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From Social Work to Health Coaching: How One AFPA Grad Built a Practice Around Burnout Prevention

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From Social Work to Health Coaching: How One AFPA Grad Built a Practice Around Burnout Prevention Some of the most meaningful career pivots don’t come from ambition alone. They come from lived experience. For Rae, a former social worker and AFPA Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach, the shift into health coaching grew out of something deeply personal: the realization that sustainable wellness starts long before a crisis point. After years of supporting others through trauma and high-stress environments, Rae found herself navigating her own health challenges and noticing how interconnected everything truly was. Stress, hormones, digestion, energy, mindset. None of it existed in isolation. That insight became the foundation of her coaching philosophy and her practice, Rae of Sunlight, where she helps professionals, especially caregivers and social workers, build real, sustainable habits that protect against burnout before it takes hold. We sat down with Rae to talk about her journey from social work to health coaching, what surprised her about the AFPA program, and what she’d tell anyone who’s thinking about making a similar leap. What were you doing before health coaching, and what made you start thinking about a change? Before coming to health coaching, I worked in schools, non-profits, and residential treatment facilities, often supporting people experiencing trauma and high-stress situations. The work was fast-paced but also incredibly rewarding. Over time, though, I started to feel the effects of chronic stress and overwhelm, not only mentally, but physically as well, forcing me to take a step back. I realized that much of the work I was doing, both professionally and personally, happened after already reaching a crisis point. That led me to become more interested in prevention and sustainable wellness. Why health coaching specifically? What drew you to it over other paths you could have taken from social work? I liked how health coaching specifically focused on health from a holistic perspective. It offered a proactive and sustainable approach to making lifestyle changes. Through my background in social work, I developed a deep appreciation for supporting people through difficult experiences and past trauma. But I also realized I was especially drawn to helping people build daily habits, routines, and stress-management practices that support long-term wellbeing. While social work often focuses on assessment, diagnosis, emotional processing, and healing, health coaching felt more aligned with my desire to support people reconnect with themselves, create healthier patterns, and making lifestyle changes based on what motivates them. Health coaching allowed me to combine my background in human behavior with my passion for nutrition, exercise, and holistic wellness in a way that felt meaningful to me. What surprised you most about the AFPA program? What surprised me most about the AFPA program was how in-depth and comprehensive it was. I expected it to build on my existing background in social work, especially around motivational interviewing, but I was surprised by how much it expanded my understanding of it. Practicing and focusing on intrinsic motivation really deepened my understanding of it and helped me start recognizing it more naturally in conversations. I also gained a much deeper understanding of health metrics and how to interpret basic physiological and lifestyle data in a way that’s practical and useful in everyday life. Overall, the program helped me connect my social work foundation with a more structured and applied approach to health coaching. What does your coaching practice look like right now, and who are you hoping to work with? Right now, my coaching practice is focused on working with individuals who are navigating high levels of chronic stress and overwhelm, particularly for professionals. My experience in social work has given me a deep understanding of caregiver fatigue and how easily burnout can develop. I’m especially passionate about working with social workers, educators, and other care-giving professionals because I understand both the emotional demands of the work and the tendency to push personal wellbeing aside. My goal is to help clients build practical, sustainable tools for stress management and design daily habits that support balance and prevent burnout. What would you tell a social worker who’s curious about health coaching but on the fence? I think it depends on the way you want to show up in a helping profession. For me, health coaching has felt like a natural shift into a more independent, self-directed space where I’m building my own practice that incorporates other areas of health, such as nutrition and exercise, that I’m passionate about.  Forging my own path into health coaching has required more self-discipline, but it’s also been very rewarding. I’ve especially enjoyed applying my background in motivational interviewing and behavior change in a more prevention-focused way.  From my experience, health coaching also requires clearly communicating your scope and approach, since it’s a newer and a less understood field compared to social work. For me, that has actually helped me build clarity and confidence in what I offer. Overall, it feels like a meaningful shift that aligns with how I want to support people moving forward. Is there anything you wish you’d known before starting—either about the program or about making the transition? I think the main thing I wish I had known earlier is that trying something new doesn’t mean you’ve failed at what you were doing before. At one point, I felt like stepping away from traditional social work meant I had failed in it, and that simply wasn’t true. What I’ve learned is that it’s okay to outgrow paths and shift into something that aligns more deeply with who you are and how you want to work. I’ve found a direction that fits me better, and I see it now as part of an ongoing process of learning and growth, changing direction when needed. Find Rae online on her website and Substack. Ready to build a practice rooted in whole-person wellness? AFPA’s Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach program gives you the tools, credentials, and confidence to guide clients toward lasting change. Whether you’re starting fresh or deepening an existing career

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From Certified to Published: How One AFPA Grad Turned Her Credentials Into a Book

