicable to every individual.

The Health Coach Show with Sharon Curtain

What happens when people living with chronic conditions know what they should do but still struggle to implement these health recommendations into everyday life?

In this episode of The Health Coach Show, Sharon Curtain is joined by Caitlyn Toomey, a health coach working with EACH in Melbourne, to explore the role health coaching can play in chronic disease management.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What health coaching looks like in chronic disease care and how it complements the clinical role of nurses and other health professionals.
• Why the gap for many people isn't a lack of knowledge - it's figuring out how to implement health recommendations into everyday life.
• How health coaches can help people work through the complex combination of physical, social and environmental barriers that can keep them stuck.
• The importance of meeting people where they're at rather than expecting them to make dramatic changes.
• Why small, achievable steps can build confidence and create a "domino effect" of positive changes.
• How listening - including being comfortable with silence - can help clients explore their own thoughts and identify what is really important to them.
• Moving from telling clients what they should work on to asking what is important to them and what they want to work on.
• How health coaching can provide a bridge between the different professionals involved in someone's care.
• What changed for Caitlyn after completing formal health coach training.
• The difference between being client-centred in intention and having the practical skills to genuinely empower a client.
• Why health coaching can help people move from feeling overwhelmed and passive to feeling more confident and in control of their health.

Health coaching helps make the steps small enough to feel achievable, reducing the pressure to completely change your life overnight and making it easier to get started.

Listen to the episode to hear Caitlyn and Sharon discuss:

How health coaching can be the missing piece in helping people living with chronic conditions move from knowing what to do to actually doing it — and why the key is coming alongside, helping them to recognise and overcome barriers.

About Caitlyn

Caitlyn Toomey is a health coach working in chronic disease care with EACH in Melbourne. She works as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting people living with chronic conditions, collaborating with nurses and other health professionals while using health coaching to support behaviour change, self-management and personally meaningful goals.

Interested in learning more about health coaching?

We offer short self paced courses that will give you tools and strategies to support clients, and we also offer interactive, accredited courses that teach the foundation skills of health coaching, and courses that provide gap training and skill mastery for those who are looking to expand their skill set and become nationally recognised with the Health Coaches Australia New Zealand Association (HCANZA) Our courses are fully online, with webinars delivered via zoom. 

To access free resources or to book one of our upcoming courses visit our website: www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au

If you find this podcast valuable, please share, follow, and leave a review. You can also follow us on social media. 

If you would like to provide feedback, ask a question or suggest a topic, please contact us via our email, [email protected]

Thank you for listening, your support is appreciated. 

Proudly a HCANZA accredited course provider.

In this episode, Sharon and Jenn explore the practical side of marketing for health professionals, health coaches and other practitioners who want to build their profile, attract the right clients and grow their business, without feeling like they have to become "salespeople."

They unpack what it really means to build a personal brand, how to create content that connects with the right audience, and why generosity and trust are at the heart of effective health professional marketing.

In this episode, we explore:

• Building your personal brand — why showing up consistently, sharing your expertise, building trust are essential and how to get more comfortable being visible online.
• Getting comfortable on camera — simple ways to practise talking about your expertise and build confidence without needing to be a natural performer.
• Storytelling that actually sells — why effective marketing stories aren't necessarily about you, but about helping your audience recognise themselves, their challenges and what's possible for them.
• The power of a clear call-to-action — giving your audience an obvious next step, whether that's reading something, signing up, sharing your content or buying from you.
• Lead magnets without the "ick" — why giving valuable information away for free builds trust, and the difference between the free "what" and the paid, strategic "how."
• Creating content your ideal client actually needs — moving beyond generic health information to content that solves a specific problem for a specific person.
• Understanding your buyer's journey — why your marketing needs to reflect where someone is in their decision-making process, and how different offers fit your product or service hierarchy.
• Finding your ideal client — three strategic questions every health professional needs to answer: Who is my ideal buyer? Where do they spend their time? What do I want to be known for?
• The "head nod test" — creating messaging that makes the right person think, "That's me. That's exactly what I'm struggling with."
• Pain points vs delight points — why marketing doesn't always have to focus on what's wrong, and how showing people what they want to achieve can be just as powerful.
• The power of consistent communication — why staying in touch between transactions matters, and how newsletters, email and other content strengthen relationships and keep you front of mind.
• Serialised content — how creating content in a series builds curiosity, engagement and momentum on platforms like TikTok and beyond.
• Repurposing content instead of constantly creating from scratch — revisiting older content, updating it and adding new insights rather than reinventing the wheel.
• Using AI strategically — how tools like ChatGPT can help with content creation, while keeping it specific, useful and grounded in your professional expertise.
• Finding questions your ideal clients are asking — including using Google's "People Also Ask" to uncover real questions that become valuable content ideas.

