my approach
what i do
I work with mono and multiracial women of color to help you get clear on what health and wellness means to you, not what dominant culture, your family, or anyone else believes.
We talk about the many ways health and wellness shows up right now and the many options you have to live and be another way that is truly aligned with you. We also address the bigger picture things and systems that have led to the beliefs we have carried and have been measuring ourselves against, as well as foundational nutrition education that can connect you with your body more. In order to make the work we do together manageable and sustainable, we do this by breaking things down into small steps.
I do this through one on one coaching, you can find out more about that here.
I also help other like-minded health and wellness practitioners create the meaningful tools and things they want to help their clients with. Together, we help more people feel seen and heard in the wellness world. You can learn more about that here.
why small steps?
Trying to find and work towards your own health can be a lot, especially the navigating the layers of systemic oppression, unlearning things we’ve been taught our whole lives and trying to learn new things that align more with us.
The programming from what we’ve learned on many levels built up over years and years, and naturally, it will take some time to move away from it.
Over and over again, in my own life and with clients, what’s really worked to create meaningful progress or change has been taking small steps, one step at a time.
what i focus on
- A holistic approach to health and wellness
- Moving away from diet culture
- Feeling more confident with food choices
- Naming the bigger things (systems of oppression, cultural “norms”) that affect our health and wellness
- Fostering self awareness and self compassion
- Nutrition literacy
- Bringing awareness to old stories and beliefs
- Returning to and embracing all parts of your cultures and identities in your health and wellness
- Taking all of this one small step at a time
what i don’t focus on
- Fat or weight loss
- Calorie or macro counting
- A set diet or way of eating
- Ways of eating that remove entire food groups, especially foods/food groups that are important to your cultures
- Fitness or movement advice
- Disordered eating diagnosis or support (find support here)
- Treating or diagnosing any conditions (please consult with a medical professional)
- Coaching from a place of shame, blame or guilt
my values
I approach my life and how we’ll work together in a values-led way.
These are the values I center my work around.
compassion
Changes, feedback and motivation is more sustainable and life giving when done from a place of compassion.
Often times, diet culture pushes for change from places of shame and guilt, which can only last for so long before it ultimately stops working.
I strive to provide a compassionate space for my clients to do their work and invite them to cultivate a greater sense of self compassion for themselves.
awareness
Often health is oversimplified and siloed, making it normal to feel frustrated and keep trying more oversimplified and potentially damaging options when progress isn’t being made.
By focusing on increasing my client’s awareness of what’s happening in their body, mind and around them on a societal level, I help to empower my clients to see the bigger pictures and reconnect to themselves.
autonomy
I am a strong believer in bioindividuality in my work and that you are the expert on you. I work to provide a supportive environment for my clients so they can explore options to make decisions that work for them.
Coupled with my focus on awareness, I want my clients to feel empowered to make decisions and have confidence in their choices and possible experiments, regardless of what dominant culture says is “right”.
my philosophy
Paired with my values, I have key tenants that I bring into my client work.
autonomy and trust
I believe that you are the expert on you. While I can offer lots of suggestions and small steps for someone to try, I know that the “right” answer for you comes from you, your values, goals and personal definitions of health.
nuance and individuality
I acknowledge and create space for nuance and individuality around my suggestions and guidance. The things that could work for you depend so much on your personal health history, cultures, beliefs, values and more.
addition over subtraction or restriction
I focus on adding to someone’s health rather than restriction or deprivation. I believe that health can come in many sizes. While body composition could change with lifestyle and nutrition changes, that is not the goal or focus of the steps I recommend.
social justice and liberation
I incorporate my social justice and liberatory perspective into my work. By naming and addressing systems of oppression and internalized oppression, I hope to help you connect the dots to what could be driving certain ideas, pressures and things you can let go of to find what works for them.