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From Certified to Published: How One AFPA Grad Turned Her Credentials Into a Book A lot of AFPA students and grads have incredible knowledge, real client wins, and a passion to impact more people. What they don’t always have is a simple way to turn that value into something clients can use again and again, even outside of sessions. That’s where publishing can be powerful, not as a huge life goal, but as a practical way to support people, build credibility, and extend your impact. AFPA graduate Kim Logan, a Gut Health Nutrition Specialist and creator of Gut Health Made Simple: Your Daily Tracker, did exactly that. She turned her experience and evidence-based training into a 30-day guided tracker designed to help readers identify patterns affecting their gut health and make more informed, sustainable choices. Here’s how she brought the project to life, what the process really looked like, and why creating your own resource might be more achievable than you think. Kim Logan is the founder of Grammy Going Green, a wellness business dedicated to making gut health and anti-inflammatory living feel simple, realistic, and doable. Through her YouTube channel Gut Health Made Simple, she shares science-backed education and practical lifestyle strategies to support people managing chronic inflammation and autoimmune-related challenges. Gut Health Made Simple: Your Daily Tracker is one of her latest projects, a 30-day guided journal designed to help readers identify patterns affecting their gut health, with built-in tips and resources to support informed, sustainable wellness choices. What kind of feedback have you received from people using the tracker? Prior to publishing, I offered a free PDF version of the tracker to friends, family, and colleagues for honest feedback. This led to 21 5-star reviews within weeks of publishing.  The overall sentiment is Gut Health Made Simple: Your Daily Tracker is easy-to-use, eye-opening, and a game-changer for overall health.  The most meaningful outcome that I’ve seen so far is from the client who inspired me to write the book. Though she has never presented with digestive or autoimmune issues, she has suffered from persistent anxiety and panic attacks for most of her life.  In recent years, through stress and poor eating habits, she gained 50+ pounds.  Because much of my social media focuses on food and its impact on gut health, she came to me looking for a “diet.” I explained that we would be working through more of a sustainable lifestyle “upgrade” rather than a fad. When I started compiling videos and free guides that I’ve created for stress, anti-inflammatory food choices, sleep management, motivation, movement, etc., I realized it would be beneficial to compile this information in one place along with regular self-assessments and daily tracker pages, so people could identify triggers AND choices that work for themselves. This particular client reported back within the week that, while she still had anxiety, she was able to manage it more effectively without going into full panic attacks (suggesting the gut-brain connection). Within a month, she had lost 11 pounds. She is still sending me videos of her new recipes that often include prebiotic fiber and cultured probiotics. How did completing the Gut Health Nutrition Specialist Certificate shape the way you approached this project? Without this program, I would not have the credibility to write and publish this book.  My interest in gut health stemmed from personal experience with an autoimmune disease. My doctor did not recommend that I make any dietary or lifestyle changes to manage the condition, so I did it on my own after reading a book called Gut Check by Dr. Steven Gundry.  Once I recognized the effect my gut health had on my condition, I wanted to understand the science and research available, and somehow I found AFPA!  From there, I was able to learn more about what happened to me and began to help others.  What specific knowledge or frameworks from AFPA showed up directly in your book? The book highlights the impact that diet, movement, stress management, and prioritizing sleep has on the gut microbiome.  These four facets were fundamental to the Gut Health Nutrition Specialist program and have given me a solid structure when working with/presenting to others. What did the Amazon publishing process actually look like for you? To begin, I was not aware that to self-publish on Amazon, I had to go through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP Amazon) which required an account setup. From there, I watched videos specific to the type of book I was publishing (low content due the tracker pages). Here, I also learned about “bleed” and how that may affect printing. The process was fairly simple but required a number of manhours.  Because my book has tracker pages, I needed graphics, so I created the design in Canva with specific size parameters. Then, I downloaded the PDF and uploaded that to KDP Amazon. At this point, I was guided to select title, author(s), categories, keywords, print details, etc.  Once all of this was verified, I uploaded my content then was given the option to create my cover through KDP or create my own. I chose to create and upload my own cover.  I was able to launch a preview and approve from there. Publishing is only one part of the process, however.  To be a successful author, there has to be a solid plan for marketing. How long did it realistically take from idea to published?  I can tell you the exact time because it was an email that I sent that inspired me to create the tracker! On 10/6/2025, I compiled several of my YouTube videos along with some free guides for a client. I had sent the same information to a different client the day before and also sent her a food journal from Amazon. I realized that gifting clients food journals was not going to be cost effective, and that’s when the idea of compiling the information along with 30 days of daily tracking pages was born! Gut Health

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Terri Scrivano, Pilates Fitness Instructor

