Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching
By Functional Medicine Coaching Academy
Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine CoachingJun 29, 2022
Pathways to Prosperity For Health Coaches, With Reed Davis
We hear it all the time: You know you'd make a great health coach, and you've even found a training program that will arm you with the skills, knowledge, and certification you need to start working with your own clients. But what happens next? How do you set prices, get clients, find your niche? In short, what does the step between coach-in-training and successful health coach look like? Joining Dr. Sandi in this episode is Reed Davis, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®, who delves into opportunities for health coaches, particularly those who are just starting out.
Reflecting on his journey, Reed shares how his earliest clients shaped him into the curious, creative, and successful health coach he is today. Often, those clients came to him frustrated and hopeless, desperate for a root-cause solution to their health problems after conventional doctors prescribed strong drugs and failed to offer a listening ear. Reed helped them get better—all without diagnosing or prescribing anything.
Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/reed-davis-081/
The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy, With Dr. Felice Gersh
You've probably heard conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy for menopausal and post-menopausal women—you may even have heard that it's dangerous. As our guest this week says, "the bottom line is, that's nonsense." Let's set the record straight. This week, Dr. Sandi unpacks the complex history and science of hormone replacement therapy with her friend and colleague, women's health and hormone expert Dr. Felice Gersh In this conversation, Dr. Felice debunks the now-infamous Women's Health Initiative study that drove decades of healthcare practitioners and their patients—including Dr. Sandi—to avoid hormone replacement therapy. She shares the science behind why this study was flawed and highlights the importance of bioidentical hormones, emphasizing their role in addressing conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive health. Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/felice-gersh-080/
The Gut-Brain Connection, With Dr. Vincent Pedre
Our minds and bodies are linked even more closely than we may realize. Our mental state has an impact on our physical wellness (or illness)—and by tapping into that mind-body link, we can intentionally influence how we feel. This week, Dr. Sandi dives into the power and potential of the gut-brain connection with Board-Certified Internist and Functional Medicine expert Dr. Vincent Pedre.
As a competitive, high-achieving medical student, Dr. Pedre's discovery of mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga allowed him to soothe his vagus nerve and cultivate a sense of calm that actually promoted healing in his body. To him, it seemed obvious that the gut-brain connection was a critical component of wellness, and his experiences transformed the way he approached his medical practice.
The Workplace Wellness Revolution, With Jaqueline Olivera-Cella
Workplace wellness isn't just a hot topic for human resources departments or a recruitment tool. It is a tool that has been shown to help employees take control of their health and wellness. This week, Dr. Sandi discusses workplace wellness and menopause with expert Jaqueline Olivera-Cella of wellBe Consulting.
As a professional actuary, Jaqueline helps employees mitigate risks for their employees. Lately, her focus has been on employee health concerns and developing solutions for employers to implement. She recently created cases about menopause in the workplace and how women can care for themselves at work.
Health coaches can be instrumental in helping women navigate this time of their lives and advocate for themselves in the workplace. They ask questions and encourage their clients to be curious, especially when it comes to their health. Together, coaches and clients can pause and ask, "What is happening?" and then seek out answers. Health coaches are also essential in helping clients find the language to explain what is happening and express their needs while remaining professional. In the workplace, health coaches are not only a tool for employees to reach their health and wellness goals but also a guide to advocating for employee needs.
In This Episode:
- How can health coaches benefit employers and employees?
- Understand how menopause affects women in the workplace.
- Learn more about Jaqueline's publications and cases about workplace wellness.
- How menopause can affect women in the workplace and ways to advocate for yourself.
From Diets to Supplements: Tackling Nutrient Deficiency, With Chris Kresser
One of the most confusing parts of health and wellness is nutrients. What should you be getting? How can you get them? Can you get everything you need from food? Should you take supplements? Which ones? With so much information out there, it is difficult to filter the good information from the bad. This is where a health coach can help.
This week Dr. Sandi discusses all things nutrients with expert Chris Kresser. Did you know that 90% of Americans are deficient in several micro-nutrients? Chris explains some of the reasoning behind this statistic and why even those who eat healthy and nutrient-dense diets might not be getting enough vitamins. Moreover, Chris explains the importance of nutrient synergy and how some nutrients work hand-in-hand to keep you healthy.
Chris Kresser has made it his mission to provide safe and effective supplements to people worldwide. He shares what to look for when shopping for supplements and highlights the three biggest problems he finds with many supplement brands.
