You Too Can 'Do' Health

You too can ‘do’ health! by Olive Hickmott and Sarah Knighton

General Comments:
I work as a Nutritional Therapist/Coach, Professional Mentor and Coaching Module leader at a Berkshire college, and am always looking for new learning ‘gems’ and inspirational material to assist in my work. The title was intriguing and attractive, so hence offering to ‘review’.

I wasn’t very taken with the book to start with, as I found the chemist and Harry interaction a little far fetched, drawn out and somewhat unbelievable. It might have been put off reading the rest of the book had I not had to read it all for a review. However as the book progressed I became engrossed and intrigued as to what the next room would be and how Harry would react.

It is a book suitable for coaches and those being coached. I actually read this book in January, and looking at my notations again to write this review, it makes me realise how much I can use this book as a revision tool for my coaching sessions. I have underlined something on almost every page. I like the little snippets such as p154 ‘changing beliefs is only as hard as you believe it will be’.

To be honest, I am still unsure of Mary’s house, but I like the constant analysis and thinking that I have given it again, on a second review!

Examples of some of the positive points:

There was interesting insight into how a client does/might react to coaching sessions.

The concept/metaphor of physically moving into rooms is great – really gets focus.

I have identified new exercises to try myself and with my clients and students.

There are regular useful skill reminders such as p111 if you can repeat your affirmation…..;

I looked forward to reading the inspirational and thought provoking quotes at the beginning of each chapter;

I like that the ‘intention’ is set for each session;

I like the headings used surrounding in grey background;

Page 31 – really like ‘the gift of time’;

There are some lovely coach expressions used throughout the book which convey a rapportful message to the reader;

The summary boxes that Harry writes down are useful for the reader;

P41 Nice explanation of what a health coach does;
P44 pillars of change;
P55 They describe various …. – like this essence;
P60 Like the technique “I would also like you to think….;
Particularly liked chapter 4 the study – good summary box on p 73, good modeling and analogy on p77;
p90 good insight into client thinking;
p91 nice research resource to use;
p206 – concise stress response description
p210 nice 7:1 breathing exercise
I practice yoga, so really like the energy chapter content
P269 Fats nutrition information is a little dated
P310 like the conscious/unconscious explanations
I am also a reflexologist, so like the meridians and Christmas tree lights analogy