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Terri Scrivano, Pilates Fitness Instructor During the last 31+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Terri Scrivano. Terri has earned her Pilates Instructor Certification from AFPA. Meet AFPA Graduate Terri Scrivano Tell us about yourself. My name is Terri Scrivano. I currently live in Barnegat, NJ, but I was born and raised in a small town north of Buffalo, NY. I am certified as a Group Fitness and Pilates Instructor, Senior Fitness Specialist, and Nutrition Coach. I am also the founder and CEO of Embrace Wellness With Terri, a company I created to help women over 50 achieve sustainable weight loss without dieting. My goal is to help them sleep well and live vibrant, pain-free lives with renewed energy and confidence. How did you initially become interested in health and wellness? As far back as my twenties, I struggled to achieve a balanced approach to managing my weight. Despite my commitment to dieting and exercising, my weight and emotions felt trapped in a never-ending yo-yo cycle. At 55, after going through menopause, I found myself carrying an extra 30 pounds, making it the heaviest I had ever been. I was suffering from chronic inflammation and pain that prevented me from even doing simple activities like walking. I had just lost my mom and was witnessing my dad’s health decline. Both of them had struggled with poor nutrition and a lack of movement in their final years. My mom’s death profoundly affected me; it served as my wake-up call. I realized I not only needed to take action to improve my own health but also wanted to help other older adults. Fueled by a strong passion for discovering the answers that could benefit both myself and others, I invested in my education and became a Certified Group Fitness and Pilates Instructor, a Senior Fitness Specialist, and a Nutrition Coach. After retiring from a 35-year career in the corporate world, I launched my own health coaching business. I have successfully lost 30 pounds, gained strength, and am full of energy. I’m once again enjoying the activities I love, such as taking 3-mile walks, teaching Pilates, and traveling. In my coaching practice, I help other women with proper nutrition, the importance of movement, and guide them toward an exciting path to health, wellness, and happiness. Which AFPA certification have you earned, and why did you choose that certification program? I obtained my Pilates certification from AFPA. In addition to my Group Fitness Certification, I chose to specialize in Pilates because I believe it is a highly beneficial practice for the women I teach who are over 50. Learn How to Become a Pilates Instructor Online in Less Than 6 Months Tell us about your business and how you serve people. I am the founder and CEO of Embrace Wellness with Terri. I am using my certifications to teach fitness classes in an active adult community, in addition to my health coaching. What are your favorite parts of running your business or putting your certification to use? What I absolutely love about running my own business is the freedom to be my own boss and set my schedule! While starting a business comes with its challenges, the time and dedication have truly paid off. Collaborating with incredible women and witnessing their transformations brings me immense joy and fulfillment each day! I would not have come this far or gained confidence without the certifications. How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life? The impact has been truly remarkable! It’s incredibly rewarding to support women in shaping their futures with confidence and purpose. I’m genuinely excited about the positive change we’re creating together! Do you have any success stories you would like to share? I have a couple of success stories I would like to share. I have been working with a client, and she has been doing Pilates with me for about three months. At the start of Pilates, she talked about how she didn’t feel strong. But now that she’s been exercising with me and working with me on nutrition, she told me the other day that her mom had taken a picture of her. She looked at her arms and said, “Wow, I can’t believe my arms look really sculpted!” I loved hearing that story. Another woman I’ve been working with—she’s taken my Pilates class every day, and I’m also working with her on nutrition—recently lost about 18 pounds. She was saying how she can now fit into her jeans that she hasn’t been able to put on in probably about 10 years. I was very excited to hear that from her. These are just a few incredible women making some remarkable changes through proper nutrition and fitness—and, of course, by taking my Pilates class. What advice would you give others considering getting certified through AFPA? The advice I would give anyone thinking about trying to become certified with AFPA—or any certification when it comes to health and fitness—is: don’t hesitate. I was in the corporate world for 35 years, and never did I think I would be where I am today. I started with myself—losing 30 pounds, getting strong, full of energy—and then working with all these other individuals. It’s just so rewarding, and I probably would not have had the confidence to do any of this without my certification. Don’t hesitate; do something good for yourself, and then maybe you can pay that forward. How can we find you online? Embrace Wellness with Terri Read more AFPA graduate success stories AFPA Graduate of the Month: Sarah Salain of Simply Sarah Healing, Holistic Nutritionist and Health and Wellness Coach: Sarah quit her job as a nurse to grow her online health coaching and nutrition business. AFPA Graduate of the Month: Darleene Peters, Certified Health and Wellness

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Dr. Nikki LeToya White

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Dr. Nikki LeToya White During the last 31+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Dr. Nikki LeToya White. Dr. Nikki has earned her Holistic Nutritionist Certification, Health and Wellness Coach Certification, and Weight Management Specialist Certification (now our Coaching for Weight Loss Certificate) from AFPA. Meet AFPA Graduate Dr. Nikki LeToya White, M.S.Ed-TL, Ph.D., RHN Tell us about yourself. My name is Dr. Nikki LeToya White, and I wear many hats—trucker wife, proud mom of four, and a devoted advocate for women in recovery. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Health Service Administration, a Master’s in Education (Teaching and Learning), and a Doctorate in Christian Counseling. As a Trauma-Informed Nutritionist, Herbalist, and Recovery Coach, I specialize in helping high-achieving women navigate the complex intersection of emotional trauma, addiction recovery, and wellness. Through my private practice, Spiced Life Conversation Art Wellness Studio and Botanica in Conyers, Georgia, we offer a safe and nurturing space for women seeking deep recovery, emotional wellness, and practical tools to heal. My team and I provide personalized support that addresses addiction triggers, builds sustainable coping mechanisms, and empowers women to reclaim their lives after years of navigating unresolved emotional wounds like abandonment and childhood neglect. My approach is both holistic and trauma-informed, blending evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and somatic therapy to guide women through their healing journeys. How did you first become interested in health and wellness? My journey into health and wellness began during one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life. As a new trucker wife and mother, I felt lost and overwhelmed, struggling with mom-shaming, isolation, and debilitating panic attacks. Five visits to the ER later, I took the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study and discovered that my separation anxiety had triggered an old abandonment wound from childhood—a wound caused by my mother leaving me to be raised by my great-grandmother while she pursued her career. The physician’s words were life-changing: unresolved childhood trauma was fueling my current anxiety and binge eating disorder. Unfortunately, my first therapy experience wasn’t successful, leaving me to navigate this overwhelming emotional terrain alone. I started blogging about my struggles as a trucker wife, which led to coaching other women in similar situations and writing The Loner Wife Diaries series. My healing took a transformative turn when I was introduced to a life coach and Hoodoo practitioner with decades of sobriety experience. Her wisdom and guidance taught me how to lay the foundation for my recovery. But healing is rarely linear, and life brought new challenges—a relapse in my binge eating disorder, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances stemming from low estrogen levels after my third and fourth cesareans. Diagnosed with vaginal atrophy at just 28 years old, I faced surgeries and chronic pain that left me saying, “Enough is enough.” I decided to educate myself, stumbled upon the AFPA Holistic Nutritionist Program, and enrolled to learn how to use food as medicine. The knowledge I gained was life-changing. I healed my digestive issues, managed my hormonal imbalances, reversed my binge eating relapse, and even lost thirty pounds unintentionally. Which AFPA certification have you earned, and why did you choose that certification program? I actively use my certifications in Holistic Nutrition, Health Coaching, and CEUs such as The Herbal Apothecary and Natural Strategies for Menopause to serve women in recovery. I’m currently preparing to take the AFPA Gut Health Nutrition Specialist Certificate to deepen my expertise in healing the gut-brain connection—a critical aspect of emotional and physical recovery for my clients, this will put me on track on becoming a Master Nutrition Consultant. Become an Expert Nutrition Coach at Your Own Pace Download your free guide now. Tell us about your business and how you serve people. My passion is taking everything I learned and sharing it with women who seek to make their self care and sobritey a top piority. The most profound lesson I learned is that health and lifestyle are deeply interconnected—you cannot separate mental, emotional, and physical well-being. My studies gave me a holistic perspective on the body and its relationship with trauma, addiction, and nutrition. I learned that unresolved emotional pain—especially from abandonment and childhood neglect—often manifests as addictions like binge eating, sugar dependency, or substance abuse. These behaviors not only impact emotional health but can also lead to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and inflammation. This understanding has shaped my work, allowing me to bridge the wellness, mental health, and substance abuse industries. With the right education and personal experience, I’ve been able to guide women toward healing on all levels—body, mind, and spirit. Many of my clients struggle with emotional eating, sugar addiction, anxiety, and women’s health concerns, all stemming from deep emotional wounds. By combining nutrition, herbal wellness, and emotional support, I empower my clients to break free from harmful coping mechanisms and build sustainable lives in recovery. This approach has not only helped me celebrate 8 years of full remission but also enabled my clients to thrive as they heal. How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life? As mentioned earlier, the knowledge I gained was life-changing. I healed my digestive issues, managed my hormonal imbalances, reversed my binge eating relapse, and even lost thirty pounds unintentionally. What started as a personal pursuit turned into a calling as others began reaching out to me for advice. I realized that rebranding my private practice to focus on women in recovery aligned perfectly with my purpose. Today, I continue to navigate my own sobriety while empowering women to do the same. None of this would have been possible without the education and tools I gained through my holistic nutrition studies. What advice would you give others considering getting certified through AFPA? If you’re thinking about becoming certified

