Biography
Gretchen's Background
Gretchen’s educational and personal background in nutrition and holistic healing spans over 10 years. During this time, she healed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Hormonal Imbalance, Hypothyroidism, Insulin Resistance, Candida, and Nutritional Deficiencies, transforming herself from a person consumed by CFS into a healthy, high-functioning woman. At the same time, she learned the importance of eating well, self-care, slowing down, 'being,' and connecting to nature and spirit. These concepts, along with personal stories of struggle and triumph, can be found in her book CFS is a Call For Soulwork.
Through Gretchen’s healing journey with chronic illness, she was led not only to the healing profession, but also spurred on to make changes in her own diet. The most significant included healing Candida and insulin resistance through diet, addressing sugar and caffeine addictions by ridding these from her body, and realizing the value of whole grains and leafy greens to digestion, nutrition, and vitality. Through these changes, Gretchen learned the power of nutrition and became passionate about it. Above all, these changes contributed dramatically to Gretchen’s CFS recovery. In addition, addressing hormonal inbalances, and connecting to spirit and meaning played large roles in her recovery process.
In addition to authoring her inspirational book and healing herself, Gretchen studied Nutrition and Holistic Health at the Institute For Integrative Nutrition & Columbia University in NYC. She is certified by the American Association for Drugless Practitioners as a Holistic Health Counselor and has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology, a MA in Teaching English as well as extensive graduate-level training in Counseling. Her training at the Institute For Integrative Nutrition (IIN) included hundreds of dietary theories, eastern & western nutrition, health counseling, and study with nutrition and health experts Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra, Mark Hyman, Michio Kushi, and David Wolf.
In Gretchen’s own words:
"Studying at the Institute For Integrative Nutrition was life changing for me. Not only did I explore food theories and the age-old health paradigms from Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, but I also learned Macrobiotics, the Energetics of food, Atkins, Ultrawellness, food cravings, and about how to relate all of this to my client’s experience. Building on my own healing and dietary changes of twelve years, I increased my body awareness, upgraded my diet, and connected the experience of body and mind to food. And, after over a decade of chronic illness, today, in 2009, I am healthy!
This enlivening way of relating to food and body continues for me, and is foundational to my work with clients as a Health and Nutrition Coach. As well as helping my clients to be mindful and connect to their bodily experience, I also individualize my work to each person's needs, concerns, and goals in diet, health, and life. I work with clients to understand and heal symptoms just as I did for myself, and I support, care, and deeply listen to each person I see. There are no limits to what issues we talk about or to what health concerns we explore. As a result, the work we do together enriches not only my clients’ bodies but their well beings too!"
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Above CFS Book written by Gretchen about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and her own CFS spiritual healing journey. Visit www.callforsoulwork.com to learn more.
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