As it frequently happens, it all began with questions. Many of them when working with my patients as a full-time Physical Therapist. Questions about lifestyle and habits: sleep, nutrition, activity, presence of stress and coping mechanisms.

As a society, we are facing significant health challenges. We tend to make poor lifestyle choices. Poor habits lead to widespread presence of chronic diseases: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, obesity, mental health problems, dementia, loss of muscle and frailty causing decline in physiological function and loss of independence.

On the other hand, there is a huge volume of information, which can be unreliable, conflicting and overwhelming. So, I reflected on those and reached a conclusion… I realized that it is time for me to act and do something. It was time to take the next step in my professional career. I began attending education and training to become a Wellness and Nutrition Coach. In the Spring of 2025, I finished the coursework with Clean Health Institute and became a Certified Online Exercise and Nutrition Coach. In the Summer of 2025, I finished the coursework with Harvard Medical School and obtained an advanced certificate in Nutrition and Wellness Coaching. I then established my own on-line coaching business Lifelong Foundations LLC.

As an experienced Physical Therapist who has been working in healthcare for over 30 years and who recently became a coach, I present with a powerful set of knowledge and expertise. I have a holistic and unique approach. I still work as a full-time Physical Therapist in a hospital setting. Throughout my coaching business I will not be providing physical therapy treatments. However, my approach, experience, qualities and skills allow me to offer something unique.

The tools in my disposal belong to the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: consumption of whole foods and getting into plant dominant eating patterns. Becoming physically active, introducing restorative sleep and stress management, maintaining positive social connections and avoiding risky substances. Process is evidence based and include a whole person approach.

Wellness Coaching is a strength-based approach. In Wellness Coaching we recognize that everyone has strengths and abilities for changing habits and improving our lifestyle. However, those strengths and abilities may be difficult to be identified and be seen. As a coach, I will work with you to find and identify those strengths and abilities. I will help you to clarify and establish your goals. I will also help you to identify the barriers, limitations and obstacles you may be facing and preventing you from reaching your goals. We will identify “what” needs to be done to establish a lasting behavioral change and “why”.

Changing habits could be an overwhelming process. That is why so many of us may fail in the process. But by working with someone like me, my guidance in setting up small and achievable goals we will make it possible. And when you will be treated with empathy, understanding and lack of judgement the process will become much easier.