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Darleene Peters, Owner of Deep Wellness NOLA

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Darleene Peters, Owner of Deep Wellness NOLA During the last 30+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Darleene Peters, owner of Deep Wellness NOLA. Darlene earned her Health and Wellness Coach Certification from AFPA. Meet AFPA Graduate Darleene Peters, Certified Health and Wellness Coach Tell us about yourself. Hello, my name is Darleene Peters. I am the CEO and founder of Deep Wellness NOLA located in New Orleans, Louisiana. How did you first become interested in health and wellness? As I began to mature, and the demands of being a wife, a mom and a busy, professional began to take its toll on me, I realized that I needed to prioritize my own health and wellness. I also realized that I needed to be able to help my loved ones prioritize their health and wellness. I had to be the example. I learned about the associations between stress and chronic illnesses, and how these chronic illnesses that have continued to plague so many of us are largely preventable due to lifestyle factors. So at that point, I became committed to helping others. I knew that becoming certified would be an important step in making an impact. Which AFPA certification have you earned, and why did you choose that certification program? I earned my AFPA certification in Health and Wellness Coaching. I thoroughly researched all my options, and I enjoyed reading about what AFPA offered, the variety of their programs, and the student support. However, the continuing support, even beyond certification, is really what prompted me to go with AFPA. It’s a great organization, and I continue to use it even after my certification for my continuing education credits to stay on top of any news and developments in the health and wellness arena. And it has proven to be an invaluable resource throughout my time as a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Learn How to Set Yourself Apart as a Board-Certified Health Coach What are your favorite parts of running your business? My favorite part about running this business is being able to help others. It’s that feeling when someone tells me that the information I shared was useful and beneficial to them. It’s the feeling of constantly learning because health and wellness, as we know it, continues to evolve. AFPA has allowed me to stay on top of industry trends and developments. I’m also proud to say that I am certified in a field where not many other people can say that. I have committed to becoming certified so that I can be taken seriously and so that I can be an authority and expert in the health and wellness field. How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life? Becoming a AFPA-Certified in Health and Wellness Coaching has had such a tremendous impact on me in more ways than I could have imagined. It has forced me to think out of the box when I was thinking that I can only do this through individual or group coaching. I realized I could have reach by writing, speaking, presenting, and sharing information, and it forced me to look at myself and examine myself and realize that I have more to offer and that I could have the impact that I wanted to have. I could have everything that I wanted once I became certified. I still use AFPA as a personal resource. Their blogs, their information, their continuing education credit courses are incredibly helpful, and I use them to stay on top of industry trends and developments, and just in my effort to continue to help people lead healthy and well lives. What advice would you give others considering getting certified through AFPA? The world needs health and wellness coaches. So perhaps you were like me and thinking, “Can I really do this? Do I have the time to do this? I have enough on my plate.” I’m telling you that you can and you should. The AFPA program is self-paced, it’s incredibly convenient, and it’s online. You can go at your own pace. You can be as ambitious as you want to be to complete the program within the time period that your schedule allows. I was juggling work and children, extra full-time, and became certified during a pandemic. So if I can do it, you can as well. And I promise you the rewards, the benefits, the feeling of accomplishment will be amazing. How can we find you online? Deep Wellness NOLA Instagram: @deepwellnessnola Darleene’s LinkedIn Read more AFPA graduate success stories AFPA Graduate of the Month: Sarah Salain of Simply Sarah Healing, Holistic Nutritionist and Health and Wellness Coach: Sarah quit her job as a nurse to grow her online health coaching and nutrition business. AFPA Graduate of the Month: Emily Hudak, Holistic Health Coach: Emily started her own business and works full-time serving clients as a health coach. AFPA Graduate of the Month: Meral Jibouri, Holistic Nutritionist: Meral offers plant-based nutrition coaching and content creation. Holistic Health Coach Certification $2148.00 Original price was: $2148.00.$179.00/monthCurrent price is: $179.00/month. Select options Sale Product on sale Certified Health and Wellness Coach Program $1049.00 Original price was: $1049.00.$158.00/monthCurrent price is: $158.00/month. Select options Sale Product on sale Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach Original price was: .$237.00/monthCurrent price is: $237.00/month. Select options The post AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Darleene Peters, Owner of Deep Wellness NOLA appeared first on AFPA. During the last 30+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Darleene Peters, owner of Deep Wellness NOLA. Darlene earned her Health and Wellness Coach […] The post AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Darleene Peters, Owner of Deep

