I wanted to get rid of pain.

And that was a huge mistake.

When I was 14 years old, I started experiencing neck tension and frequent headaches.

My struggle with chronic pain continued for a very long time. I experienced daily headaches and frequent migraines while I was in college.

I spent the next 15 years attempting to alleviate my pain by educating myself and seeking the expertise of others in areas like diet change and functional nutrition, eliminating toxins, increasing hydration, breathing and meditation, movement therapies, massage therapy, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, light therapy, and energy work.

While each attempt was a very beneficial educational experience, still nothing gave me long-term relief.

My body was trying to tell me I was missing something — something really important.

The pain persisted, but so did I! Throughout this, I learned the root cause of my pain. It was not only physical; it was emotional.

Because of responses I had to past traumas, I had developed ways of coping that I wasn’t aware of.

Chronic stress, and chronic or complex trauma will generate subconscious responses that require conscious reprogramming. Patterns develop as a response to conserve energy usage and avoid repeating pain.

Migraines took me out of my life. I’ve lost cumulative years to them, including the years when my daughter was little.

Once I learned that my pain was here to help me, I began to use my symptoms to connect with my needs - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I live with far, far less pain and what I do experience can be managed and often even stopped.

I've spent nearly 25 years helping others discover untapped strength inside and out by establishing a deep connection with and understanding of their body. What began as a pursuit to help others enliven their body became a passion to enliven their soul.

My own struggles with migraines have been a great source of motivation to get to the root cause of my pain and find ways to relieve it. I found that as a result of the physical and emotional abuse I experienced in my childhood, my body was holding the adaptive patterns I created and the unexpressed needs I had repressed in order to feel safe.

As I found healing in my body, mind, and soul, my husband made a major career change becoming a police officer. He entered into traumatic experiences neither of us was prepared for or equipped to deal with. This required and even deeper understanding of myself, pain, and the mind-body-soul connection.

It is the basis of what I share in through Health Made Happy. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in fitness, holistic health, energy work, neuro-science, and trauma-informed care, I have created programs with simple, effective strategies for people who have experienced chronic or complex trauma. These programs aid those who have been seeking mental and emotional solace from the effects of trauma to find peace in their body through a somatic approach to healing. It greatly supports people who are experiencing anxiety, exhaustion, and physical pain to feel increased self-awareness, regulation, and empowerment as they form this relationship with their body. This is done by using somatic and soulful practices to regulate the nervous system, bridge connection between the body and mind, and create a clear action plan to live intentionally.

A little more about me…

I’m an entrepreneur, wife, and momma (order of occurrence, not importance). I have worked in health and fitness since 2001. Helping others form deeper connections and trust in their body has always been a passion of mine.

I feel inspired by moving my body in new and challenging ways. I love biking, kayaking, hiking, and spent many years in the air as an amateur aerialist. I graduated college with a degree in Theatre Performance. Entertainment and the arts light me up. I love cooking for my family — they love it, too, so that’s a bonus!

I am also immensely inspired each day by the clients I work with and the opportunity I have to be a part of their healing. I’m so happy to be here with you on your journey to Health Made Happy.

My Training

Beyond the education of my experiences, I’ve signed up for the all-you-can-eat buffet of education. And I keep going back for more! In college, I studied Theatre Performance and Human Biology while separately obtaining certifications in personal training, yoga, and Pilates (Mat and Apparatuses). I went on to receive advanced certifications in holistic lifestyle coaching , neuro-movement, and Reiki. I’ve taken continuing education courses in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, meditation, breathwork, corrective exercise, functional nutrition, and trauma-informed care.