In this Episode:
- Learn how nutrition synergy affects nutrient absorption
- Hear how whole foods are losing nutrition quality
- Understand what you should be looking for in a supplement brand
- Know the 3 big problems to look out for when purchasing supplements
The Modern Menopause Toolkit: Redefining Solutions, With Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz
Six thousand women enter menopause in the United States every day. Yet many people don't know the difference between premenopause, perimenopause, and actual menopause. This week, Dr. Sandi welcomes Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz to share her expertise. Dr. Suzanne is the Chief Medical Correspondent for the Drew Barrymore Show and author of Menopause Bootcamp.
Menopause isn't "one-size-fits-all." From plant-based options to pharma to self-care, Dr. Suzanne shares her menopause toolkit. She discusses various tools and treatments available for women to help with the effects of menopause. Moreover, she and Dr. Sandi discuss how health coaches can be an excellent resource for women during this time.
Menopause and post-menopause are significant parts of a woman's life. It isn't an ending; it's a transition into a new period of life. So, let's talk about it.
Episode Highlights:
- Understand the difference between menopause and peri-menopause
- Learn Dr. Suzanne's 6 S's of Self-Care
- Hear about the benefits of plants and plant medicine
- Dr Suzanne shares the various tools available for pre-, post-, and menopausal women
Building a Health Coaching Non-Profit, With Shawn Blymiller
Functional Medicine Coaching Academy graduates are changing the world. Alum Shawn Blymiller is making a difference in the lives of families one coaching session at a time. This week, Dr. Sandi sits down with Shawn Blymiller of Pure Living and Pure Living Family to discuss his work in building a successful business and non-profit. He is helping kids and families with special needs thrive.
In 2018, Shawn's son was diagnosed with Autism and PANDAS a year later. This started Shawn and his wife's journey to discovering functional medicine, health coaching, and FMCA. Shawn saw firsthand how health coaching can improve the lives of families and children with special needs. However, he also knows that those families don't always have the resources available to hire health coaches.
This inspired Shawn to create Pure Living and Pure Living Family, a non-profit built on a model inspired by Toms creator Blake Mycoskie, and raised $30,000 to help give families with special needs access to health coaching. Now these families can start thriving.
In This Episode:
- Hear Shawn's inspiring story of finding functional medicine and health coaching.
- See the steps taken to create a health coaching-based non-profit.
- Take a look at how Pure Living is helping coaches build client lists and work with corporations.
- Learn how you can help families with special needs access health coaching.
The Power of Smell: How Food Aromas Shape Your Eating Habits, With Rachel Herz
Everyone loves the delicious smells of baking bread or cookies, gardens in the springtime, or fresh fruit ready to eat. But did you know that those smells have a significant impact on your eating habits? This week, Dr. Sandi welcomes Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist and expert on the psychological science of scents and smells.
Without a sense of smell, food wouldn't be the same. According to Herz, aroma has such an impact on our taste that it can genuinely make a difference in the enjoyment of eating. Sure, the mouth can taste the five different flavors (salt, spice, sugar, sour, and umami) and feel the texture of the food, but the smell gives us complex flavors and tastes that draw us to our favorite foods. Moreover, food scents drive cravings and hunger, influencing our food decisions in ways you might not believe.
Episode Highlights
- Learn why your sense of taste mostly comes from your sense of smell.
- Understand why smelling sweets or fast food for a few minutes leads people to eat healthier options.
- Get tips and tricks on how you can improve your sense of smell.
- Hear about how you can make the most out of your eating experience by adding a bit of mindfulness.
Find the transcript here: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/rachel-herz-074/
How to Launch Your Health Coaching Business, with Hailey Rowe
Starting a health coaching business can be a daunting task. Where do you
start? What do new health coach graduates need to get started? How do
you make your first sale? This week, Dr. Sandi sits down with expert
business coach for health coaches, Hailey Rowe.
Hailey Rowe has a
passion for health and a calling to help health coaches make the most
out of their health coaching business. She guides coaches at all levels
through everything from first steps to finding clients to growing sales.
Her insight into sales and marketing in the health coaching industry is
invaluable. Hailey shares her best advice, such as the benefits of
getting a "No," examples of great content, like lead magnets, and walks
through her 4 Steps of Client Attraction.
In This Episode:
~ Learn the 4 Steps of Client Attraction
~ Gain insight into how you can grow your business.
~ Understand what you need to get your health coaching business started.
~ Hear Hailey and Dr. Sandi's tips on making your first sale.
Heart Health and Being a Medical Advocate, with Dr. Howard Elkin
s the healthcare landscape changes, it's becoming more and more important for patients to become their own healthcare advocates. This week, Dr. Sandi welcomes the Medical Advocate, Dr. Howard Elkin. Trained as a cardiologist, Dr. Elkin worked in healthcare for years before finding himself on the other side of the table. After having a heart attack, despite living a healthy lifestyle and having no family history of cardiovascular disease, he realized that there were serious problems in healthcare.
