communityspotlight
erria elly
The Good Health Coach
I
n her mid 20’s, Verria Kelly became very ill. She sought
help, but for years, her symptoms eluded doctors and
Kelly focuses on challenges that affect
Kelly couldn’t find anyone that could diagnose, much less
one’s health, whether it’s an actual
treat her. illness or a toxic relationship, then helps
“I was lost and became withdrawn from my friends and
her clients achieve their health goals.
family,” explains Kelly. “My symptoms would flare without
warning and spanned all across the board into various special- Kelly describes a coach as a partner that helps us take
ties.” At times, Kelly says she was convinced her health would action and achieve our goals. Coaches encourage, motivate,
never get better. She tried not to worry others and instead suf- support and celebrate our decisions. We determine our own
fered in silence. goals, and, she says, a coach will help us achieve those goals.
After six years, she realized she had enough. “If nobody According to Kelly, a Good Health Coach can help take
could help me, could diagnose me, I would have to help my- control of a person’s symptoms, their health and their life.
self.” Whether someone wants to stop smoking, find the right health
What ensued was Kelly’s own health journey. A journey, practitioner or has been misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all,
she says, that is a testament to the powerful healing that can as a Good Health Coach, she can help.
take place once we learn to take control of our health. She Kelly says we are faced with many health concerns on
began an intense research of her symptoms and essentially a daily basis. Lack of good diet, regular exercise, increased
taught herself to listen to her body in a way that enabled her stress and environmental factors can cause our bodies to react
to control the symptoms instead of allowing the symptoms to in ways that defy modern medicine and there are things we
control her. Kelly made changes in her diet and realized the can do.
better she ate, the better she felt. Most people that come to her are ready for something
“I asked myself so many questions: How can I go from different. “They have reached that ‘enough already’ stage,” she
being sick to being well? What can I do to prepare my body to explains. “They are ready to take the next step, but know it
accept the healing process? How can I find the right practitio- will be a lot of work and they won’t be cured in a week.”
ner to guide me through the journey? What are my responsi- As a Good Health Coach, Kelly focuses on health related
bilities in the healing process?” She says it took years, but she challenges in one’s life. This could be anything from an actual
finally won the battle and today feels better than ever. illness to a toxic relationship that affects one’s health. She will
It was during this time that Kelly became affectionately guide the client through a series of exercises designed to help
known as “The Health Detective.” From the time she became take control of their health and empower them to wellness.
ill, she was always looking for more information, keeping It is important to know that a coach is not a therapist, con-
detailed journals and notes and experimenting. For instance, sultant or mentor. A coach listens to our desires, finds out what
she says, she might get hives, and would begin to cut things really matters and helps remove any obstacles that may stand in
out of her diet to try to figure out what could be causing the the way. Kelly notes that as a coach, she listens without passing
hives. She would do this until she discovered what was caus- judgment or inflicting her views upon her clients’ life.
ing them. “I want people to know that as their Good Health Coach,
It was this quest for answers, as well as her own struggle, I believe in them, I understand what they are going through
that inspired Kelly to want to help others. She knew though, that (because I have been through it myself) and I am trained to
it was important for her to get herself back in shape. She be- help,” notes Kelly.
came a Certified Wellness Consultant and resumed the physical Seeing someone she has helped provides Kelly with true
activities that she had been forced to put on hold for years. inspiration and she hopes it inspires others to take responsibil-
As a consultant, Kelly helped friends, family and other ity for their own health. “Taking steps to restore your health is
clients address various health challenges and make lifestyle absolutely the best investment you can make in your life.”
changes. However, it wasn’t until she decided to enroll in a
Certified Professional Coaching Program at the International For more information, contact Verria Kelly at 513-898-0774,
Academy of Coaching that she realized she had found her pas- email Verria.Kelly@GoodHealthCoach.com or visit
sion in coaching, specifically as a Good Health Coach. GoodHealthCoach.com.
May 2009
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