Connect with us
If you're a health professional or coach wanting to become more confident with marketing, build your professional profile and attract the right clients, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start applying straight away.

Jenn Donovan
Jenn Donovan is an award-winning marketing strategist, speaker, author and business mentor who has spent more than two decades helping small businesses, coaches and health professionals build sustainable businesses through smarter marketing. A passionate advocate for regional Australia, Jenn is known for her practical, no-fluff approach and her ability to make marketing feel achievable.

From keynote stages to one-on-one mentoring, Jenn empowers business owners with simple strategies they can implement immediately to attract more clients, build stronger relationships and grow with confidence.

Connect with Jenn
Marketing Strategist | Speaker | Author
E: [email protected]
W: socialmediaandmarketing.com.au

In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges new health coaches face after qualification - running a business.

Joined by Carla, founder of the Health Tech Network, we explore how to move from feeling overwhelmed and stuck to becoming visible, confident, and ready to work with clients.

If you’ve ever felt unsure where to start with tech, systems, or getting clients, this episode is for you.

1. Why health coaches get stuck after graduating and what to do about it.

2. The “productivity trap”.  What is it and why is it a problem.

3. What you ACTUALLY need to start your new business (and why waiting till everything is perfect is costing you in the long run)

Who is this episode for:

• New health coaches starting a business
• Health professionals adding coaching to their work
• Coaches feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin

More information about 'Invisible to Bookable'- A practical, done-with-you workshop to build a calm, professional business setup . Details: https://healthtechnetwork.com.au/invisible-to-bookable   Use code AHCA200 

Health and Wellness New Business Guide: https://healthtechnetwork.com.au/htn-business-compliance-guide 

To access free resources or to book one of our upcoming courses visit our website: www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au

If you find this podcast valuable, please share, follow, and leave a review. You can also follow us on social media

If you would like to provide feedback, ask a question or suggest a topic, please contact us via our email, [email protected]

Thank you for listening, your support is appreciated.

Proudly a HCANZA accredited course provider.

In this episode of the Health Coach Show, we discuss the role of AI powered tools to streamline data collection to save time, reduce admin and create better outcomes for our clients.

Shivaun Conn, a HCANZA accredited health and wellness coach and dietitian, is joined by Robbie Clark, dietitian, exercise scientist, and Director and Co-founder of HealthBank.io, an AI-powered digital clinic software.

We discuss:

1. How we utilise 'data' in healthcare

2. How AI can be utilised to streamline data collection and help us to make more better clinical decisions

3. How AI powered tools can support and empower our clients

4. What health coaches should know about privacy and safety of AI

5. The Healthbank platform - AI powered digital clinic software

6. Building visibility online, networking and mentoring for health coaches

Follow on resources:

Health Bank website: https://www.healthbank.io/

Interested in learning more about health coaching?

We offer short self paced courses that will give you tools and strategies to support clients, and we also offer interactive, accredited courses that teach the foundation skills of health coaching, and courses that provide gap training and skill mastery for those who are looking to expand their skill set and become nationally recognised with the Health Coaches Australia New Zealand Association (HCANZA)

Our courses are fully online, with webinars delivered via zoom.

