The 1–5 Scale I Use With Coaching Clients

Doctor Turned Health Coach · May 29, 2026 · 9m

A symptom scale is not just a number. It is a way to communicate.

Most people have been asked some version of this question: "What is your pain on a scale of 1 to 10?"

But this kind of scale is often too confusing. A patient may say their pain is a 12 because they feel like they can no longer function. A doctor may hear that number differently. That gap can make people feel dismissed, misunderstood, or rushed into the wrong solution.

In this episode, I explain why health scales are really a grammar for communication.

I also walk through the 1–5 energy scale I use with health coaching clients…