I was born and raised in France by German parents. My family always prioritized a healthy way of living with nutritious food, alternative medicine to prevent illnesses, and lots of movement.

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When I moved to the U.S. to play college tennis, I was submerged for the first time in a world of making my own food and lifestyle choices (and trust me those weren’t always ideal), and often felt overwhelmed and insecure. I was living with chronic symptoms (low back pain, fatigue, digestive issues, low energy, etc) and thought those were normal, being a high-competitive athlete and student at the same time. I wasn’t paying attention to the signals of my body and mind. After all those years of chronic stress and inflammation, overtraining, and personal challenges, my body started to break down.

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It was only after college that I went to see a rheumatologist and I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis - a chronic inflammatory condition targeting the spine (and other joints). At first, I was in shock, I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I felt sad and worried. What would this mean for the rest of my life? What could I do about it? After several attempts at treatment with conventional medicine, I was feeling hopeless and finally could not accept long-term medication (immune-suppressing drugs with potentially strong side effects) as my only option. Deep down I really believed there must be another way. This is when I turned to Functional Medicine to find answers and look at the root causes of this condition.

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My journey required many different alternative medical treatments (starting with healing my gut), and it offered me lots of insights and learnings about what is needed for my overall well-being. I also worked on my mindset. I realized the diagnosis was my wake-up call; the pain was my messenger for change. Making pivotal lifestyle changes so that I have control over my body and mind was crucial to manage and reduce chronic pain.

It wasn’t easy, but I am now grateful for this experience of growth and learning.

The diagnosis was the start of a new journey towards a healthier me.

Several years ago, when I first got my diagnosis, I wish I would have worked with a health coach. It would have saved me a lot of time and effort to figure out the best approach going forward.

I want to make things easier for you, so you can be on your way toward improvement and have your next steps defined, with clarity and confidence.

I truly, deeply care about your health. I have made it my mission to help people address their health in a sustainable way (by forming lasting healthy habits), empowering and supporting them through life’s difficult decisions and changes.

I believe every person has the inner strength, wisdom, and power to take action toward a healthier and happier future. Trust the process. Believe in yourself.

I am an athlete.

I am an autoimmune disease warrior.

I am a Board-Certified Functional Health Coach.

Most importantly, I am here for you.

One step at a time. You’re not in this alone.