Health counseling gives you the expert guidance you need to make smart, healthy choices every day. A trained counselor works with you to set simple goals for better eating, better sleep and less stress.
Creating a new habit takes a lot of time and effort. Many people try to change too much in one day. This can be hard to do.
A health counselor requires that you take small steps. Habits can be constructed that are consistent with daily activities. Over time, these small steps can help you feel better.
Health Support Services provides this exact type of care. We help you every step of the way to reach your goals.
Why Is a Daily Routine Good for Your Mental Health?
A clear daily schedule provides your brain with a sense of what’s coming next, lowering your stress and worry. When you wake up, your body feels peaceful and you eat and sleep at the same times. This helps you avoid being fatigued and improves your intellect. A consistent schedule might also help prevent burnout.
Life becomes busy and it’s easy to forget about your health. A healthy schedule offers you time for self-care, too.
What Are the Best Habits for a Long Life?
Major health researchers studied thousands of adults for many years. They found that people who kept five simple habits lived over ten years longer than those who did not.
Here are the five best habits for a healthy daily life:
- Not Smoking: Quitting Smoking is the top health move.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Concentrate on healthy everyday choices, not just the scale.
- Moving your body: Try to get thirty minutes of exercise every day, like a brisk walk.
- Drinking less alcohol: Keep alcoholic drinks to a minimum or add alcohol-free days to your week.
- Healthy diet: Increase consumption of veggies, whole grains and fruits. Eat less processed meat and sugar.
Information by itself doesn’t change behavior. You might already know that walking is good for you. You probably know that eating vegetables is smart. Making these things happen daily is difficult, though. Stress, cost and time get in the way.
How Does Health Counseling Keep You on Track?
Research shows that habits take a median of 66 days to form, though some people need as few as 18 days and others as many as 254.
Health counselling is a gap-filling process between understanding the action to take and going through with the action. It helps you remain on track and break major health goals into small and realistic goals. Your counselor checks in to highlight your wins and tackle any challenges. This friendly check-in makes you want to keep going.
A good counselor starts from what you care about, avoids pushing changes you are not ready for, and helps you establish a clear, concrete goal.
Here is how the process works:
Pick One Goal
Choose one healthy habit you want to start.
Make a Clear Plan
Instead of saying, “I will walk more,” plan to walk for 10 minutes after dinner.
Plan for Hard Days
If it rains, your counselor helps you figure out an indoor activity.
Stay Accountable
A weekly check-in makes it harder to drop your new habit.
It is a gentle support that helps your new habits stay lifelong. Not all five of the habits have to be done simultaneously. Your counselor will guide you to choose one habit you can begin now.
What Care Can Health Support Services Provide?
Health Support Services provides complete care to help you live your healthiest life in a warm and respectful space. We offer personal health counseling.
We use many tools to help you and monitor your health progress. These tools fit the habit you want to build.
- Physical exams provide insight into what’s happening
- Medication management helps with worry, sadness and insomnia.
- Counseling teaches you skills, such as discussing feelings or breathing slowly when angry
- Nutrition and weight management program guides on making lifelong choices. Your care should match your needs and goals.
If you need quick help for a minor illness, our minor urgent care team is ready. Nurse Jackson has over five decades of nursing experience. She and our whole team want to see you thrive.
Start Your Journey Today
Making a first appointment is the best thing to do in relation to your daily habits and to your future health.
It is a journey to healthy habits and it’s not one you should walk alone. Contact us today at (302) 450-4551 to begin your journey to wellness.
FAQs
Is health counseling the same as therapy?
No. Health counseling focuses on daily habits like eating, moving and sleeping. Therapy focuses on mental health and emotions. They can work together, but they are different services.
Do I need a referral to see a health counselor?
No, you do not need a referral. You can contact Health Support Services directly to book an appointment