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Kayla Chandler, Holistic Nutritionist

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Kayla Chandler, Holistic Nutritionist During the last 30+ years, we’ve certified over 130,000 professionals. Meet one of our featured graduates, Kayla Chandler, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist with a popular food blog, YouTube channel, and online business selling digital downloads and more. Kayla changed the trajectory of her wellness through nutrition and lifestyle and now educates others on how they can do the same. Enjoy our interview with Kayla below where she shares her story, why she chose to get certified with AFPA, and what her career looks like as a digital creator and nutritionist. Tell us about your story and how you got into health, nutrition, and wellness. Growing up in southern Mississippi, I was raised on fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and pecan pie! My mom was like the local Paula Dean, so we were practically eating a stick of butter with every meal (not kidding). In my teenage years, I began focusing on getting healthier; however, my version of getting healthy back then was counting calories and working out excessively. I was still consuming diet sodas, artificial ingredients, gluten-filled foods, and any other “diet” food you can name. I call it the unhealthy “healthy” diet because the thought of actually focusing on nutrition never crossed my mind. I only cared about my weight. Fast forward to my early twenties – 21 to be exact. I was working a highly stressful job, and the stress, sleep deprivation, and bad diet eventually caught up to me. At 22, I ended up in the hospital with unbearable stomach pains. I went to four different doctors, racked up hospital bills, and still, none of them knew what was wrong with me. After 3-4 days of excruciating stomach pains, my gynecologist finally kept me overnight and gave me an anti-inflammatory steroid via IV until the inflammation went down. Even then, she still didn’t know the root cause. This traumatic experience began my mission to figure out why my health was suddenly declining so quickly. As luck would have it, I was watching the Dr. Oz show one random day, which was odd because I rarely watched it, and a doctor was discussing Celiac Disease. Now, keep in mind, 10+ years ago, the whole food allergy topic wasn’t mainstream yet. So, most doctors never addressed this issue or were even aware of it. I made a trip back to the doctor and told her to test me for a gluten allergy. She ran the tests, and sure enough, I was allergic to gluten. I immediately cut gluten out and felt better instantly. But, I was still experiencing other negative symptoms, which led to more research. Long story short, over the course of several years, I was on a mission to learn as much about health as possible to cure myself. If the doctors didn’t know how to cure me, I was determined to take matters into my own hands. As I began this journey, I eventually discovered that not only did I have Celiac Disease, I also had hormonal imbalances, adrenal fatigue, heavy metal toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies. I was a mess. One by one, I began to address these issues via natural and holistic methods. And, now at the age of 33, I feel better than I ever have!  Why did you choose to pursue a certification in health and nutrition? After years of doing my own research to heal myself naturally and struggling to find others to give me answers, I gained a deep desire to share my knowledge with others. I knew that if I could turn my health around via holistic methods (and I was a complete mess), then there must be others out there just like me who needed answers! I had never been so passionate about any other topic than that of nutrition. It was always on my brain, and I was constantly sharing tips and advice to family and friends, which is why I eventually made the decision to make it a career. Why did you choose the Holistic Nutrition Certification? I chose to get the Holistic Nutrition certification because at the root of my personal health issues was nutrition, and I wanted to expand my knowledge in this area. I firmly believe that most people nowadays eat a diet void of nutrients, which leads to nutritional deficiencies and negative health symptoms. And, my desire was and is to help educate people in this area of nutrition and guide them toward changing their nutritional lifestyle to one that is healthy and energizing. I knew that acquiring a certification in this field would give me the extra knowledge needed to take my health education to the next level so that I could help more people. Get Your Free Guide to Becoming a Holistic Nutritionist Learn about the important role of holistic nutritionists, what it takes to be successful as one, and how to build a lucrative, impactful career in nutrition. Why did you choose AFPA? I chose AFPA because of its great reputation and quality education. I had researched other organizations, but none of them compared to AFPA, in my opinion. As far as completing the program, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process! The educational material was exactly what I needed to expand my knowledge. What was your favorite part about the program? My favorite part was the fact that I could take the course at my own pace. In addition to working my main job at the time, I was still able to complete the program in my spare time without feeling too overwhelmed. What is your current career? Before receiving my certification from AFPA, I had another job in an entirely different industry. But, in my spare time, I started my health blog, sharing healthy recipes and lifestyle advice.  After receiving my certification in Holistic Nutrition in 2016, I not only continue to run my health blog, but I also have a YouTube channel and work with clients one-on-one, creating nutrition plans

