I’m a Community Pharmacist and Health Coach
Eoghan O’Brien – Health Coach
Studying the Health Coach Course has given me more confidence in talking to community groups, other health professionals and people coming into the pharmacy for health advice.
What date did you graduate?
November 2023
What did you do before studying at CNM?
I’m a Community Pharmacist
What made you want to become a Health Coach?
I have been working with a few groups of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) since 2018 guiding them on better lifestyle choices to improve and help reverse this condition. I realised that the approach I was taking that helped them the most involved health coaching, but I had no formal qualification in this discipline. I figured that an accredited Health Coaching course would help me develop better programs to help people with T2D.
What attracted you to CNM’s Health Coach course?
I liked the structure with the 5 parts – How the Body Works, Nutrition for Everyday Living, Fitness & Health, Health Coaching and Business & Marketing which I found to be interesting and relevant to what I was doing and what I wanted to further develop. I know & admire the work done by pharmacist Jacqui Dougan from her time training pharmacy students. When I realised she was now CNM Naturopathic Nutrition Course Director it gave CNM even more credibility for me.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
I really enjoyed Bobby Qureshi’s lectures as he has so much experience and he beautifully illustrated his lectures with very useful tips from his clinical practice.
How has studying the Health Coach diploma changed your life?
It has given me more confidence in talking to community groups, other health professionals and people coming into the pharmacy for health advice.
I am now also able to offer private consultations from the pharmacy for people with T2D and for any other health issue they want guidance on.
What you are doing now that you are qualified?
I have just started a 12-week program with a group of 8 people with T2D which is funded by the Big Lottery. I’m tracking HbA1c (average blood sugar over 3 months), blood pressure, weight & full body composition analysis. I’m guiding participants in coming up with their own action plan on better food choices, more, enjoyable physical activity & better sleep routine. I hope to help some of them to be able to reduce medication and even put T2D into remission.
What do you love about being a Health Coach?
I love how Health Coaching empowers people to make the sustainable changes that they want to make and how it has lasting effects on their quality of life.
Website: www.bannsidepharmacy.com
Twitter (X): @bannsidepharmcy
Facebook: facebook.com/bannsidepharmacy
How do I train to be a Health Coach?
What skills does a Health Coach need?
