By Aurora Detor
Lauren Bongiorno’s health journey began at age seven when she was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. Though she was offered basic support, as was provided by the U.S. healthcare system, Lauren’s family quickly discovered that it fell short in addressing the complex needs of managing a chronic, incurable condition. It was this realization that ended up shaping Lauren’s career, health, and future.
“Initially, I sought to follow in my father’s footsteps and become an attorney,” Lauren remembers, “wanting to advocate for better healthcare laws in the U.S. ... you know, really make an impact.”
But Lauren quickly learned that becoming an advocate for change in the legal system isn’t the only way to make meaningful changes in people’s lives. That’s when she decided she wanted to take a different path.
“I soon realized that I didn’t want to fight a system for years without seeing any change,” she says. “Instead, I wanted to create change from the ground up.” ”
After doing some soul searching, Lauren discovered the path to achieve this goal.
Lauren’s Path to Health Coaching
Lauren's career transformation took place in the early 2010s, during a time when social media platforms like Instagram were just starting to take off. Although there were a few bloggers here and there who were sharing their stories and wellness tips there weren’t many voices talking about the daily lived experience of type 1 diabetes.
“I was pulled towards the thought of, ‘There have to be other people out there like me who have struggled in the ways that I have’.”
This prompted Lauren to start her own blog and Instagram account, where she shared her unique journey, insights, and tips for diabetes management beyond just the basics. This decision paid off: Her online presence quickly gained traction, so much so that Lauren found herself at a bit of a crossroads.
“I was about to graduate from college,” she recalls. “I was applying for law school. I had taken the LSATs twice, and everyone expected that was my plan. Then I thought, ‘What if I just took a year, postponed law school, and became a Health Coach instead?’ to which my family was obviously like, "What is a Health Coach? Are you sure you don’t want to go to medical school instead?"
And her journey began.
From IIN to Risely Health
In 2015, Lauren enrolled at IIN to fill a gap within the type 1 diabetes healthcare system that had long been overlooked, determined to pioneer the field of type 1 diabetes coaching. After graduating from the Health Coach Training Program, she began working as a solo coach (or ‘solopreneur,’ as Lauren affectionately calls it, and what we will be calling it from now on). Her practice grew at lightning speed, with an ever-increasing demand for her services helping those living with type 1.
Lauren recalls how clear it was from the start that most people living with T1D feel lost or stuck in a cycle of frustration.
“It didn’t matter if someone was diagnosed with T1D 3 months ago, or 30 years ago. The common denominator was that they desperately wanted to feel a sense of freedom and balance in their lives.”
Lauren’s client transformations and outcomes were proof that health coaching could be a game changer for the T1D community. She also came to the conclusion that this was much bigger than the work she could do alone. That’s what led her to create Risely Health.
“Our core belief at Risely Health is that diabetes is more than a math problem to be solved – it’s an experience to be managed.”
Risely coaches, who live with type 1 diabetes, collaborate with clients to find the root of what’s holding them back, help them learn their body’s patterns, discover strategies that work, and create sustainable behavior change.
From discovering a passion for health coaching at IIN to launching her own company that impacts thousands of people every year, Lauren has given others a community-based coaching space that she sought for herself all those years ago. She also exemplifies that anyone can create the change they wish to see in the world.
Lauren’s Advice to Health Coaches Seeking to Find Their Niche
Lauren is bullish on the future of health coaching, and she’s confident that the industry is going to continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years. No matter the niche or the focus, there’s a place (and a need) for health coaching.
“The healthcare system may not be ready to change, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create new solutions to solve the problems that exist for people. We have the hard data to show that health coaching leads to both improvements in quantitative and qualitative outcomes and should be a larger part of the standard of care."
This inspiring message is clear: People need support outside their doctor’s office and modalities with behavior change at the center lead to sustainable outcomes.
“So many people are struggling alone. We can’t underestimate the power of using our challenges to fuel our purpose.”
We hope this has inspired you to create the change you wish to see in the world, too!
Want to experience the transformative Health Coach Training Program for yourself? Try our Sample Class and experience interactive masterclasses, exclusive lectures, reflective journal prompts, a 30-minute video demonstration of our coaching method, and more!
You can connect with Lauren via her website, Instagram, and TikTok. To learn more about Risely Health, click here.
Published: October 22, 2024
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