A Budding Industry - The Rise of Cannabis Health Coaching

For a long time, Health Coaching was an all-encompassing term to describe providers who use relationships built on trust and respect to help guide clients who wish to make changes in their health and wellness.  Health Coaching involves a unique dynamic that contrasts the typical hierarchical healthcare system in which the provider is often viewed as the expert, and instead operates with the understanding that both coach and client are experts and, therefore, peers. 

And although Health Coaching might be considered by many to be a modern addition to the current healthcare system, the foundations of it are not new.  It is a practice built on rapport, supportive self-management, and inquisitive self-exploration.  But what about a client who is interested in cannabis?

It’s human nature to want to have all of the answers. And as a health coach, it’s easy to dissuade someone from pursuing something that you may not believe in or even fully understand. Historically, talking about cannabis consumption is something that most people believe should happen behind closed doors, and the fear of judgment or rejection leads many people to feel shame. 

But what if I told you there was a new industry gaining steam, one that welcomes conversations about cannabis consumption and exploration and views it as part of the health and wellness journey?

Understanding Cannabis Health Coaching

Cannabis Health Coaching is a highly specialized form of health coaching that focuses on educating and supporting individuals who wish to use cannabis as part of a comprehensive wellness strategy.  Cannabis Health Coaches use an evidence-based approach to help clients consume safely and effectively for their desired therapeutic benefits, while also allowing for a fully customizable experience. Cannabis Health Coaches are specifically trained to be able to guide clients through a conversation about cannabis use, explain the benefits (or lack of, in some cases), explain the science, and educate clients about their options.

While traditional health coaches may avoid conversations around cannabis use, Cannabis Health Coaches provide a safe, accepting, and supportive environment to talk about cannabis without judgment.

Benefits of Cannabis Health Coaching

New studies show that up to 75% of consumers wish their healthcare experiences were more personalized.  We are in an era of health and wellness in which people desperately want to be seen and heard by their primary care providers when it comes to their health.  However, most people either hide their consumption from their providers or feel scolded when they bring it up. Most medical providers have little to no education on cannabis or the endocannabinoid system and are therefore NOT the best person to be giving advice. Cannabis Health Coaching is filling a gap, and here are some of the ways it is doing so:

• Educating on Safe and Effective Consumption - Cannabis Health Coaches have studied the specifics of cannabis science, including its safety, efficacy, consumption methods, and dosing. They are some of the most cannabis-literate people in healthcare, other than researchers.

• Stigma Reduction - Because Cannabis Health Coaches adhere to the same professional standards as Health and Wellness Coaches, Cannabis Health Coaches play an important role in the destigmatization and normalization of cannabis consumption. Their background is not merely anecdotal, but also evidence-based and scientifically-supported.

• Personalized Care - A personalized approach to health and wellness has been shown to increase the success of the desired health outcomes. Including cannabis in the care plan when appropriate and desired by the client allows for a fully personalized and well-rounded approach that includes nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction.

• Holistic Approach to Health, vs. Reductionist Model - The reductionist model is what we see in traditional healthcare. If you’re experiencing symptoms, doctors are trained to locate the source of the problem and refer out to a specialist. This model often ignores the fact that our body systems are all connected, and our symptoms could be a sign of something more deeply rooted than just our symptoms.  The holistic lens of healthcare zooms out and looks at the whole person, rather than a collection of body systems. It looks at our stress, relationships, sleep, hormones, nutrition, etc, and cannabis is deeply tied to this holistic approach by highlighting the importance of viewing health as a multi-faceted journey in which cannabis is one of many tools that can be used to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The Future of Wellness - 

The increasing demand for cannabis is evidence enough that the healthcare space is changing, and with the increase in demand is an increased need for educated professionals in the field. Cannabis Health Coaches are providing a safety net for medical professionals who are not as educated in cannabis science, and allowing for a seamless merge of traditional health coaching principles with a nuanced understanding of cannabis’ role in health and wellness.