About
Welcome. I am Heather, a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. I was born and raised in the United States and have worked in various international locations, including the Cayman Islands, London, England, and Toronto, Canada. My career began as a Certified Public Accountant at Ernst & Young, where I gained invaluable experience in the financial sector.
For over 20 years, I worked as a senior executive for a global bank, where my experience includes project management, head of banking operations, head of fund operations, and managing key client relationships worldwide. I also mentored and managed large teams, honing my leadership skills and helping individuals grow in their careers.
Personal health and fitness have always been an essential part of my lifestyle. After overcoming severe fatigue and an autoimmune disorder, I transitioned to health and wellness coaching to help others navigate their own health challenges. I am passionate about using my experiences and knowledge to support others on their journey to better health and well-being.
My diverse background and unique perspective have earned me a reputation as a trusted and effective coach. I am committed to helping others achieve their goals and live their best lives, both personally and professionally.
My Journey
My fatigue issues started over 25 years ago after an illness where I continued to experience periodic fatigue. While I felt something wasn’t quite right, there was nothing indicative in my health assessments that there was anything that could be modified or addressed.
Fast forward 15 years to a demanding job and busy family life, I had accomplished most of my big life goals. However, I was having more trouble sleeping, frequent colds and illnesses, and minor health concerns. Over several years, my complaints of fatigue were normalized during health assessments and addressed as something temporary. I continued to push through, hoping it was a passing phase, never comprehending how quickly my health would spiral out of control.
Over time, my health issues turned into sleep disorders, with more persistent fatigue and pressure behind my eyes. Despite following the doctor’s orders, I was not getting restorative sleep. My once-active lifestyle changed. I became more sedentary and gained weight. With a busy life, I had to simplify and prioritize where to focus. I loved my family and my work, and I continued to pour my energy into giving my all to both. I kept powering through with the best intentions, hoping that my sleep issues would soon shift and improve. Throughout the years, I had a nagging feeling that my physicians were missing something and that the treatment approach was missing the bigger picure.
I finally hit rock bottom in 2017 when my health quickly spiralled into autoimmune symptoms. At this point, I was sure of only two things. One, I was not willing to live with “managing symptoms.” Two, I desperately wanted to be healthy, vibrant and active again for myself and my children.
Finding a doctor in my area with the experience I wanted was challenging. Feeling lost and uncertain about the future, I slowly found stories of others who had recovered from autoimmune diseases and began to explore alternative treatments. Over several months, I became consumed with researching the latest health information related to my symptoms and studying herbal medicine and its efficacy. I carefully began experimenting with a few herbs, which led to small successes and some relief from fatigue that instilled in me a drive and sense of empowerment to keep going.
I soon found the naturopathic doctor I was searching for that provided knowledge of the biological fundamentals and holistic treatment approach. However, the knowledge and confidence I gained through taking control of my health and learning about herbal medicine proved invaluable to understanding and adjusting to the challenges of my ongoing treatment.
Flash forwards three years after coming out the other side of my health issues and a divorce. I felt drawn to helping others experiencing similar challenges find more ease and balance in their lives and careers. After learning about the Functional Medicine approach to treatment, their coaching program was the natural next step for me. In their program, I learned about the functional medicine approach to determining the root cause of chronic health issues, the latest evidenced-backed coaching principles, and mind-body medicine. I dug into their nutrition protocols and challenged myself to show up to live the life I wanted in all areas of my life.
In hindsight, all my experiences have brought me to a more authentic way of living that is true to my needs. I now have sustainable energy levels and navigate life using my strengths and values as my guide. I only move forward if it’s a “hell yes.”
My move into Health and Wellness Coaching follows a successful 20+ year career as a CPA and a senior leader at a global bank. After profoundly life-altering experiences, I felt the need to help others explore their options for better health and find their way. I made the terrifying decision to leave my former role and took a leap of faith into health and wellness coaching.
Start here. Connect to the ideas and resources that help you improve your health and Love the Life You Live!
Why Me?
I know what it’s like to feel stuck and that I need to figure out my health issues all on my own. I was told I was healthy for many years despite complaining of persistent fatigue.
At the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, I learned about the latest evidence-based coaching principles, the functional medicine approach to determining the root cause of chronic health issues, and mind-body medicine. I dug into their protocols and challenged myself to show up fully to live the life I wanted in my health, nutrition, and lifestyle. My coaching approach encompasses a holistic view of the individual. I believe that no matter how challenging the constraints, everyone has the strengths they need to reach their health goals and live an active, healthy, and fulfilled life they love living. I did it, so can you. And I am here to help you get there faster.
Five important things I learned during my health journey:
- A diagnosis is not your destiny. Don’t resign to the fact that you must follow instructions that maintain the status quo and “manage symptoms” forever.
- You can influence your health holistically through herbal medicine, nutrition, movement, and modifiable lifestyle factors. Your body has an incredible ability to heal itself if given half the chance and the right inputs.
- Become your own doctor. Learn as much as you can from diverse sources with different perspectives. There is no “one-stop shop” to fully restore your health. You are unique, and your health is a journey, not a destination.
- If you do not have time to prioritize yourself, find a supportive friend or other resources to help you take actionable steps. You must put on your oxygen mask before you can help anyone else.
- If one approach doesn’t work, keep asking questions and experimenting with solutions. You are one step closer to finding something that does work.
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