Christina’s story

When I was 18 years old I got really sick. It was sudden and fast and confusing. It felt like I was walking down a normal, predictable path and then the road all of a sudden crumbled in front of me, creating a chasm between what was and what was supposed to be. 

I experienced high spiking fevers, fatigue and full body inflammation and was diagnosed with something called Adult Onset Still’s Disease, but have had a few other diagnoses and have since learned that Lyme Disease was a big part of my symptoms as well. As anyone with autoimmunity or chronic illness knows, the inability to fit me into a nice and tidy box was also part of the difficulty. At the same time all of this was happening I was also hospitalized for a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) from hormonal birth control and widespread inflammation, so my body was going through a lot. 

I am grateful for all the practitioners I had back then. Their medications and treatments helped me to stay alive and stabilize. I’ve also turned to those medications many times in the years following. But as time went on and despite their best intentions, it became apparent to my 18 year old self that these people didn't really have the tools to guide me through the process of getting well again. That’s where I had to begin the journey myself. 

That journey led me to becoming a Registered Nurse to be there for people who were really sick. I worked in the Intensive Care Unit, as a Cardiac specialist and in long-term patient rehab and I learned so much about the inner workings of our bodies and medical systems. But there was always a voice, whispering to me that there was even more to healing than this. I wanted to help people before they had the triple bypass surgeries and came to me in recovery and I knew I could. 

While others around me found purpose in treating critical injuries and thriving in high adrenaline situations (my poor nervous system!) I was endlessly curious about the illness experience and supporting the person rather than just the body part or diagnosis. 

I followed a spark of desire to train as a health coach back in 2015 (not letting the question of what exactly IS a health coach? stop me). As I’m prone to do, I kept studying and gathering knowledge, trained in Functional Nutrition and got certified as a Board Certified Nurse Coach. 

I’ve been working with clients since 2015 and have had the honor to support hundreds of individuals and groups to find their path to healing. I’ve also worked as a group coaching mentor for coaches to develop and deliver programs to reach more people.  

My own individual health journey has taken me on a wild ride as well, giving me deep reverence for many traditions and forms of medicine from Chinese Medicine to Shamanism to Trauma-Aware Counseling. I believe that we can only help people as much as we have helped ourselves, and over the years my lived experience has helped ground me into the practitioner I am today and develop the type of medicine I have to offer. 

I partnered with Megan Liebmann in 2022 to found the Slow Medicine Collective out of a shared desire to evolve the way we view and engage with healing. Megan was a teacher of mine in my Functional Nutrition training and her depth of experience, wisdom, compassion, strong earth connection and just all around beautiful nature let me know we had some important work to do together. 

To me, the Slow Medicine Collective feels like a deep breath, a relief, and a sanctuary for people to find healing, compassion, community and trusted support. There is so much going on in the world right now and I’ve witnessed, collectively, our needs change. When we feel deprived, overstimulated and stressed, we need a type of care that meets us where we are at, soothes us, and helps us to take the next steps forward. The Slow Medicine Collective is here to meet you now, exactly where you are at, and help you connect with your vitality again. 

I’m honored to be here with you, right here, right now, together. 

With Love, 

Christina