Nutrition and Weight Management: My relationship with food and weight has been a meaningful part of my personal journey. I’ve spent many years in a 12-step program* for food-related challenges, both as a member and a sponsor, and that experience has given me deep insight into the emotional landscape that often accompanies eating patterns, dieting, and body image.

​

For a long time, I believed that once I checked off all the boxes—college degree, nice house, little family of four, solid job—I would finally feel settled. I thought I’d “arrived.” Instead, I found myself just as overwhelmed and emotionally stretched as ever, quietly wondering why everything looked right but didn’t feel right. Life on paper was polished; life behind the scenes was another story.

​

During the demanding period of returning to full-time work, I did what so many of us do: I tried to keep everything running smoothly by managing all the roles, responsibilities, expectations, and emotions at once—like a one-woman juggling act—leaving me emotionally bankrupt and drained. In that overextended place, my eating disorder quickly progressed, and I experienced significant weight gain. It was a very painful, bewildering time that showed me how profoundly stress, pressure, and the myth of “having it all together” can impact our relationship with food and with ourselves.

​

What I’ve learned through recovery is that sustainable, healthy change is never just about food itself. It requires a holistic, compassionate approach—one that honors the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of well-being. It often means addressing the emotional buildup that drives us to use food for comfort, control, or protection. And it requires dismantling the beliefs and patterns that keep us stuck in cycles of shame or self-criticism.

​

Today, this lived experience allows me to support clients with empathy, understanding, and a grounded perspective. Together, we can explore your relationship with food, identify what’s underneath the patterns, and build a sustainable, nourishing approach that honors both your body and your emotional well-being.

​

Personal and Professional Development: Over time, I’ve committed myself to ongoing personal development, emotional healing, and spiritual growth, exploring integrative approaches such as workshops, retreats, 12-step programs*, therapeutic modalities, visualization practices, and spiritual disciplines. Through years of dedicated practice and extensive study, I’ve had the honor of being invited to facilitate numerous workshops and lead inspirational activity groups.

​

Receiving career coaching was a turning point in my professional life. It helped me align my work with my deeper purpose and grow as a leader, collaborator, and educator. The insights and growth I experienced through this process inspired me to bring the same intentional holistic approach to my work with clients, supporting them as they pursue their own meaningful transformations.  

​

After years in the corporate healthcare world, I reached a painful burnout that felt like hitting a wall—hard.  What had once felt purposeful began to feel draining and misaligned. I went from trying to “do it all” to feeling completely numb, which showed me just how much I had been pushing past my limits.  That collapse, as painful as it was, was a wake-up call that became a turning point that completely changed the course of my life. Slowing down and looking inward helped me rediscover balance, purpose, and a more authentic way of living. Integrative practices played a key role in my healing and reconnection.

​

That experience ultimately inspired me to become a coach. I know firsthand the toll that stress and imbalance can take, and I believe lasting change begins with a well-rounded perspective—body, mind, and spirit. Today, I help clients find clarity, restore energy, and create lives that feel sustainable and aligned with who they truly are.

​

Relationships & Communication: I cherish the close, fulfilling connections I share with family and friends—they’ve always been a priority in my life. Over time, I’ve strengthened my relationships—whether with family, friends, or romantic partners—by weaving in the spiritual principles of 12-step programs,* along with therapy, retreats, workshops, and other growth-focused practices. These approaches have helped me nurture connections, build strong communication skills, and find peace even in the challenging moments.  

​

But the most transformative lessons came through the hard moments in my romantic relationships. I didn’t understand why I could feel so close to my partner and yet so insecure at the same time. I hadn’t learned to consistently offer myself the love and happiness I was seeking from others. That insight changed everything. For much of my life, I showed up in relationships with an anxious, people-pleasing energy—working hard to stay connected, even when it meant sidelining my own needs and staying quiet to keep the peace. 

​

Attachment styles are both emotional and physiological. Studying the theory of attachment** helped me recognize when I was in an activated state, and how to calm and regulate myself. This gave me a sense of internal safety I had been missing.  Attachment work made my patterns in relationships visible, which meant I could interrupt them. I learned to pause, stay grounded during conflict, ask for what I needed, and trust myself more deeply. It didn’t happen overnight, but with practice, support, and somatic work, I began to feel more secure. My relationships began to feel calmer, safer, and more connected.

​

I finally discovered that the true love of my life is ME! The love, peace, and happiness I’ve been seeking has always lived within me. I’ve learned that real connection doesn’t come from proving my worth; it comes from being true to who I am and allowing others to meet me there. 

​

Doing that work now shapes the way I support clients. I know firsthand how relationships and communication can feel overwhelming, especially when old patterns are running the show. I’m passionate about helping clients communicate more authentically and build stronger connections—grounded in self-awareness, emotional safety, and mutual respect—so they can experience relationships that feel supportive, secure, and deeply fulfilling.

 

Mind-Body Connection: The development of mind-body skills can have a profound impact on our health. When appropriate, I work with clients on breathing techniques, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, self-compassion, and other approaches that support the body’s natural healing response. Whether you have highly developed practices, or you are a newcomer to mind-body connection, my coaching will focus on leveraging the connections between state of mind and basic physiological functions in the body.

 

 

* For more information about 12-step programs, click here: https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/treatment-program/aftercare/types-12-step-programs/

** For more information on attachment styles, see “Understanding Attachment Styles” in the Field Notes section. 

​​​​