Surviving SCAD

Sharing my story to educate and empower others.

My Story

I always considered myself healthy; I ate well, exercised regularly, practiced yoga. So when I was diagnosed as having a major heart attack, I was shocked and confused. The doctors kept telling me I had heart disease, but I had no risk factors. I was left feeling unheard and lost in this system that refused to listen. I finally got some answers when I found out I have a rare heart condition called SCAD.

It’s frightening to feel powerless in the face of a disease, especially one that is untreatable and that doctors don’t fully understand. You can begin to mistrust the system as a whole. You can feel alone on this path. But your diagnosis doesn’t have to control your life.

If you have SCAD

If you’ve recently discovered you have SCAD, I can help you through this destabilizing period. If you’ve had it for a long time and are feeling lost, I’m here for you. If someone you love was diagnosed and you’re afraid for them, I can support you. 

How I can help

I’ve been working with the body for over thirty years as a physical therapist. So much of my job was about healing the emotional trauma of having your body not work quite the way you want it to. The mind and the body are intrinsically linked, and we can’t ignore one side of ourselves and expect the other to flourish. 

SCAD Coaching

I bring this long practice of physical healing to my coaching sessions. Together, we’ll listen to your mind and body. Our work together might include finding mindfulness practices, nutritional changes, and exercise. We might just talk. Every client is different, but together I’ll help you connect with your joy and feel healthy.

Frequently
Asked
Questions

  • I have been where you are. I have SCAD. I survived a heart attack.

    I know what it feels like to feel hopeless.

    I know what it feels like to not be heard and go from one doctor to the next without finding answers.

    I understand how pain, fatigue and stress can consume every moment of your life and keep you from living the life you envision yourself living.

    I have spent over 30 years working with pain clients. Traditional therapists and medical practitioners focus on one aspect of pain: the emotional or the physical. My methods are more effective because I help with both. I look at you as a whole person, using proven methods of the mind-body connection.

    My approach uses the power of the nervous and myofascial systems to change the way your body responds to stress and pain. The method shows you how to interpret the messages your body is trying to communicate. I teach you to move with the current of your body instead of fighting with your body.

    Working with me will increase your resilience, empower you to trust your body, and live with less suffering and fear and more joy.

  • Coaching is not prescriptive. Coaching does not replace your doctor. I won’t prescribe medications or run tests. It does not “fix”you.

    What coaching does do is helps you find resilience, power and strength. I’ll help you actualize your vision of optimal health and wellness.

    Coaching is a collaborative effort between you and me. Think of coaching as if we were in a row-boat together; you have the oars and are doing the work, I am behind you supporting you and helping you keep the oars in the water. I will help you understand test results, review your nutrition, recommend movements, analyze your sleep, and reassess your patterns of thinking. Together we will learn how to create more safety in your nervous system to allow your body to begin to change its relationship with pain, recognize your strength and the obstacles to reaching your vision of health.

  • Our sessions can focus on more than just SCAD. Together we will build strength and resilience and live a more healthy life. Our sessions can focus on, but aren’t limited to…

    • Chronic pain

    • Pelvic Pain

    • Fertility

    • Pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum

    • Perimenopase /menopause

    • Endometriosis

    • PCOC

    • Vulvadynia

    • Urinary incontinence

    • Prolapse

    • Relationship transitions

    • Parenting

    • Grief

    • End of life

  • Your first appointment is a 15 minute, free consultation with me, in which I assess your needs and make sure we are a good fit.

    After that, each 60 minute appointment will be $200, with a minimum of 10 sessions over 3 months.

Live with less fear and more joy.