Known as the Medical Advocate, Dr. Elkin's mission is to help empower patients to embrace their ability to be in charge of their health. He has built a "patient bill of rights" and encourages everyone to be their advocate, be their own first opinion. Dr. Elkin shares his opinions on the importance of building relationships between doctors and patients, the benefits of lifestyle medicine, and how to advocate for heart disease testing.
In This Episode:
- Learn what it takes to be your own health advocate.
- Discover the benefits of building a good patient/doctor relationship.
- Gain insight into how lifestyle medicine can improve heart health.
- Check out Dr. Elkin's YouTube channel for more in-depth conversations about heart health.
AI-Powered Gut Microbiome Testing, With Leo Grady
Can artificial intelligence be used to improve overall health? This week Dr. Sandi discusses how AI is being integrated into healthcare with Jona founder, Leo Grady. After working with and developing artificial intelligence systems for the last 20 years, Grady has put this important tool to work helping people live healthier lives.
AI is currently being used to help people analyze and assess their gut microbiomes. So much of our health is impacted by our microbiome, health coaches know it is an important part of health and wellness. Jona uses AI as a tool to help provide clients with research-backed recommendations to improve their health.
AI is becoming a vital tool in healthcare. Learn how health coaches can use AI to help guide their clients along their health and wellness journey.
Episode Highlights
- Understand how artificial intelligence is being used by healthcare companies.
- Learn how health coaches can coach clients through AI-generated results and recommendations from tests such as those from Jona.
- Gain insight into Jona Health and how clients can use their DTC lab tests.
- Discover how artificial intelligence provides research-backed recommendations to customers.
6 Keys to Longevity: Pro-Aging vs Anti-Aging
Aging isn't a bad thing. Instead of trying to find the best anti-aging solutions, consider instead living a more pro-aging lifestyle. Consider a life of longevity. This week, Dr. Sandi discusses all the ways she embraces longevity and how she remains pro-aging in a world of anti-aging.
Dr. Sandi shares her 6 keys to longevity. These keys help to bolster the mind and body as you age. Through functional movement, social connections, diet, and more, you can age well and avoid some of the common issues that can develop as you age. From micro-connections to resistance training to staying curious, see how you can easily add these actions into your daily routine.
In this Episode:
- Understand the benefits of building and maintaining social connections.
- Learn the connection between aging, protein, and resistance training.
- See how staying curious can help you find meaningful work in your later years.
- Check out additional resources on these topics from industry experts, JJ Virgin, Mark Hyman, Gabrielle Lyons, and Debra Atkinson.
Mental Healthcare and Primary Care Collaboration, With Ravi Hariprasad
Mental health and mental health care have only gotten worse since 2020. It's becoming harder and harder for people to make appointments to see therapists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals. This week Dr. Sandi discusses mental health, health coaching, and collaborative care with the founder of Intuitive Mental Health, Ravi Hariprasad.
With the state of healthcare today, many turn to their primary care physicians(PCP) for mental healthcare. Approximately 80% of all anti-depressants are prescribed by PCPs. Intuitive Mental Health is a startup that is working to help PCP to deliver comprehensive and personal mental healthcare support. Ravi shares his thoughts and expertise on what the future of mental healthcare can look like when combining collaborative care, lifestyle medicine, and AI technology.
Episode Highlights
- Understand the state of mental healthcare in the US today.
- See how health coaches can fit into the Intuitive Mental Health collaborative care model.
- How can lifestyle medicine be added to a collaborative care model for mental healthcare.
- Learn how AI and tracking technology can assist physicians in the future.
Navigating Insurance and Health Coaching with Sonda Kunzi
Insurance billing and reimbursement is a complex topic that can be difficult to navigate. This week Dr. Sandi discusses recent changes to Medicare and Medicaid billing that affect health coaches in 2024. She is joined by FMCA educator and insurance billing expert Sonda Kunzi of Coding Advantage.
If you are new to medical billing or want a better understanding of how it affects health coaching, listen up. Sonda covers the basics of the three billing categories, how health coaching currently fits into these categories and potential future changes for our industry. What's more, Sonda discusses different ways health coaches can work with physicians to potentially be reimbursed for their services.
In This Episode:
- Understand the CMS changes to Medicare and Medicaid for 2024 related to health and well-being telehealth services.
- What are the different insurance billing categories and what do they mean?
- Learn how health coaches can potentially get insurance reimbursement.
