Hi, I'm Paulette Crowley – Good Health Coach
I have been sober for 10 years after struggling with alcohol addiction for years. I trained to be a mental health coach so I could help others overcome problems with alcohol, just like I did.
Nobody 'gets' addiction like someone who's walked the walk. I relapsed for years and everyone gave up on me, including me. I know now that it's possible to achieve sustainable sobriety if you're well and truly ready to give up, and relapsing is no longer an option.
Getting the right support is key to getting sober – and staying that way. I believe the intense 1-1 support that coaching offers can be a powerful tool in taking back control of your life from alcohol.
Read more of my story here.
Not sure if you have a problem with alcohol? Read this blog to find out more, or take the quiz.
Our mental health system is stressed
How private coaching can bridge the treatment gap
Health has always been a passionate professional interest for me – I've reported on it as a journalist for many years – but recently, I decided to train as a health coach specialising in mental health and addictions. Health coaching seemed the perfect professional framework to put my experience, skills and passion into.
Why health coaching? I have lived experience of diagnosed alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety and ADHD. I got sober from alcohol 10 years ago and worked hard at my mental and physical fitness over the years with health professionals. Today I live a full, rich and healthy life with my now very manageable mental health conditions.
I also have an understanding of the impact of mental illness on people and their whānau. I was brought up in a family of people who experienced mental health and addiction challenges. In my recovery journey, I have helped many people address problematic relationships with alcohol and mental health issues.
How coaching can bridge the mental health treatment gap
A recent experience of helping a family member through a severe, intense mental health episode has brought home to me just how important mental fitness is, and how broken the system is in our country. Looking after my family member was incredibly stressful. To be honest, I don’t know how any of us survived it. I felt extremely isolated because I didn’t want to risk the family member’s privacy by asking for help to support me. But I’m so glad we did reach out because now we all have immense resilience, which is what I want to share with other people as a health coach. It’s a service I could have and would have used if I knew it existed.
"I want people to see that it is possible to live a rich, healthy life while you have mental health conditions."
Seeing the “treatment gap” in the health system spurred me on to be able to do something to help people develop their mental fitness, rather than turning to the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff model of healthcare, which clearly doesn’t work for the vast majority of people. I believe that coaching is a way for people to easily access the help they need before they get so unwell they need major medical interventions. That’s something I want to be a part of.
Sharing mental health struggles instead of hiding
My empathy for people with mental distress, and their families and friends, is huge. We need each other. Dealing with mental health issues alone is impossible, and damages not only the person and their whānau, but also society. We all have a right to be the healthiest we can be.
From my own experience as a woman with mental health challenges, I also have an understanding of what it is like to not have a voice. I have spent years masking and avoiding revealing my challenges for fear of discrimination, which was largely a wise move given attitudes at the time.
Today, I am proud to be a strong, healthy woman living well with challenging conditions and I’m proud to be a role model for those still struggling. I am now open about my experiences because I know that sharing them is far more powerful than hiding them. I want people to see that it is possible to live a rich, healthy life while you have mental health conditions.
Book a free Discovery Call to find out how I may be able to help you with coaching, or contact me on 027 231 5970 or info@goodhealthcoach.co.nz.
