I have been a practicing health coach since 2020 when I earned my Integrative Nutritional Health Coach Certification at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
During my time at IIN studied with the world’s top health and wellness experts including:
- Joshua Rosenthal, founder and director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition
- Deepak Chopra, MD leader in the field of mind-body medicine
- David Katz, MD, MPH, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center
- Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, chair of nutrition at Harvard University
- Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine
- Gabrielle Bernstein, bestselling author and life coach
- Susan Blum, MD, MPH, assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
- Mark Hyman, MD, founder of The UltraWellness Center
- Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating
- David Wolfe, raw food leader and nutrition expert
- Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, professor at New York University’s Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health
- Mark Bittman, food writer for The New York Times and bestselling author
- Joel Fuhrman, MD, family physician and leading expert on nutritional healing
I didn’t always know what it meant to be healthy. I grew up in the 90s where the food pyramid had us eating at bare minimum half a loaf of bread every day. Fat was demonized while sugar quietly took its place and left us all scratching our heads as to why obesity was on the rise. During my childhood and adolescence, most of our food came frozen in a box loaded with sugar, preservatives, dyes, pesticides, the list goes on.
As I progressed through teenage years to young adulthood, I was exposed to the onslaught of fad dieting, fasting, fill-in-the-blank 30 day challenges, you name it. As many of you may already know, not a single one of these did right by my physical and mental health.
In my late teens, early twenties, I discovered ‘partying’. You may or may not be familiar with this activity but it typically consists of drinking poison and staying up way later than you expected and then dragging a tired, depleted version of yourself into work the next day. In 2012, I left my corporate job and decided to pursue acting (my passion) full time. For anyone who’s ever walked this path, you know, opportunity strikes at random, you never know who, what, when, where you’ll catch a break. The acting space necessarily comes with a very vibrant scene. Premier parties, award ceremonies, sponsored networking events, an introvert’s true nightmare. I loved it. I went to just about every event, gathering, impromptu night on the town. Food and sleep took the backseat, ambition and bad habits took the wheel and eventually drove my body into the ground. In my early 30s I woke up one day, after another late night, to an indescribable feeling inside my head and a dizziness that mimicked an intoxicated state. What started as a perceived hangover, lasted months and pushed me to the brink of sanity. I consulted with every type of doctor and specialist, none of whom could determine what was going on inside my head. After every appointment, I was left with less and less hope. Then one day, I connected with my cousin who was well-studied in herbs and herbal supplementation as preventative medicine. We sat down and went through everything that had led me to my condition. I found her approach empowering and inspiring. We took stock of every aspect of my life and how imbalances in different areas were actually interconnected and feeding off of each other. For months, I followed a strict herbal protocol and healthy diet and my symptoms gradually and then entirely faded away. This was my first ‘light-bulb’ moment regarding alternative methods of healing and prevention.
My second ‘light-bulb’ moment would come years later, after the birth of my oldest son, in the midst of COVID. I became acutely aware of what was broken and missing from our health care system. Preventative care comes in many forms, but as a whole, it is still massively undervalued and overlooked within our current system. Health coaching is a unique form of preventative care that gets to the root of imbalances across all of the different areas of a person’s life. The end result is a more robust and complete state of individual health. I wanted to do right by my son and give him a healthy foundation from which to grow. Through my regular research, I found the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and I knew immediately that this was the path I was meant to walk. In my studies at IIN, I gravitated toward the role and importance of gut health and the power of the mind-gut connection.
In addition to my IIN Health Coach certification, I also obtained a certification in gut health, affording me a deeper understanding of the health or decline of the mind and body through the gut. My fascination with the ‘second brain’ (the gut) and its connection to the first was in-part driven by the struggles of some of my family members with gut health. I witnessed first-hand the remarkable impact of diet and stress reduction on gut health. A healthy or unhealthy gut impacts so many different areas and functions of your body, including your emotional state and ability to regulate emotions, your immune system, food sensitivities and allergies, heart and kidney health, skin conditions, blood sugar, the list goes on.
Feeling anxious, depressed or both? There’s a good chance your gut is out of balance. Over 90% of your body’s total serotonin production occurs in the gut. If your gut is not functioning at optimal levels, this can impact your serotonin production and consequently worsen your anxiety and depression. In our individual health coaching sessions, we will explore the link between gut health and your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. I will help you understand your body’s signals and recognize and manage inflammation and food intolerances. You will gain crucial skills for a balanced life through specific dietary and lifestyle changes. I will equip you with the knowledge and practical tools needed for optimal digestive health and overall wellness.
Whether you’re looking for some extra mental clarity at work, some extra patience and mood stability at home, or additional support and resilience through a major life transition, together we will thread attainable steps tied directly to achievable goals that bring balance and stability back into your life. Schedule a free 50 minute consultation (in person or virtual) and take that first step towards a better you!
I am currently located in Winthrop MA with my partner and two rambunctious boys under the age of four. My passion for health and wellness permeates every aspect of my life and I am so excited to share the life changing gifts that health coaching has brought to my family and my clients over the years. Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds or alter the course of your life, I will walk with you on your health journey to a better tomorrow.
Your Health & Wellness Journey Starts Here
Do you just feel off-balance and can't pin-point the root cause?
Are you experiencing pain and you don’t know what is causing it? Are you feeling down and don’t understand why? Health can be confusing and frustrating, and it can leave people feeling stuck. Add to that changing mindsets and habits and it can become incredibly challenging and overwhelming. It’s no wonder people need support, and that’s exactly why I’m here.