- How to use this knowledge to sell your services and partner with physicians.
From Osteoporosis to Building Stronger Bones with Kevin Ellis
Bone health is a concern many think they don't have to worry about until they are older. Many think about it as mostly an issue for older women. That is not always the case, however. This week Dr. Sandi talks all about bones and bone health with expert Kevin Ellis, aka The Bone Coach.
Kevin Ellis was diagnosed with osteoporosis at a young age. After learning that he had celiac, a doctor suggested that he take a bone density test as celiac leads to nutrient malabsorption. That test would change his life. After learning all that he could about the condition and becoming a certified health coach, Ellis created a program to help others combat bone loss naturally. Osteoporosis doesn't make a person weak. Actually, according to Ellis, the best way to fight back against bone loss is to become stronger, healthier, and optimistic.
In This Episode:
- What tests are available to get a full picture of your bone health?
- The difference between osteoporosis and osteopenia.
- How are gut health and bone health connected?
- Dr. Sandi shares her routine for building bone strength.
Cooking Up Wellness Through Culinary Medicine, With Olivia Thomas
Encouraging clients to eat better only works if they have the resources available to make it happen. A common barrier to eating healthful is cooking. Some clients may not have the culinary skills, while others might not have the time, which can lead to pre-prepared, processed, or take-out dinners. This week, Dr Sandi speaks with Olivia Thomas about her revolutionary digital platform, Rewire Health, which helps make cooking healthy foods easier for everyone.
Episode Highlights
- Learn about the practice of culinary medicine.
- What does the Rewire Health platform teach users about healthy eating?
- How can health coaches use Rewire Health in their coaching practice?
- Hear how personalization in recipes and cooking can help clients start eating healthier.
Why Technology Won’t Replace Human Connection with Casey Hughes
How can we keep the human connection in healthcare while still taking advantage of modern technologies? Dr. Sandi and her guest, Casey Hughes explore answers to that important question this week.
Episode Highlights
- How can technology aid health coaches?
- Learn how health trackers can sometimes be terrible for clients.
- Understand the importance of human connection in changing behavior.
- Better understand the crossroads between human connection, technology, and psychology.
26 Career Opportunities for Health Coaches
Where can a health coaching career take you? Many people considering a health coaching education or graduating from a program like FMCA wonder what comes next. This week Dr. Sandi shares her list of 26 Career Opportunities for Health Coaches.
While most think of health coaches working solely within medical offices, that is only one of the many career opportunities available for health coaches. As health coaching grows, more and more industries are hiring health coaches. Corporations are hiring health coaches to help their employees. Schools are hiring coaches to assist students. Even grocery stores are hiring coaches to help shoppers. There are opportunities everywhere for health coaches to thrive.
Episode Highlights
- Get ideas for new health coaching businesses.
- Learn which industries are hiring health coaches.
- Be inspired to create your unique career in health coaching.
- Think outside the box when looking for a health coaching position.
Quieting Your Busy Brain with Dr. Romie Mushtaq
This week Dr. Sandi welcomes Chief Wellness officer at Evolution Hospitality, keynote speaker, author, and physician, Dr. Romie Mushtaq to talk about brain health, burnout, and health coaching in corporate wellness. As a physician, Dr. Mushtaq suffered from severe burnout. She shares her experience with discovering mindfulness, meditation, and other ways to quiet her busy mind. Dr. Mushtaq and Dr. Sandi discuss recent studies on the impact of health coaches in cognitive health, as well as how coaches can reduce burnout in the corporate world.
What's more, Dr. Mushtaq offers coaches insight into her eight-week program to help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and increase focus, which is found in her book The Busy Brain Cure. Learn how you can help your clients quiet their busy brains and improve their wellness.
In This Episode:
- How can coaches and clients recognize burnout?
- Learn about the Busy Brain Test.
- See how health coaches can help clients avoid burnout in a corporate setting.
- Read about Dr. Mushtaq's eight-week program to quiet a busy brain.
Health Coaching In India, with Anindita Rungta
This week Dr. Sandi sits down with Anindita Rungta, an FMCA alum who is working on functional medicine health coaching awareness in India. After her daughter's struggle with eczema put her in the ICU, Anindita searched for a kinder way to treat her daughter. This search introduced her to Functional Medicine, and eventually, FMCA. When she joined FMCA in 2017, health coaching and functional medicine weren't really practiced in India.
Since then Anidnita has worked hard to build her own practice, inform local doctors of the benefits of health coaching, and help her fellow FMCA graduates across India begin coaching. Anindita shares her story about embarking on her health coaching journey, how she found functional medicine, and how health coaching is growing in India.