To access free resources or to book one of our upcoming courses visit our website: www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au

If you find this podcast valuable, please share, follow, and leave a review. You can also follow us on social media

If you would like to provide feedback, ask a question or suggest a topic, please contact us via our email, [email protected]

Thank you for listening, your support is appreciated.

Proudly a HCANZA accredited course provider.

In this episode of the Health Coach Show, we discuss how to know your worth as a health coach, find and clarify your niche, and grow and scale your practice online without burning out.

Shivaun Conn, a HCANZA accredited health and wellness coach and dietitian, is joined by Rebekah Jones, a registered dietitian, private practice business mentor, and creator of the Scalable Practice Framework™.

We discuss:

1. How to scale our practices without burnout

2. Service options and modes of delivery

3. Business mapping - designing a strategy that aligns with our lifestyle, supports our goals, and delivers ideal client outcomes

4. Niches - do we need one? How do we niche in a way that suits us?

5. Knowing our worth and overcoming imposter syndrome - using logic, data, and evidence

Follow on resources:

"Niche Clarity Coach: Find Your Niche & Ideal Client (In Minutes - with AI)” : https://rebekah-jones.mykajabi.com/protocol-builder-bot-1 

Rebekah Jones website: https://rebekahjones.com.au/

10% discount code for programs: AHCA10

Interested in learning more about health coaching?

We offer short self paced courses that will give you tools and strategies to support clients, and we also offer interactive, accredited courses that teach the foundation skills of health coaching, and courses that provide gap training and skill mastery for those who are looking to expand their skill set and become nationally recognised with the Health Coaches Australia New Zealand Association (HCANZA)

Our courses are fully online, with webinars delivered via zoom.

To access free resources or to book one of our upcoming courses visit our website: www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au

If you find this podcast valuable, please share, follow, and leave a review. You can also follow us on social media

If you would like to provide feedback, ask a question or suggest a topic, please contact us via our email, [email protected]

Thank you for listening, your support is appreciated.

Proudly a HCANZA accredited course provider.

In this episode of the Health Coach Show, we’re discussing Self Determination Theory (SDT), a key theory of motivation that underpins the work health coaches do. Sharon Curtain, dietitian and HCANZA accredited health coach, is joined by Gordon Spence, a coaching psychologist, exercise scientist, educator, researcher, private practitioner and an expert in SDT.

We discuss:

• Why SDT is a robust theory of optimal functioning
• The mini theories 
• Basic Needs Theory and the guidance is gives us to create an optimal experience for coaching clients
• What makes it different from other motivation theories
• The Extrinsic to Intrinsic motivation continuum
• How to facilitate a shift in motivation by connecting to beliefs, values and intrinsic motivators
• Allowing space for clients can be 

Gordon has just had a new paper published - The Health Activation Process: An

autonomy-supportive coaching model for facilitating sustainable active living. He is now building on this, using guided autobiography to get people to reflect on memories of physical activity which can result in leaning in to positivity, changing perspectives towards being active.

Gordon is a Senior Lecturer in the Master of Science in Coaching Psychology program, University of Sydney, he’s published many scholarly articles and book chapters, two books on healthy ageing, provides evidence-based coaching & consulting services and sits on the board of Health Coaches Australia New Zealand Association (HCANZA). You can contact Gordon at [email protected]

You can read more about coaching and self determination here: 

Spence, Gordon & Oades, Lindsay. (2011). Coaching with self-determination in mind: Using theory to advance evidence-based coaching practice. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. 9. 37-55. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313707730_Coaching_with_self-determination_in_mind_Using_theory_to_advance_evidence-based_coaching_practice

To learn more about health coaching, access free resources or to book one of our upcoming courses visit our website: www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au

Proudly a HCANZA accredited course provider.

In this episode of The Health Coach Show, Shivaun Conn, dietitian and accredited health coach, is joined by Dr Suzy Green — a clinical and coaching psychologist, and Founder & CEO of The Positivity Institute.

A leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology, Suzy has published over twenty academic chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. She is also the co-editor of Positive Psychology Coaching in Practice, Positive Psychology Coaching in the Workplace, and The Positivity Prescription.