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Kellie Hamilton BSN, RN, HN

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Kellie Hamilton BSN, RN, HN During the last 30+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Kellie Hamilton BSN, RN, HN. She earned her Holistic Nutritionist Certification from AFPA. Meet AFPA Graduate Kellie Hamilton BSN, RN, HN Tell us about yourself. My name is Kelly, and I am a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Nutritional Wellness Consultant with AFPA. I am a practicing surgical ICU nurse in central Massachusetts and the very proud owner of A Better Path to Wellness. How did you initially become interested in health and wellness? I became interested in holistic health and wellness after graduating from one of the top nursing programs in Massachusetts back in 2014. The first non-nursing book I picked up after a four year bachelor’s program in science and nursing was a book on holistic health and nutrition and kitchen chemistry. I was floored by the evidence-based science and information and the helpful tips that no one had ever shared with us. I started asking around my friends that were in med school, and no one was learning about this very key piece of health and wellness. There was such a lack of evidence-based nutrition, and I decided right then and there that I was going to start filling that void. Which AFPA certifications have you earned, and why did you choose those certification programs? I chose to be a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Nutritional Wellness Consultant with AFPA. After extensive research, I really wanted a program that fit not only with the kind of alignment of how I saw myself as a coach going forward, but I also wanted something that was going to work with my busy schedule. I wanted something that could be done online that had great customer service. I did extensive research into reading reviews, comparing programs, and AFPA just really checked all of those boxes for me. I also liked that I could call and get a live person and ask questions and talk to them about what the program really looked like for somebody who had no idea what to compare it to. The reason I chose the certifications I did was because I wanted to have one foot in holistic medicine and one foot in Western medicine. I felt like there is such a disconnect and there’s such a place for both of them. I wanted to offer people more preventative health and nutritional interventions to pair with their health. And the Holistic Nutritionist Program really aligned so well with that way of thinking. Get Your Free Guide to Becoming a Holistic Nutritionist Learn about the important role of holistic nutritionists, what it takes to be successful as one, and how to build a lucrative, impactful career in nutrition. How are you using your certification? I use my certification by helping people in many ways. Mainly, I have a home office here in Worcester, Massachusetts where I work with clients virtually from all over the country. I help them one-on-one in education sessions. We look at where you are and help form a holistic plan for you and how you can use foods and things in your environment, whether it’s adding things or omitting things that are just really affecting the overall quality of your health. I am also a very passionate public speaker. I love to do educational events, workshops, and speaking engagements. In the last couple years of my business, I’ve really branched out. I’ve had the ability to lecture to the athletic department for my alma mater, which was amazing. I have won pitch contests talking about innovations on how to change the face of what health looks like. I have upcoming events for senior centers and doing speaking engagements for them. I’ve been featured on cable access TV on topics like Parkinson’s nutrition and more. I have really put the certifications and licenses that I have received to use, and it has helped propel me into the health, wellness, and nutrition space. What are your favorite parts of running your business? My favorite aspects of A Better Path to Wellness is the people that I get to meet, whether it’s the one-on-one people who find me for sessions and education, or the people I meet out in the community doing vendor events or speaking engagements. I have made some of the best friends, and colleagues, and I have some of the best clients that I could have ever asked for. The people that I get to engage with on a regular basis from having launched this business and using my certificates this way have come back to me tenfold. I’m so glad that I get to do that and I get to meet and work with some of these amazing people. Do you have any success stories you’d like to share? I am grateful to say that I have a lot of success stories that I could share, but picking one would do a disservice to the amount of hard work my clients all put in. Collectively, the amount of weight loss, the amount of diminished chronic disease, the amount of medications that my clients have been able to come off, the biomarkers like the lipid panels, the fasting glucose, the insulin levels that have all been reduced in a healthy, positive, sustainable manner have just shattered my expectations on what people can really achieve when they put their mind to something and have the power of a educated, professional, empathetic coach behind them. And that really in itself is the success story of my clients because they all achieve success in their own way. It has been a pleasure and will continue to be as long as I advance in my career to cheer them on and support them and yell their success