In This Episode:
- Discover how Health Coaching is creating a positive impact in India.
- Hear Anindita's story about finding functional medicine.
- Learn how she is using her certification to spread the word about health coaching.
- Get advice on how to start your own coaching business.
The Magic Of Doctor And Health Coach Collaboration with Monisha Bhanote
True health is not done in isolation, it takes collaboration. This week Dr. Sandi welcomes Dr. Monisha Bhanote, one of the few quintuple board-certified physicians in the country. Dr. Bhanote is passionate about creating a happier and healthier world, and she does so by working closely with health coaches to form an exceptional collaborative care team for her patients.
While doctors and physicians possess extensive knowledge in diagnosing and treating ailments, effective communication with patients can sometimes be a challenge. This communication gap can often lead to confusion and misunderstanding on the part of the patient. That's where health coaches come in. They bring a unique set of communication skills that complement the expertise of doctors. This powerful combination of medical knowledge and communication skills is the secret behind achieving optimal health outcomes.
In This Episode:
- What are the benefits of health coaches working alongside physicians?
- See what a collaborative care team looks like from a doctor's point of view.
- Learn how Dr. Bhanote uses mind-body medicine to un-stick her patients.
- Check out Dr. Bhanote's book, The Anatomy of Well-Being.
Can Health Coaching Improve Cognitive Decline?
Discover groundbreaking developments in health coaching research! In this week's episode, Dr. Sandi presents new findings exploring profound impact health coaching can have on preventing and treating cognitive decline. She also shares research highlighting the potential of adopting a systems biology approach, revealing how addressing nutrient deficiencies can improve or even eliminate various symptoms. Lastly, Dr. Sandi unveils a compelling report that spans nearly two decades of research, evaluating the overall effectiveness of health coaching.
Reaching Goals via Functional Imagery Training with Joanna Grover
Visualization and imagination are powerful tools that can be used to help you achieve your goals. This week, Dr. Sandi discusses the power of Functional Imagery Training (FIT) with industry leader Joanna Grover.
Grover was trained in FIT and made it her mission to give others access to the world of imagery to help shape human behavior. FIT uses imagery to override natural imagery to help people reach a goal. Whether that goal is to live a healthier lifestyle, manage stress, or overcome fear and hesitation. Grover shares success stories from athletes and business leaders. Learn how you can use the power of FIT in your own life or in your coaching practice.
The Functional Medicine Impact with Stefanie Defiglia
In this episode, join Dr. Sandi as she sits down with Stefanie Defiglia, a highly experienced Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner. With a background as a John Hopkins trained nurse practitioner, Stefanie felt compelled to explore new avenues beyond the limitations of conventional medicine. This journey led her to discover the power of Functional Medicine and IFM.
As an IFM certified practitioner, Stefanie is an expert in addressing health concerns using cutting-edge tools like the IFM Elimination Diet. However, embarking on behavior changes can be challenging for patients. Tune in to discover how Stefanie works with health coaches to provide the best outcomes for her patients.
Solving The Physician Burnout Crisis, with Robyn Tiger
Who helps healthcare professionals stay healthy? How can they feel supported in their self-care? This week Dr. Sandi is joined by Dr. Robyn Tiger, the founder of Stress Free MD. Dr. Tiger's mission is to help support people with their self-care, specifically in the physician community. Doctors across the medical field are burning out, overworked, and frustrated with the healthcare system, which can affect how they work with their patients. Dr. Tiger works to partner doctors with health coaches.
In this episode:
- Learn how health coaches can help doctors with self-care.
- What can doctors learn from health coach training?
- How does AI fit into the future of health coaching?
- How do patients benefit from their doctors working with a health coach?
What Research Says About Health Coaches
Join Dr. Sandi on a riveting journey through the cutting-edge world of functional medicine health coaching. In this episode, she unveils three groundbreaking research papers that shed light on the profound impact of health coaching in the realm of chronic illness management. Dr. Sandi always says, "Health coaching is the new primary care," and these new studies showcase the truth in that statement. According to one study, health coaching improved workforce outcomes. Another showed the benefits of collaborative care teams for both patients and physicians. Health coaching is improving healthcare and the research confirms it.
In This Episode:
- Learn how health coaching resulted in positive outcomes for aging adults.
- See what doctors are saying about working in collaborative care teams
- Does health coaching improve labor outcomes?
- How is health coaching improving outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes?
Building a Thriving Health Coaching Business, with Hally Brooke
This week, Dr Sandi speaks with health coaching superstar Hally Brooke about how she went from FMCA student to thriving business owner. After graduating from FMCA, Hally started discussing health coaching with her personal training clients.
