Meet Valerie
I am a believer in living life; a healthy life.
Holistic Nutritionist and Wellness Warrior
Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
Certified dōTERRA Essential Oil Specialist
Certified Essential Emotions Coach
Healthy Aging
Low-Tox Living
Panic Disorder Survivor
Living Intentionally
My Health
I am a Panic and Anxiety disorder survivor.
I am not just surviving I am thriving.
This is my journey...
"You will be on medication your whole life.”
Eight of the most frightening words I had ever heard. I guess you can say this was the real start of my health journey.
I was diagnosed with a panic disorder over 20 years ago. Back then no one spoke about these issues. There was no internet to do research like there is today. And the few friends I spoke about it with told me “what do you have to panic about”?. It was then I shut down.
I knew I was alone to figure it all out.
I was at lunch with my mom and I turned to her and said my brain is exploding and I am going to die. She could not comprehend what in fact I was saying.
I was given oxygen and taken to the hospital by ambulance. I was told I was perfectly healthy.
Wait, what? This happened again two days later.
I went to my GP, I was convinced there was something wrong with my brain and insisted on a brain MRI. MRI showed my brain was healthy and he gave me Xanax and told me it was only enough for a week because of the addicting nature of this drug.
Nothing got better, it got worse, much worse. My pulse racing at 120 around the clock, racing thoughts, I could not sleep and I was losing weight. My Dr. told me I had a Panic Disorder and he prescribed Paxil and said I would be on it my whole life. I read the side effects of this medication and sobbed. The list of side effects was extensive. I suffered in silence.
I needed to function and this was the only way I saw that to happen. If you have ever been on this class of drugs, you know. I was like a rubber band that could not stretch. I was not happy and I was not sad-I just was. I knew I had to get off this drug- so I dove into research and read everything I could get my hands on to understand what was happening to me. I needed to heal myself. And over the next six months I did heal and went off the meds.
I have never been on meds again. This period of my life was the worse six months I had ever experienced, but it was the best six months. I learned so much about myself. I learned how to let go of the unimportant things and focus on what matters. There are times I do feel an elephant on my chest. I now have the coping mechanisms to get through those periods. Breathe work, journaling, and essential oils to name a few.
Having tools and natural solutions makes those times ever so fleeting.
My Background
I am a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. I completed my schooling and training and received my certification from Global College of Natural Medicine.
I received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from SUNY at Buffalo and in my past life worked at an advertising agency in media.
Now I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness. My emphasis is on the prevention of diseases and their underlying causes as well as weight management. I look at how all areas of your life are connected-physical, emotional and mental.
My focus has always been on education and empowerment - for you to become knowledgeable and take control of your own health and lives.
I look forward to working with you and as we embark on this journey. We, together, can help you achieve a healthy lifestyle, one step at a time.
My Mission
Education and empowerment are the cornerstone to living a healthy life.
Working with me you will develop a deeper understanding of food and lifestyle choices that work best for you, improving your energy, health, and happiness.
We will navigate the world of contradictory nutrition and health advice together to explore what truly works for you.
Helping people is my passion and my purpose.