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I received my training as a Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's® Health Coach Training Program. During my training, I studied practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities. My education includes knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, preventive health care practices and healthy aging. Drawing on these skills and my knowledge of different dietary theories, I work with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results. EMN began in Vermont where I lived for 33 years, while I was attending Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City online. Since August 2012, I support people who are seeking to improve their physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being by assessing and exploring options in a supportive and compassionate environment. I have personally experienced a wide variety of healing methods including conventional medicine, massage, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, meditation, shamanic healing, cognitive and art therapy and chiropractic work. I’ve eaten foods from various cultures and am discerning the healthiest choices for my health care and prevention as I make changes. My career is not something I stumbled into. Nutrition and lifestyle has been a vital part of my life since I was a child when my elders made vegetable juices and studied about vitamins and food sources. My approach follows the IIN guidelines where I learned two platforms of thought; primary foods including exercise, relationships, spirituality or inspiration, career, self-care and goal setting as an integral part of good health; platform two being secondary foods I eat such as wild sockeye salmon for Omega 3’s, healthy fats such as avocados for brain health and turmeric that flavors eastern recipes or made as a tea good for anti-inflammatory issues. I gravitated to this choice of career naturally. I raised four children, survived cancer and have done my own extensive healing work, not only physically but emotionally, mentally and spiritually and carry a healthy resume of education and volunteer if not work related experience. I’ve provided coaching for lifestyle choices, anxiety, depression, weight loss, eating on a budget, Alzheimer’s, awareness of processed foods, kitchen organization, mobility issues, and high blood pressure. I’ve also addressed my own health diagnosis over the years with the help of other qualified workers in the health care field. On a more global scale and the reason why I do what I do is that we’re aware of the role of neglected health and stress means cardiovascular disease, depression, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and childhood diseases. My concern is the dis-ease that can occur with some of our choices but the good news is we are here to empower ourselves and each other and empower our bodies to heal because our bodies want to heal. I am not a doctor, nor do I diagnose. I have used a health coach myself. I do not discourage clients from medical advice or suggest changes in medication. Is it as easy as telling you to eat more greens, drink more water and wonderful changes will happen in your life? No. Each person is a unique individual with their own patterns of behavior and lifestyle. I empower people to make their own healthy choices based on knowledge and resources. Coaching guidance is based on bio-individuality as I guide clients to discover what works best for them. Like most people in a service business today, I am willing to extend my health coaching from wherever clients are by using teleconferencing and will see clients in person. The most valuable thing I have learned is how we all feel supported while being given knowledge, choices and a true heart to heart connection of compassion and empathy. Teresa Gerbode is a Holistic Health Coach and member of the Association of Drug Free Practitioners and supports people in their healing. You can follow her on Instagram as EastMountainNutrition, on Pinterest as Teresa Gerbode and find out more information on her website and blog at www.eastmountainnutrition.com |
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