Thanks to the power of word-of-mouth marketing, before she knew it, her calendar was full and her new business was growing exponentially. Today, Live Nourished Coaching is a premier health coaching agency connecting clients and physicians with health coaches. Learn how to start building a business that helps you achieve your coaching mission.
In This Episode
- Learn how Hally started building a business through word-of-mouth.
- Tips and tricks to starting your own thriving health coaching business.
- Understand how coaches and coaching businesses can work with functional medicine physicians.
- See what Live Nourished Coaching can do for FMCA graduates.
The Power of Muscle-Centric Medicine, with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
Explore the transformative power of muscle-centric medicine. Dr. Gabrielle Lyons, the author of "Forever Strong," delves into the crucial role of skeletal muscle as a vital endocrine organ and its profound influence on other facets of our well-being, particularly as we age. Discover why skeletal muscle is the key to longevity and more than mere physical strength. Dr. Sandi and Dr. Lyons unravel the significance of muscle, the effectiveness of weight training, and the pivotal role of protein.
In This Episode:
- What is muscle-centric medicine and how it can help with longevity?
- Learn more about Dr. Lyon's new book, Forever Strong.
- Tips and tricks for weight training no matter your age.
- Hear about Dr. Sandi's personal experience with weight training.
Reviving Children's Health, With Beth Lambert
When Beth Lambert became a mother, she started noticing that children were not okay. Many were suffering from gut health issues, sensory issues, autism or ADHD. She wanted to find out what was wrong with this generation of kids and how to combat it. After studying functional medicine and holistic medicine, Beth created Epidemic Answers, a resource for parent and professionals who want to know more about how to treat these conditions through lifestyle changes. Her goal is to show that there is hope in overcoming these chronic illnesses.
In This Episode:
- What makes this new generation of children different?
- Explore Epidemic Answers and how it can help parents.
- Discover how health coaches are making a difference with families.
- Learn about the Documenting Hope Project.
Intermittent Fasting and Wellness, with Cynthia Thurlow
Intermittent fasting is a health trend that has gone viral online. But what exactly is it and how does it contribute to wellness?
Sandi welcomes intermittent fasting expert Cynthia Thurlow to discuss the ins and outs of intermittent fasting. Cynthia discusses the many benefits of fasting, as well as a few tips and tricks to get started.
In this episode:
- Learn tips and tricks to help you succeed at intermittent fasting.
- Discover the health and wellness benefits of fasting
- Understand who should and shouldn't fast without medical supervision.
- Hear about Cynthia Thurlow's new 45-day fasting program.
Connect with Cynthia through her website cynthiathurlow.com, or through her YouTube and Instagram.
Harnessing Data to Enhance Healthcare, With Omar Shaker
How can tracking health data enhance overall healthcare? This week, Sandi sits down with FMCA graduate Omar Shaker to discuss doctor burnout and health data. After working as a doctor, Omar experienced burnout firsthand. He thought he was the only one, but it turns out burnout is common among healthcare workers. After this experience, he looked into ways doctors can re-engage with their patients. Turns out, the answer can be found in data tracking.
Health Coaching in Primary Care: An Overview of Studies
Where can health coaches look to for resources when looking to partner with primary care physicians? Research studies, of course. Dr. Sandi shares three significant studies she recently read that discuss the benefits of health coaching within primary care practice. The first focuses on the care of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), while two others look at how health coaching within primary care can help patients with weight loss goals.
Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/
The Spark That Leads To Health Coaching, With Alessandra Miele
What inspires a health coaching journey? On this episode, Sandi is joined by Alessandra Miele, who shares her journey from running a Yoga studio to becoming a health coach. So many people who discover functional medicine and health coaching do so after a health diagnosis or another life event. Allesandra shares what inspired her, and discusses what it's like to be a student at FMCA. Listen along!
How Doctors And Health Coaches Are Transforming Healthcare, With Dr. Robert Luby
Robert Luby, Director of Medical Education at IFM and FMCA faculty member, discusses how doctors and health coaches can work together to transform healthcare. With the democratization of healthcare and patients looking to take their health into their own hands, doctors want to go beyond the conventional to improve patient outcomes.
Doctors ask “What is wrong with you,” while health coaches ask “What is strong with you?” Together it equals progress for patients.
Finding Purpose After A Health Diagnosis with Natalia Fernandez
Many health coaches begin their wellness journey after a health diagnosis. Natalia Fernandez has a similar story and shares how her diagnosis helped her find purpose.
