How Coaching Can Benefit People With Multiple Sclerosis Featuring Liz Kiniry
Mar 11, 2025Shownotes For Podcast Episode 16: How Coaching Can Benefit People With Multiple Sclerosis Featuring Liz Kiniry
In this episode of the Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh sits down with Elizabeth Kiniry, NBC-HWC, a board-certified health and wellness coach specializing in working with individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS). With a background as a chef and a deep passion for health and well-being, Liz discovered coaching as a way to make a meaningful impact. She worked as a coach with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has run a private practice, helping people navigate life with MS.
Multiple Sclerosis 101
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune-mediated disease that affects the central nervous system. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath—the protective covering of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord—leading to demyelination. This damage disrupts communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, resulting in a wide range of symptoms that can vary significantly from person to person.
Coaching Through Chronic Illness: A Support System for Clients with MS
With MS affecting individuals in deeply personal and varied ways, Liz highlights the important role of health and wellness coaching in helping clients navigate life after diagnosis. She shares how coaching provides a safe space for individuals to process their emotions, explore their strengths, and take an active role in their well-being. By bridging the gap between medical advice and real-life implementation, coaches empower clients to manage key challenges such as fatigue, stress, and uncertainty about the future.
Together, Liz and Dr. Singh explore how coaching serves as a powerful tool in supporting individuals with chronic illness, fostering resilience and confidence along the way. Liz discusses how coaches help clients shift their focus from limitations to possibilities, guiding them toward small, meaningful steps that lead to sustainable change. This episode highlights the importance of meeting clients where they are, acknowledging their unique experiences, and providing compassionate support as they navigate their health journey.
Coaching as a Collaborative Approach in Healthcare
Health and wellness coaching is not only transformative for clients but also a valuable asset in the broader healthcare system. In this episode, Liz and Dr. Singh examine the growing need for collaboration between coaches and medical professionals to enhance patient care. With time constraints limiting the ability of healthcare providers to engage in in-depth lifestyle conversations, coaching plays a crucial role in providing the ongoing support necessary for long-term health improvements.
Liz shares insights into how active listening and holding space allow clients to feel seen and heard, creating a foundation for behavior change. She explains how coaching helps individuals set realistic, sustainable goals, empowering them to integrate their physician’s recommendations into daily life. By working alongside healthcare providers, coaches contribute to a more holistic, patient-centered approach—one that prioritizes both medical treatment and the behavioral shifts necessary for long-term well-being.
Takeways
Coaching is an act of empowerment – Helping clients access their strengths and resources fosters resilience and confidence in managing their health.
Holistic support is essential – Addressing movement, nutrition, stress, and social connection creates a well-rounded approach to wellness.
Team-based care enhances patient outcomes – Coaches, physicians, and healthcare providers working together can provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Every small step matters – Progress happens through consistent, achievable changes that align with a client’s values and goals.
This episode is a must-listen for coaches, healthcare providers, and anyone interested in the intersection of chronic illness and coaching. Tune in to learn how coaching creates transformative change, helping individuals with MS—and beyond—navigate their health journey with confidence and clarity.
Resources:
Website: https://www.lizkiniry.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-kiniry-nbc-hwc-57409484
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizkiniryhwc
Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction
1:05 – Liz’s Journey To Becoming A Coach
3:02 – How Liz Became A Coach For People With Multiple Sclerosis
7:35 – Multiple Sclerosis 101
12:37 – How Coaching Can Benefit People With Multiple Sclerosis
16:39 – Coaching Bridges Gaps In Healthcare
24:33 – Navigating MS: Building Care Teams & Finding Resources
27:32 – MS Challenges: Understanding The Journey
33:09 – Liz’s Experience Of Fulfillment Through Coaching
39:17 - Takeaways
