Lifestyle Medicine

WhatisHealthCoaching?

What does a Nurse-Health Coach do?

We work with patients to support them in making lifestyle behavior changes that will improve their overall health. Fundamental to this change is a partnership between the patient and the nurse-health coach. We use evidence-based skills and strategies that promote achievable and sustainable change. As health coaches, we empower our patients to identify their desired change and to create small and attainable goals. Individuals grow through overcoming challenges and identifying their strengths and support systems. Health coaching can help patients understand the process of change that leads to improved health outcomes. Keep reading for an introduction to our nurse-health coaches!

Meet Amy Pearl: My journey of becoming a registered nurse-health coach started in my twenties. After completing my bachelor's degree in social work, I worked with at-risk youth and their families. My passion for empowering others evolved into wanting to become a nurse. I returned back to school to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While working as a cardiac and pediatric nurse, I discovered that many chronic and acute health issues are lifestyle related. As a nurse, I was driven to help my patients make the necessary changes to improve their health. I returned to school to complete a Master’s Degree in Health and Wellness Coaching with certifications in mindfulness teaching and plant-based nutrition. Today, I am working with patients to make lifestyle changes that will support them in preventing, reversing, or managing an illness. My professional journey has come full circle as a nurse-health coach. I am rewarded daily by working with patients who are ready to make health behavior changes and share their experiences with me. I am in awe of the strength and resilience my patients have when they set their minds to making a change. When I am not working, I enjoy visiting my four children, in their twenties, and love to spend as much time as I can outside hiking with my husband and three dogs, Elsa, Matilda, and Rosie. Meet Shannon Sutton: Shannon obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Maine in 2018. She worked in inpatient cardiology at Maine Medical Center where she developed a strong passion for health education and primary prevention of disease. In 2021, she was certified as a Wellness & Health Coach and shifted to do more nurse coaching, educating on healthy lifestyle habits, and supporting through processes of health behavior change. Her favorite parts about lifestyle medicine are getting to the root cause of disease, caring for the whole person, and helping patients discover their own strength and power in their health.

If you’re interested in a referral for Lifestyle Medicine, group medical visits, or health coaching, please speak to your provider.