When we think of February, Valentine’s Day comes to mind, but February also kicks off the American Heart Association’s American Heart month. We would like to celebrate by providing our clients with tools to adopt healthy lifestyle changes to support this mission. Making these changes will not only lead to an improvement in physical health, but also mental health.

In a recent study, the American Heart Association published a scientific statement stating “Improving psychological health can lead to a healthier heart and healthier body.”

Psychological health, bell-Being, and the mind-heart-body connection aims to educate Americans on the connection between the body and the mind and suggests, “depression and negative psychological health conditions are associated with a less healthy heart and body, while optimism and other positive mental health states are associated with a healthier heart and body.” Mental health treatment has evolved over the years to include assessment of how our client’s physical health and access to treatment affects emotional functioning. Physical health providers are also now conversely assessing how their patient’s emotional health is affecting their physical well being, creating a synergistic relationship and a more holistic approach to wellness for our clients.

Jill Smith and Associates is also providing a holistic approach to wellness by now providing Health Coaching alongside our renowned counseling services that have been trusted for years. In accordance with the American Heart Association’s recommendations, we can help support you while you take steps to positively impact not just your cardiac, but overall physical and emotional health. Not only can our counselors treat depression and anxiety that we now know can have a negative impact on cardiac and overall physical health, we also have Health Coaching to support lifestyle changes such as stress reduction, mindfulness, smoking cessation, and adopting regular exercise and healthy dietary changes.

Please join us by following us on social media throughout the month of February to see how Jill Smith and Associates is taking part in American Heart Month. We will be kicking off our campaign by encouraging everyone to wear red on February 5th, National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women.

We would love for you to join us this month for this important cause, and if you would like to call for a consultation to see how we can help implement healthy lifestyle changes or support your emotional health, please contact either our Lexington or Downtown Columbia offices to get started.

Another start to a new year typically means New Year’s resolutions for most of us. Especially after a year like 2020, many of us are looking ahead with hopeful hearts for change and to leave the past year behind. Making resolutions can be a great way to look to the future but formulating a goal without a plan can make it difficult to achieve.

Some estimates show around 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February. With any new goal, it’s typical to see motivation high at the onset of change and then wane. Making a plan to set a goal, how you plan to achieve it, and planning for bumps in the road can help you beat this statistic. Some great ways to start are:

• Examine your motivating factors. Why am I doing this? Who is this for?
• Set goals using the SMART acronym. Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant or Realistic. Time-Based.
• Build support. Make your goals known to your support system and let them know how they can help.
• A lapse does not mean a relapse. Acknowledge the lapse and start again.
• Address “all or nothing” thinking such as “I ate a piece of cake when I said I wouldn’t, so I might as well have dessert with every meal today”.

Aside from the typical resolutions such as to exercise more, to save money, and quit smoking (which are always great goals) consider resolutions to improve your emotional health. Some ideas that can lead to improved emotional health include:

• Improve communication with loved ones by setting aside check in time daily.
• Start a new hobby or learn a new skill to improve cognitive skills.
• Set a goal to reach out or socialize with others daily or weekly.
• Improve sleep hygiene by engaging in relaxation activities before bedtime.

Whatever your goals or resolutions are for 2021, working with a professional such as a health coach or therapist can support you through the process from formulating your goal, processing motivation, providing accountability, and addressing barriers that may arise. Working with a professional might just mean this is the year you beat the 80% statistic and achieve your goals!

See you at our Coaching Session!

Penny Toman

Welcome to Health Coaching at JSA!

A lot of us are looking to 2021 with feelings of hope.   2020 forced many of us to slow down and prioritize.  Some of us took up new hobbies and even changed the way we work and interact with others. 

At Jill Smith and Associates Counseling, we did some growing, too.  We added a new office in downtown Columbia as well as telehealth to meet you safely.  

One more change: we now offer Health Coaching. Health Coaching is rooted in evidenced-based interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to provide support to clients looking to make health and wellness changes.

Even though our physical health (of course)  is discussed in typical therapy sessions, Health Coaching is specifically focused on physical health and developing healthy habits.  For example, you may decide this is your year to stop smoking, sleep better and lose that weight. Maybe you have a new diabetes diagnosis and are overwhelmed by the lifestyle changes. You might need a professional to help you with your food choices, your glucose and insulin levels,  and the grief and anger about the diagnosis, too.  Health Coaching it is!!

Health Coaching can support clients who are facing a new diagnosis of a chronic health condition or those who have been living with health challenges looking to improve their health. Coaching is also a great option for clients who are in good overall health but are looking to develop healthy habits.

As health coaching is very different from therapy, we are always happy to offer a brief phone consultation to discuss client goals and needs. We can also work with your physician or referring provider on clearance to participate in a health coaching program and to formulate health and wellness goals such as:

• Sleep hygiene
• Weight loss
• Increasing movement and exercise
• Stress management
• Chronic health conditions such as diabetes and autoimmune disease
• Healthy aging
• Family health and wellness

If you are looking towards 2021 as a year of change and growth, we would be honored to partner with you and your health care team to support you as you reach your goals. Give us a call to schedule at 803-814-5559.

Wishing you health and wellness,

Jill Smith

PS look for future blogs posted here by our Certified Health Coach, Penny Toman, LISW-CP