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Savanna Sunny Strauss

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Savanna Sunny Strauss During the last 30 years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Savanna, who has completed two AFPA certifications. She is an AFPA Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Tell us about yourself. My name is Savanna Sunny Strauss. I am 24 years old and a recent graduate from Utah Valley University and AFPA. I am married to my best friend and love my dog Pogue! I am a personal trainer with a love for weightlifting, yoga, swimming, surfing, pilates, and sunset walks. I love to cook, try new foods, and create recipes! I love how food connects us and provides memorable experiences. When I am not at the gym or cooking in the kitchen, I enjoy traveling, reading, spending time with my friends and family, being outdoors, and watching movies! How did you initially become interested in health and wellness? My interest in health and wellness started at a young age when my dad was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Through his health journey, I was able to watch and learn how his diet affected his life. As I grew up I started to make connections between my own diet and its effects on my health. This led me to love exercise and eating well for my body. I eventually became a group fitness instructor and developed a love for helping others. After college, I realized I wanted a career helping others live their healthiest lives possible. I found AFPA and was immediately drawn to multiple courses! Enrolling in AFPA was one of the best decisions I have made for my career as a coach, as well as for my overall health and wellness.  Which AFPA certifications have you earned, and why did you choose those certification programs? I earned AFPA certifications in Holistic Nutrition and Health and Wellness Coaching. I chose to take the holistic nutrition course to gain a deeper understanding of disease prevention and the relationship between health and lifestyle. I was excited about the opportunity to educate others on nutrition in a simple way. This motivated me to also enroll in the Certified Health and Wellness Coach program to learn how to help others develop sustainable healthy habits. Get Your Free Guide to Becoming a Holistic Nutritionist Learn about the important role of holistic nutritionists, what it takes to be successful as one, and how to build a lucrative, impactful career in nutrition. How are you using your certification/planning on using your certification? I am currently using my certifications as an online personal trainer, nutritionist, and health coach. I am starting my own business and am working in person at a local gym. How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life? Becoming certified with AFPA has impacted my life in many ways. I have learned how to be a better coach for others and myself! I have been able to strengthen many relationships by having an education in health and nutrition and have been able to better my own lifestyle. What was one thing you learned in your studies that has left an impact on you? My main takeaway from the holistic nutrition course was that health and lifestyle are interconnected. I developed a new perspective on nutrition and a deeper understanding of the body as a whole.  How can we find you online? Find me on Instagram @savannasunnyhealth and get in touch with me on my website Savanna Sunny Health. Read more AFPA graduate success stories AFPA Graduate of the Month: Sarah Salain of Simply Sarah Healing, Holistic Nutritionist and Health and Wellness Coach: Sarah quit her job as a nurse to grow her online health coaching and nutrition business. AFPA Graduate of the Month: Emily Hudak, Holistic Health Coach: Emily started her own business and works full-time serving clients as a health coach. AFPA Graduate of the Month: Meral Jibouri, Holistic Nutritionist: Meral offers plant-based nutrition coaching and content creation. The post AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Savanna Sunny Strauss appeared first on AFPA. During the last 30 years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Savanna, who has completed two AFPA certifications. She is an AFPA Certified Holistic Nutritionist […] The post AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Savanna Sunny Strauss appeared first on AFPA. Melissa Lopez{authorlink}https://www.afpafitness.com/blog/health-coaching-success-stories-savanna-sunny-straus/Blog – AFPA TURN YOUR DREAM CAREER INTO REALITY https://www.afpafitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/fav.webp

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Claire Simmons

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AFPA Graduate Spotlight: Claire Simmons During the last 30 years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Claire Simmons, an AFPA Certified Holistic Health Coach. Tell us about yourself. Hi! My name is Claire Simmons and I am an AFPA Certified Holistic Health Coach. I live in North Carolina with my husband of eight years and our three boys, ages 6, 4 and 2. I graduated from the University of Miami in 2004 and from there landed my first job as a television reporter and producer. After spending several years in the industry, I accepted a job at one of the nation’s largest healthcare organizations, where I worked as a senior communications director. I truly enjoyed my time there as it was a wonderful blend of challenging and exciting work, but ultimately, I wanted to spend more time with my children. In December of 2022 I made the decision to leave my corporate job and stay home. Family is extremely important to me, and I didn’t want to look back and wonder where the time went. Additionally, my passion for health and wellness has always been front and center in my life, so I wanted to ensure that I was creating the best life possible for my boys. I wanted to be there for them, cook them healthy foods, play outside with them, and give them a childhood based in wellness. How did you initially become interested in health and wellness? Ever since I was a child, my parents encouraged my brothers and I to be active and play outdoors. My mom always cooked at home and eating out was a rare occasion. Once I left home and went to college, I knew that I wanted to maintain a healthy lifestyle and not give in to the usual college temptations! I started going to the gym and fell in love with fitness. That led me to get certified to teach group fitness, which I did throughout my college years. I remember devoutly reading women’s health magazines where I learned about nutrition and picked up several tips and tricks that really came in handy as a young adult, navigating life on my own for the first time. From there, fitness and nutrition just became ingrained in my everyday life. Eventually, I started learning about intuitive and mindful eating, mental strength, emotional maturity, and all of the other components of health that we don’t hear as much about as workouts and diets. That’s when it really clicked for me…having that whole package in place is what made me feel and perform my best. I couldn’t stop learning about wellness and I wanted everyone around me to feel as good as I did! I think I always knew that there was a path for me in the wellness industry, but I was always busy with life and put my focus on my career, having babies, and such. But once I gave myself time to think about what direction I wanted to go in and how I wanted my life to look, I just could not ignore the call that wellness was where I needed to be! Which AFPA certifications have you earned, and why did you choose those certification programs? I have earned the Holistic Health Coach Certification, which is comprised of the Health and Wellness Coaching Course as well as the Holistic Nutrition Course. I loved the option of combining these two because true wellness is more than what you eat. True wellness must blend harmoniously with one’s culture, society, family, work, and family life. The Holistic Health Coach Certification teaches you the nuts and bolts of nutrition which is so important and includes strategies on how to navigate real life, even when your diet can’t be “perfect.” How are you using your certification/planning on using your certification? First and foremost, my primary goal is to use the knowledge gained through my certifications to create the healthiest and happiest home environment for my family. My family is my priority and if we aren’t healthy, I know that it is hard to live life to the fullest! Plus, I want my children to learn about nutrition and fitness now when they are young so they can lean on these tools throughout their entire life. I think it could be the best present I can give them! My husband is an entrepreneur and has a very stressful and challenging job, so I want him to know that when he is home he will always get the best from me in the form of delicious, healthy food, a space to rest, a clean and orderly environment, and, of course, lots of attention from the kids and me. 😊 Outside of my family, I have so many ideas to help others! I want to create a wellness committee at my sons’ school and help build up programming to teach students about nutrition, fitness, and wellness. I’d love to build a garden at school and home to grow fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables. I want to help moms who also want the best for their families but who are struggling with how to do that. I want to help those who are working the corporate grind and show them that it is possible to incorporate health into that busy lifestyle. I also want to create and share more content about nutrition and healthy living and publish that on social media, a blog, and for other websites that have like-minded content. How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life? I’m so grateful I made the decision to get certified by AFPA! It gave me the confidence to pursue my passion and cement my credibility in the wellness space as not just someone who loves health and wellness, but someone who is capable and prepared to help others. AFPA gave me

