When I was in my twenties, I was an expert at burning the candles at both ends. Motivated to do everything I could to make a good life for my daughter and me, I worked a full-time job, and attended college at night. I remember being stressed all the time and I guess I thought—this is the way life is. That was my normal. Looking back, it seems anything but normal. Never once did it occur to me to slow down, be present, and take care of myself.

My journey started over 30 years ago. I had my first panic attack at 18 years old. My daughter was an infant and I was just a kid myself. At the time, no one was able to tell me what was happening to me. Not even my doctor. Looking back, the answers seem perfectly clear now.

Too much responsibility, too much to do and a limited support system sent my health on a downward spiral. It never occurred to me to look at my situation as a single parent trying to raise a child with limited income and not a lot of resources as a major contributor to my health crisis.

After 10 long years of searching and self-educating, my path crossed with a holistic practitioner. Using a combination of holistic therapies, together we were able to sort out my decade long struggle. And once I got going, there was no stopping me. I was on a mission to feel better and tell anyone who would listen how to do the same.

I’ve spent most of my years since then accumulating knowledge, and using it to help others. I received a Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University in the 90s. I fell in love with homeopathy and studied at The Renaissance Institute of Classical Homeopathy, and Teleosis School of Homeopathy. In between my two homeopathic programs, I attended the Acupressure Therapy Institute where I learned about Traditional Chinese Medicine and Asian Bodywork Therapy. In 2008, I became a fully accredited Certified International Health Coach through The Institute of Integrative Nutrition and Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Then I took 10 years off from my educational pursuits to build my practice. But the lure of learning started whispering in my ear again, so I enrolled at Trinity School of Natural Health where I’ve recently (change to: where I completed) completed my training for Naturopathic Doctor (change to: Doctor of Natural Medicine) designation.