For years I tended to a natural-based life.  I created hair products from foods and herbs.  My lotions contained minimal ingredients.  Or, I mixed herbs and oils. 

 

At 19 I did the big-chop removing every strand of chemically-processed hair.  For 20 years I've twisted, braided, locked, and picked out my natural hair.

 

When problems arose, I prayed, sought therapy, and journaled. 

 

But when my period came, I went straight loco - only pain pills and narcotics for me!  

Every three weeks the nurse sent me home early: I couldn't sit up or stand - the pain pulsed through my back, stomach, and thighs. Once home, I laid in the bed for a minimum of 3 hours with a heating pad just so I could muster the strength to walk to the fridge - or go the the bathroom.  And that was after popping more than the recommended amount of pills.  For ​23 years I suffered every three weeks in this same manner.  

 

In August 2017 my OB-GYN re-diagnosed me with fibroids and a right ovarian cyst.  I'd lived pain-free for six years following a myomectomy in 2011. 

 

But to advance my career, I neglected myself by...

• ignoring aches and pains 

• neglecting my spiritual life 

• pushing exercise off to study

• eating crappy food

• neglecting self-care and stress management 

• suppressing the desire to eat so I could study 

• not asking for help to manage my grandmother's care until the last minute

 

Stress caused an irregular period pattern again.  Just like I'd experienced in medical school when I had a 22-day bleed, my period never stopped this time around.    

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Knowing all this, I left her office dejected.  I'd failed myself.  Again.  My fear of failure wreaked havoc by pushing me to extreme measures.  Now I was paying the price to succeed.

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I passed my board exams in August.  But my celebratory mood fizzled out when months later the MRI showed a 4-cm increase in the fibroids.  They were now the size of a grapefruit. 

Neglecting the foundations of health and well-being (you reap what you sow) created the soil for tumors and cysts to grow. 

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So, I started from the beginning.  This time around, I also made mindset changes, lifestyle shifts, and spiritual renovations.

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I used to...

• stay home from the pain and weakness

• bleed through my skirts and dresses

• fall asleep with a heating pad on my abdomen

• struggle with exhaustion from the anemia

• exist on Excedrin or Aleve and Tylenol

• faint or have dizzy spells (with the requisite ER visit)

• avoid yoga or barre for fear of falling from the  weakness

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Now I've recovered from all of those symptoms.  I stopped the fibroids from growing and working to shrink them. 

 

The decision to shift my mindset so I nurture my mind, body, and spirit led to my recovery.  When I work with clients in the same way they always experience "surprising", "unexpected" results.   Truthfully though, that's the only way to approach well-being.

Personal

 

I love mac & cheese!  The gluten-free one I made rivals my grandmother's (No lie!  My dad agrees.  No, he's not biased). 

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I also love tiny homes, Chicago steppin', and art journaling. 

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I have one fake tooth because the original was knocked out by a man running from the police while stealing a huge television.  He ran into me.  Then he got caught by the cops.  

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I grew up in a Christian home as a pastor's kid and received the Acts 2:38 biblical experience at the age of seven.  My relationship with Jesus Christ fills me with a deep belief that we are already seated in well-being; There is divine will, agency, an opportunity for us to recover our health.  So, in therapeutic partnerships, my client and I work toward her well-being, not away from disease. 

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My Super Powers

Clients and friends tell me that after our interactions and appointments they:

• are more optimistic

• feel seen and heard 

• feel safe to be transparent

• feel good about themselves

• are encouraged to keep going

• understand complicated topics

• share more than they expected 

• gain clarity from our conversations

 

This means when we work together you can expect more than a structured, personalized treatment plan.  You can feel safe to be yourself and have your needs met both professionally and personally.

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Thank you for visiting!

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Sign up for the weekly-ish newsletter.  Isn't it time to learn lots of practical things?   You can start working on fixing your period problems today.

 

I also offer First Line Therapy telehealth consultations.   To improve your health we uncover and address root causes.  That's when you experience dramatic and permanent well-being.

 

Check out the blog.  If you read something that resonates or triggers you, let me know.  I'm here for conversation too.

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Whatever you do, I hope it guides you to examine your life and see what you can do with the power you have.   

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Education

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• Spelman College: B.A., English/Pre-Med - 2000

• Cambridge College: M.Ed, Education - 2006

• Institute of Integrative Nutrition: CHHC, Holistic Health Coach - 2007

• University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine: N.D., Naturopathic Doctoral

Program - 2015

 

Licensure

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• Naturopathic Physician, Washington, D.C., April 2018 - Dec 2020

• Naturopathic Physician, Connecticut, January 2021 - Present