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AFPA Graduate of the Month: Sarah Salain of Simply Sarah Healing, Holistic Nutritionist and Health and Wellness Coach

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AFPA Graduate of the Month: Sarah Salain of Simply Sarah Healing, Holistic Nutritionist and Health and Wellness Coach During the last 30 years, we’ve certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly distinguished graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.  Meet one of our featured graduates, Sarah Salain, an AFPA Certified Holistic Nutritionist. Tell us about yourself. Hi there! My name is Sarah. I’m a Registered Nurse & Holistic Health Coach specializing in holistic nutrition and hormones. I help empower women on their health and wellness journeys by educating and coaching on the importance of nutrition to overall health, as well as balancing hormones. I absolutely love holistic health, the beach, and spending time with my husband and two pups. It’s truly my mission to provide the best care, guidance, and support to all the clients I serve. How did you initially become interested in health and wellness? I’ve always been interested in health, but it wasn’t until I became ill myself that I truly took a deep dive into what holistic health and wellness meant. After completing AFPA’s Holistic Nutritionist course, I started delving deeper into holistic health, and my body began healing and feeling better. When I started implementing more nutritionally dense foods, changing my lifestyles and habits, and becoming more aware, my entire life changed, and a new passion for wellness began. Although my times of sickness were extremely disappointing and frustrating, it fueled a new passion to serve my clients as best as I could to finally help them get to the root cause of their health struggles. Which AFPA certifications have you earned, and why did you choose those certification programs? I personally chose the Holistic Nutritionist course and certification for a few reasons. As a Nurse, I was taught very little about how nutrition supports the body and how it can be used as medicine. I feel nutrition is one of the most critical aspects of health and wellness, related to every part of our mind, body, and soul. When I started learning and implementing the information I was being taught in the AFPA course, I was floored. I felt as if I had stumbled upon a new version of health and wellness that the entire world needed to learn about. I knew it would become my mission to spread awareness about whole foods, holistic healing, and simplifying diet and lifestyle to help change people’s lives. Get Your Free Guide to Becoming a Holistic Nutritionist Tell me about your business and how you serve people. SimplySarahHealing is truly my whole heart and soul. My mission is to empower women on their health and wellness journeys by understanding their cycle, supporting their hormones with nutrition, healing their gut, and truly getting aligned with their body. I have created three programs that help women lose weight, heal their gut, lower their toxin load, and truly understand their cycle phases while balancing their hormones. What are your favorite parts of running your business? There is absolutely no better feeling than my clients sharing their wins with me. Every week I just want to jump up and down when I get messages about their achievements. Whether it’s hitting their goal weight, feeling more confident in their clothes, feeling stronger in the gym, getting a positive pregnancy test after struggling with infertility, or just knowing and understanding their body’s specific hormonal cues at certain phases of their cycle. It’s so important to me that every single one of my clients leaves me with empowerment, confidence, and so much more knowledge than they came to me with. What has been the hardest part of running your business, and what have you learned from it? My clients truly become friends to me, so I celebrate their wins and feel their losses. Health journeys are not always 100% linear. Sometimes we get stuck, hit a rough patch, or have a bad week, so when my clients are struggling with their health and wellness journeys or even with a hard life moment, I truly feel it with them. I, too, am still on my own personal health and wellness journey, so I can empathize with how hard it really is to truly change your lifestyle one day at a time. Some days can be tough and defeating, but that’s why having a coach is so important!! I feel confident that my clients and I can navigate their own unique and personal journey together! How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life? When I signed up for the AFPA Holistic Nutritionist course, I had no intention of ever being a health coach. I was simply desperate for a solution to help me on my own personal journey. As I read, studied, and continued to learn, I felt like I was relearning an entire different system of health and healing. I became so passionate about spreading awareness regarding the importance of nutrition. After I started living by the information I was learning and started feeling better in my own health, I just knew it was my mission to help other women do the same. I was SO tired of running into women that were constantly dismissed for their symptoms, who were told how they were feeling was “just being a woman,” who were broken down, defeated, helpless, and were fighting their body. I wanted to heal that, help them find the light, and help empower them to reclaim their health back. Do you have any client success stories you would like to share? SOOOOO MANY. I’ve helped countless women become pregnant, have painless periods, heal their gut, lose weight without medication, find sustainable routines and habits, lower A1C, navigate PCOS, learn to go non-toxic and cycle-sync, empower them to lean into their hormones and cycles rather than toss it to the side, lower cholesterol, and make long-lasting forever lifestyle changes. My clients are the real deal!!! They truly inspire me every.single.day. I feel so honored

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