Why I Started Live Well Collaborative: A practice where your whole self is seen, understood, and cared for.

If you’ve read my story of how I got here, you know medicine has been a thread running through my entire life.

For years, my own care was treated piecemeal. One symptom here, another over there — each managed in isolation, but never connected. Then, one day, a lightbulb went off: we are not separate parts and systems. We are one interconnected whole.

When I looked back at my own health journey, the pattern was glaringly obvious. My early, unrecognized anxiety led to migraines. The medications for migraines contributed to IBS. The IBS — already fueled by anxiety — worsened when my gut microbiome was disrupted. That led to a weaker immune system, frequent sinus infections, and more antibiotics… which kept the whole hamster wheel spinning. Even my “alarm” stress response would show up as a sudden low back flare. It’s all related.

I realized: if I could recognize this in myself, I could help others do the same in their own bodies.

When I entered nurse practitioner school in my 30s, I knew I wanted the variety of primary care — but I also knew I was coming in with a different lens than most. Over the years, I began to notice three main groups of patients:

1. Those looking for the quick-fix pill or magic wand.
   
2. Those tired of band-aid solutions, hungry for something deeper.
   
3. Those wanting to get ahead of their health before their health got ahead of them.
   

It was the second and third groups that lit me up. But in conventional settings, I found myself increasingly frustrated — limited by insurance constraints, rushed visits, and a “sick care” model that didn’t leave room for deeper healing.

I envisioned something different: a space where we could bridge conventional and lifestyle medicine, where people felt truly heard and understood, and where science-backed strategies were tailored to their real lives — not just pulled from a generic handout.

I’ve seen what’s possible when this happens. Patients transform. They gain confidence. They no longer waste time sifting through overwhelming, conflicting advice online. They feel supported instead of dismissed.

When I started my career, I knew I would combine my nurse practitioner training with yoga — I just didn’t know how. Since then, I’ve grown exponentially, both personally and professionally, through every setting I’ve practiced in. I’ve specialized in women’s health, peri/menopause, digestive health, and the ways musculoskeletal injuries intertwine with chronic conditions.

I created Live Well Collaborative to close the gaps I saw in healthcare — the places where people feel unheard, dismissed, and stuck. Through my expertise, lived experience, and commitment to deeply listening, I’ve built a solution that empowers lasting wellness.

Medicine has always fascinated me, especially the brain and neurology. I once dreamed of being a neurosurgeon, but this path allows me to help in a way that feels truly holistic. My roots in yoga go back to 1999, leading to RYT certification, mindfulness training, and Level II Reiki. In recent years, I’ve embraced the magic of the moon, crystals, and sound healing — so yes, I’m part evidence-based clinician, part intuitive healer… and probably a little bit witch.

At my core, I’m an investigator, a problem solver, and a healer — with a twist, and a side of woo.

I know that taking charge of your health can feel overwhelming — especially when you’ve been given piecemeal answers or brushed off entirely. At Live Well Collaborative, my role is to listen deeply, connect the dots, and guide you with both the science and the soul of medicine. Whether you’re here to get ahead of your health, break free from chronic struggles, or simply feel more vibrant in your day-to-day life, this is the place where your whole self will be seen, understood, and cared for.