Frequently Asked Questions

Do you help animals or people or both get their health on track?

Both! I am a certified health coach and energy practitioner. I have spent thousands of hours studying human and dog health, including chronic disease prevention and management, longevity, nutrition, stress management, senior care for dogs, detox of the many toxins surrounding our animals and ourselves. You may choose to work with me for your dog exclusively or for you both. Contact me for a brief consultation to learn more.

Can individual sessions be done long-distance?

Yes. In fact, most are. Though I’m happy to meet with clients in person, especially if I can meet their fur babies, phone sessions work just as well. A lot of the work of health coaching actually happens between sessions when the client implements recommendations made and observes results. Session recap notes are provided as well as homework relevant to the client’s own stated goals.

How does a session work?

When booking a coaching session or 3-month program whether for you, your dog or both, you’ll receive intake forms to complete. I review the information provided to tailor sessions to be most beneficial for each client. Any scheduled appointment can be conducted on the phone, but we can also make arrangements for a video call or an in-person session if local. I provide session recap notes by email as well as a few exercises or hand-outs of relevance.

Does a health coach replace a doctor or veterinarian?

Absolutely not. We complement those medical professionals in our efforts to support your and your dogs’ overall well-being, but we do not replace them. We do not diagnose or treat specific medical conditions. If you have a medical emergency for yourself, call 911 or visit an ER, and if your dog has a medical emergency, find your local 24-hour animal hospital. Always seek the advice of your doctor for your own health conditions and your veterinarian with questions regarding your animal’s condition, especially if they may be in pain or if they exhibit concerning behavior.

Why would someone use a health coach if they have a vet or doctor?

We provide complementary services to support you on your health journey and in your efforts to provide the best life for your animals. Some doctors even have health coaches in their offices now since they recognize the value for patient health outcomes, but most do not. Health coaches are guides on the side providing attention, health education, information on various healing modalities, support, help with goal-setting. We have more time to give than most doctors and veterinarians as well as more customization of a strategic plan for you to upgrade your own and your dog’s health. We take a holistic approach to well-being, so we provide support for your and your dog’s physical health as well as emotional health, mental health, and spiritual health. We provide resources beyond those provided by most doctors and veterinarians, partly because of the holistic approach that connects physical manifestations of disease to emotions and that looks at possible root causes of issues.

My dog & I seem healthy. Why should I focus on our health?

Because there is no time like now to work with someone to prevent future problems! Why wait til it’s too late and your dog gets a bad diagnosis that’s hard to reverse and potentially life-threatening? You want your dog to stay healthy. You can be proactive about it rather than waiting for a bad diagnosis. You have the power to upgrade nutrition, lifestyle & environmental choices that give your dog a better chance at a long health span and resilience in the face of any health challenges. You can pay a little now or pay a lot more later with major medical and vet bills plus stress and fear. Our time with our dogs is already too short. Why sabotage any of it by ignoring health concerns and denying aging? We have the power to age more slowly and give longer health spans to our dogs as well. I’ve got tools to help you set your dog and yourself up for more success with longevity.

Why work on me and my dog all at once with the same person?

Your dog’s reliance on you can motivate you to prioritize your own health. After all, our dogs need us well enough to take care of them and wants us to thrive since they share our joy and other emotions. Dogs can mirror us and pick up on our stress, so optimizing your well-being helps optimize theirs. Getting them calm and healthy reduces your stress, too. We are very connected to our dogs in so many ways, including our well-being. There are many similarities between a longevity roadmap for dogs and for people, so it makes a lot of sense to work with a coach like me who can guide you both on your health journey.

Why work with a health coach?

You make more progress than you would on your own. There is lots of data to support that. You also benefit from a coach’s training and experience– thousands of hours of education, research and practice that you don’t have to do yourself. I’ll share tips as well as mistakes I made so you can avoid them yourself. I’ll help you become your own health advocate and your dog’s health advocate so that your interactions with medical professionals are more constructive and so you can avoid many of them since you’ll take responsibility for and even reclaim your own family’s health.

Do you complement dog trainers and nutritionists?

Yes. Just as we provide complementary services to veterinarians and doctors, our services complement those of other practitioners. Though we study nutrition and many dietary theories, we are not certified nutritionists assessing macro and micronutrient levels. Though I am a seasoned pet care provider, health practitioner, protective dog mom and advocate for animal welfare and well-being, that does not mean I am a certified professional dog trainer, but I can refer you to R+ trainers if needed for specific behavioral issues and training needs.

How does group coaching work?

When I offer group coaching, the sessions will be online and have themes common to many dog parents. For example, the first session could be on nutrition, the second on senior care for dogs, the third on arthritis, pain management and anxiety, the fourth on physical and mental activity, the fifth on safe product and environment choices to avoid danger and toxins, and the last on chronic disease prevention. Sessions would have presentation and coaching components, guest experts, time for people to share their struggles and successes, and time for questions to be answered.