Natalia shares her story with Dr. Sandi. After traveling the world, learning a variety of holistic techniques, and graduating from FMCA, Natalia founded Period. This integrative and holistic organization helps others in need of support with menstrual issues. Learn more about Period by visiting periodpmdd.com or follow @period.pmdd on Instagram.
Health Coaching in High Schools with Jason Tate
FMCA graduate Jason Tate is practicing health coaching where it can help make a huge difference in his community - a high school.
Students benefit from health coaching in so many ways, both physically and mentally. Listen as Jason shares how he came into the position of wellness specialist at his school and the many ways health coaching has improved the lives, and grades, of the students.
Reach out to Jason through email - jason.tate@cvusd.us
Searching for the Root Cause with Matt Portwood
Functional Medicine is all about addressing the root cause of illness. FMCA graduate Matt Portwood has taken the principle of "searching for the root cause" to another level. Matt explains how he went from job-hopping to graduating from FMCA and owning his own business. Now he addresses not just health concerns, but business problems with a "searching for the root cause" mentality.
Matt Portwood owns Chronic Health Club and founded Healthy + Whole, which works to make health coaching available to all regardless of income. He hopes to expand his efforts. You can follow him @healthyandwholeyou on social media.
Physician Collaboration Strategies for Health Coaches, with Kris Greener
FMCA graduate Kris Greener decided on a career shift after working as a Physical Therapy Assistant for 20 years. Having a passion for health, she wanted to be proactive in educating others on health and wellness. After years of seeing people after their chronic illnesses started, she wanted to help stop the illness before it started.
This passion brought Kris to Functional Medicine and FMCA. After graduating in 2017, Kris now works as a health coach as part of a medically supervised weight loss program. But her dreams of helping others don’t stop there. She hopes to expand her team and open up even more coaching opportunities.
Listen as Kris and Dr. Sandi discuss the importance of connections and support from others, the benefits of collecting data through client surveys, and how health coaching teams can expand within private practices.
Sleep Better Live Better With Daniel White
Daniel White is a Registered Nutritionist, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, and Sleep Expert. He is the Founder of Sleep Better Live Better and Chairman of the Sleep Better Live Better Foundation. His organization’s mission is to deliver innovative sleep solutions that combine the best of science-backed education, behavioral change tools, and sleep products to help to unlock the enormous pool of untapped human potential that results from being well-rested.
Over the past two years, Daniel’s passion and focus have been the delivery of a charitable research project in local schools on his home island of Guernsey, empowering future generations with sleep education and blue light-blocking glasses interventions to improve mental and physical health outcomes for adolescents and their families. The results of these trials have been very promising. His vision is to upscale these projects to positively impact the lives of individuals in schools and institutions across the globe. By 2025, he hopes to have supported 1,000,000 adults and children to sleep deeper and live light so that the future of our world becomes brighter. dan@danielwhitehealth.com
Health Coaches: Always Learning and Always Growing
FMCA graduate and serial learner Ashley Taylor Haupt sits down with Dr. Sandi on this week's episode of Fresh From FMCA. Ashley started her journey to becoming a health coach as a board-certified nurse. She first enrolled in the Health Coach Institute, but felt she needed more practice and wanted to qualify to take the NBHWC board exam. This led her to FMCA.
After completing two health coaching programs and her years of education to become a nurse, Ashley is still learning something new every day. She shares how she continues to learn and grow with every client she works with. What's more, she discusses ways she can see health coaches and nurses can work together after working as both a nurse and health coach in a hospital setting.
Coaching Through Alzheimer's and Finding Your Niche
Chris McClay, FMCA graduate, plant-based chef, and Recode 2.0 coach, shares her story about how she was able to coach her mother through her Alzheimer's disease, which lead to significant improvements in cognitive behavior. Chris also shares about finding her niche in health coaching, as well as how she was able to help others through her video, "Saving Livia."
FMCA Graduate Suzie Glaskie Discusses Career Fulfillment and Paths to Success
Dr. Sandi sits down with Suzie Glaskie, founder of Peppermint Wellness and host of the Midlife Illuminated Podcast, to talk about shifting careers into health coaching. Glaskie is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach and a graduate of FMCA. Her first career was as a PR boss, but after a loss in her family and a strong draw to holistic healing, she decided to make a big career change. She found health coaching and is now using both her PR and health coaching skills to help others thrive.
Glaskie admits that changing her career was scary, but she followed her passions and kept moving forward. Listen as she and Dr. Sandi share stories of her first AIC conference, how she made so many mistakes while interviewing Dr. Mark Hyman, and just how terrified she was before starting her podcast.