Suzy was a lecturer in the Master of Coaching Psychology program at the University of Sydney for ten years and is an Honorary Vice President of the International Society for Coaching Psychology.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What is Positive Psychology Coaching?

• Positive psychology tools and approaches

• Weaving expertise into coaching

• Research on coaching effectiveness for health outcomes and sustainable health behaviours

• How coaches can benefit from expanding their learning in coaching psychology

• CPD courses and events for coaches in coaching psychology and positive psychology coaching

  
  

  Links 

  Suzy’s new course the Professional Certificate in Positive Psychology Coaching. Earlybird ends March 31st

  
  

  Our latest events including the Psych Health & Safety Conference in June

  
  

  The new series of COACH+ The Art & Science of Positive Psychology Coaching 

In this episode of The Health Coach Show, we explore the forward-thinking role of health coaches and Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs). This initiative, led by the Ministry of Health, introduces a new model of integrated primary mental health and addiction services (IPMHA) within Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) and general practice teams.

Leana Clark shares her journey from nursing to becoming a health coach in New Zealand GP clinics, offering insights into her experience and the impact of her work.

We discuss:

• The distinct roles of health coaches and Health Improvement Practitioners in New Zealand and how they support clients.
• The training required to become a health coach in New Zealand.
• The benefits she has observed for both clients and healthcare teams.
• Lessons Australia can take from New Zealand’s approach.

Tune in to gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of integrated health care.

Links:

Free Webinar - Health Coaching https://www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au/free-health-coaching-webinars

Online Courses

https://www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au/shop-courses

Mentoring

https://www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au/mentoring

In this episode of The Health Coach Show, we discuss how rewards can be useful to help clients change their behaviours.

The big question is 'Are rewards helpful and do they help with long-term behaviour change?'

How rewards can support behaviour and habit change:

Rewards provide positive reinforcement

Rewards can give us that little motivation boost on days when we don’t feel like it - especially useful during the early stages of change when motivation is low. 

Rewards bring benefits into the present: providing immediate feedback that the behaviour is worth doing - particularly useful when changes may not be noticed for a few weeks.

Examples of effective rewards in health coaching:

Celebrating small milestones /consistency - reward yourself with a new book, water bottle or workout mat

Replacing alcohol with zero alcohol drinks

Buy the expensive chocolate (and therefore eat less)

Non-food rewards - bath,  listening to a podcast, going to a movie, reading a book/magazine for pleasure, permission to do nothing

When rewards can be unhelpful:

Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation: when we rely on the external rewards - ie the only reason we engage in a behaviour is to get the reward, we’re extrinsically motivated - once the reward is removed, the motivation to do the behaviour stops.

Risks of relying on rewards:

Short-term compliance without long-term behaviour change.

Creating dependency on rewards rather than fostering internal motivation. 

Reward chasing: Constantly using rewards can reduce their effectiveness. We can lose interest in routine rewards and look for additional rewards to stay motivated.

Using unhealthy rewards: e.g. going out for a big breakfast after a gym session, or rewarding a long day with a glass of wine - can un-do the good work of the behaviour itself. 

In coaching, we can use both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards - the extrinsic can be really valuable in the early stages of change- while connecting to intrinsic ones over time. This might look like:

Encouraging self-chosen rewards aligned with values.

Social recognition (sharing progress with friends/family).

Celebrating achievement with meaningful experiences (e.g., self care/connecting - a client rewarding themselves with a massage after sticking to a new routine for a week)

Self-reward through positive self-talk and reflection on progress

Connecting to how it makes you feel immediately or later that day - eg  more energy, better sleep.

Mini rewards to help stick to a behaviour 

Alternative treats

Tracking progress can serve as a motivating reward:

Visual progress (habit trackers, fitness apps) provides immediate feedback.

Self-monitoring increases self-awareness and accountability.

To learn more about health coaching, access free resources or to book one of our upcoming courses, visit our website: www.accreditedhealthcoaching.com.au