Coaching in an Age of Scientific Wellness
Join Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, FMCA Founder & CEO, and Dr. Nathan Price, Chief Scientific Officer of Thorne Healthtec and author of The Age of Scientific Wellness, as they discuss how health coaches will make an impact during an age of Scientific Wellness.
Scientific Wellness focuses on preventative medicine, addressing health issues before there are even symptoms if possible. By focusing on four important Ps of health - Predictive, Personalized, Preventative, and Participatory - Scientific Wellness will be a major factor in future wellness. People want care that focuses on prevention, which is where Functional Medicine health coaches can make a significant impact.
To learn more about FMCA and Functional Medicine health coaching, follow us on social media and explore our website.
Moving the Health Coach industry forward
Health coaching is gaining strength in traditional medicine.
Join Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, FMCA Founder & CEO, and Dr. Melinda Ring as they discuss the next generation of physicians in academic medicine. With focuses shifting toward a collaborative approach (instead of competitive), the strategic impact is moving healthcare toward a more united culture.
Dr. Ring is Director of Osher Center for Integrative Health, and Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She has an active clinical practice, directs medical trainee education and clinical and faculty fellowships in integrative medicine, founded the Cooking Up Health culinary medicine course, and conducts research. She is chair of the board of the American Board of Integrative Medicine. In 2021 she received the Bravewell Distinguished Service Award from the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health, one of the highest honors in the field of integrative health.
Creating your business impact by focusing on WHO not how.
Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, FMCA Founder and CEO, invites Maggie Berghoff, founder and CEO of Celproceo, to share her insights into creating a comprehensive health coaching business. Featured in Forbes, USA Today, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and listed as one of the top online entrepreneurs in 2022 by Apple News, Maggie inspires by saying "What matters is that you believe in yourself, and the next steps will happen for you, too!"
For more information: www.maggieberghoff.com
The doctor of the future is the PATIENT
Can leveraging accountability, community, and empathy transform the healthcare paradigm?
Join Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, FMCA Founder and CEO, with Sachin Patel, Founder of Perfect Practice Mentorship, as they discuss one of the most important roles in healthcare: the health coach. By focusing on a whole body plan, partnering with a health coach can create results when all else has failed. Helping others see what they don't see in themselves is the transformative catalyst.
"Coaches teach you skills ... not pills." – Sachin Patel
Lab Testing Revolution: the Role of Health Coaches
Do Health Coaches and Lab Testing go together? Or should coaches completely avoid discussions about labs?
At FMCA, we think there is a viable middle ground.
Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, unpacks the pros and cons of coaches working with labs and clarifies how to navigate the Lab Testing Revolution.
Bonus Resource:
As a Forbes Councils Member, Dr. Sandi recently published "The Lab Testing Revolution: How Health Coaches Can Serve Clients, Support Physicians And Create Better Health Outcomes"
Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.
Health Coach and CEO: interconnecting skills to offer evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle coaching
Join Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, and Ellen Rudolph, Founder + CEO at WellTheory and FMCA graduate, as they delve into supporting women with autoimmune diseases. Embracing whole-body care, education, and community is the support that enables them to become the best version of themselves.
WellTheory is on a mission to reverse the autoimmune epidemic. Combining food as medicine, community care, and personalized insights from health data to build a membership experience that supports women in their autoimmune journey.
Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.
Health Coaches in leadership positions using skills in strategic and organizational development
FMCA graduate draws on health coaching as she specializes in strategic and organizational development.
Join Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, and Rebecca Thieneman, Vice President, Nutrition of Monj Health, in this inspiring conversation about the ever-expanding landscape of health coaching. FMCA recently partnered with Monj to offer Continuing Education Units to our alumni community.
MonjCOOKS™ for Coaches is the perfect course to keep coaching credentials current while learning how to make healthy food taste delicious from Chopped Champion Chef Eliza Martin. Plus, get the scoop from our Head of Coaching on how to level up coaching skills beyond motivational interviewing, and help clients reach their food goals.
Supported by data-driven, science-based research, and published studies.
BREAKING NEWS: NBHWC applies for Category I CPT Code with AMA
How does "reimbursable value" drive the expansion of the health coaching industry?
Dr. Sandi, FMCA Founder and CEO, with Leigh-Ann Webster, the Executive Director of The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) give an inside view of the Category I CPT code with reimbursable value for the health and wellness coaching industry. The NBHWC recently applied for the Category I code and is set to present its case to the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Panel Review.
As a reimbursable service, the health and wellness coaching industry is projected to be widely recognized in healthcare, industries, employee health plans, unions, digital health companies, technology, school systems, government entities, all branches of the military, and entrepreneurial businesses.