Personalized Counseling

Includes 1 hour sessions twice a month for 6 months

This is a one on one approach for high impact, results to really take charge and get the results you want quicker, more effectively and with long lasting results.

This is geared for the individual that knows that they want to make the necessary changes and knows that through support and guidance they will have faster, more effective and easier to maintained results.   

This program can be done over the phone for your convenience.  All that is required is that you make this time a priority.  Turn off the other phones.  Turn off your computer.  Close the door and put out a sign Do Not Disturb until the session is over.  This time is for you. 

 Frequently asked Questions:

What results are typical that I can expect?

o        You will discover the pleasure of eating new healthier foods that you will love!  Learn to eat, enjoy and desire the foods that support your health and build your immune system.

o        Increase your confidence in making food and lifestyle choices.  You will learn what works for your individual needs in a fun and enjoyable manner. At a pace that works for you.  This will ensure that what you learn becomes a part of your lifestyle and not just another temporary “thing you tried”.

o        Experience an increase in your energy level.  Feeling and looking better starts from the inside and radiates out. 

o        The health concerns that you had been experiencing may just disappear or at the least become less intrusive in your life.

o        Become aware of food cravings, understand them and overcome them.

o        Never “diet” again.  You will learn to nourish your body, mind and soul so you no longer need to follow someone else’s “diet”.  Empower yourself.

o        Become more efficient in time management and meal planning.

o        You may even start to loose all that excess weight that your body has been holding onto.

o        Become a responsible participant in your life and well being.

What type of people do you usually work with?

My clients are people who are ready and willing to make changes to their diet and lifestyle to improve their health, vitality, overcome health issues, and feel better physically, mentally and energetically.  Mostly I work with men and women in their 40’s and 50’s who realize that it’s time to take control of their life and health and get back on track.  I mainly enjoy working with people that have decided it’s time to put themselves and their health first for a change and create a more energetic, passionate future. 

Many people who want to work with me complain of: low energy, new health issues diagnosed by a physician, PMS and/or menopausal concerns, feeling out of control with food cravings, digestive disorders, i.e. IBS, leaky gut, Crohn’s, etc., feeling hyperactive, having hyperactive children, needing help with meal planning and time management and/or just wanting to improve their health and vitality as they age.

How and why did you become a Holistic Health Counselor?

My interest in learning how nutrition affects the way we feel began many years ago while I was still in high school.  I became the “healthy” eater in my social circle.  More recently I started noticing that I had problems concentrating at different times of the day.  I experienced low energy in the afternoon, gaining weight as I aged and low blood sugar episodes daily so much that my husband didn’t like being around me when I was “cranky” and snacking all day (some people like to call it grazing) to keep my blood sugar stable.  Although I didn’t know this was what I was doing, I just knew that eating simple carbohydrates helped me feel better.  I now know my body was telling me this through cravings.  I was responsible for running construction projects around the state and had a hard time staying focused during meetings or even awake in the afternoons.  I asked many doctors what this was all about and what could I do.  No one seemed to have an answer for me.

At this time I also realized that I needed to make a career change.  Something inside me was telling me that there was something else out there for me.  I then learned about the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and realized quickly that this was my calling.  In January of 2006 I had my first client, then another and another and it has continued steadily since.  In July 2006, I decided I needed to do this incredible work full time.  I now am assisting people in building their bodies in a way that is true to them.  I still like to think of myself as a someone who builds; it’s just much more rewarding and individualized now.  I love to see the people I work with grow and improve their health, increase their enjoyment in life, and learn they can control how they feel daily while improving their overall outlook on health and well being for good.  By the way I no longer experience the blood sugar highs and lows as I had before, my brain is much clearer, no more “brain fog”, and I lost 2 clothes sizes without trying.  Simply by making better food choices and loving what I eat.

So what is your Program about?

My approach is to get back to simplicity and basics.  My philosophy is that eating and being healthy doesn’t need to be about discipline, hard work or will power.  It’s about learning what makes you feel good mentally, emotionally and physically. Take the word “diet” right out of your vocabulary.  Eating should be easy, enjoyable and most important healthy.  I don’t try to turn people into tofu eating, crunchy, granola types. It’s geared to your individual, likes and strengths. You are a unique person, so is what nourishes your individual body, mind and spirit.

We will therefore, look at your current diet and your typical day.  From there we begin to make small, easy, do-able changes to kick start enhancing your life.  We begin to see where we can make the most impact to get you started on a healthier path.  This may be an introduction to healthier foods, with an explanation of why these foods are healthier, what they offer to your body and to make the changes really easy, and an explanation of how to cook them. 

The recommended adjustment to your daily routine has to be something that works with your life and lifestyle and something that you are willing to accomplish.  From there we utilize each session to evaluate the changes and introduce more at whatever pace feels right for you. 

What happens if I haven’t worked with anyone with your specific health concerns?

I strongly suggest that people work closely with their doctor and other health professionals and as a team, we work together to help you with your particular concerns.  Most likely I have worked with people that required the same adjustment to diet and lifestyle that will help you.  Most diseases have similar causes; poor diet and lifestyle or the Standard American Diet (SAD) and the symptoms and concerns just appear different for each individual. What makes this work so important is that if the underlying cause is not addressed (poor diet, lifestyle choices and stress) more and more adverse symptoms will occur over time.

How are you different from other nutritional counselors?

I differentiate myself in several ways.  My main focus is on being healthy, first and foremost.  It’s not about counting calories or fat grams but by focusing more on the quality of the foods and activities that you choose.  Like most of us, you have probably tried a variety of diets, and may even have managed to do well on some for a few weeks or even months.  However, the emphasis such diets place on willpower, deprivation and denial is both unnecessary and counterproductive. The reality is that, unless you have a plan that is practical, works with your lifestyle and takes your individuality into account, it will not last. I will help you to create such a plan.

I could tell you right off the bat what foods to eat and what not to eat, but you probably already know this information and have tried to make the changes but found it too difficult to do all at once, especially without support.  Conventional dietary theories present you with food restrictions and limitations that are difficult to sustain over time. Such quick fixes do nothing to help you achieve life-long health and happiness nor do they bring out the body’s natural inclination toward balance. Therefore, as we introduce new foods, I take the time to tell you how to buy, prepare and cook those foods and we discuss how you can implement them easily into your daily routine.  I also offer food samples to all my clients so you can try the different foods and condiments without having to spend money on items you are not sure of.

We will also spend time together reviewing all aspects of your lifestyle and decide where you want to make adjustments.  If there are changes or corrections you want to make, we work together to discover a method that works best for you. If you decide you want to add more activity or movement to your life, we consider what type of program would motivate you and then decide when, how, and where your program would add fun and joy to your life. Sometimes it may be necessary to work on time management. No matter what needs to be adjusted your needs and desires are key.  And you will receive the support you need.

As you become more physically fit, other areas of your life such as relationships, career and creativity start to improve. You will naturally begin to crave those foods and activities that make you feel better, and to make time in your life for those things that are truly important to you.

Since this program is a “holistic” approach to better health, in addition to the areas already mentioned, we will also discuss your sleeping patterns, how you eat, where you eat, when you eat and why you are eating.  Since all these aspects also affects your body’s ability to digest properly and assimilate the nutrients that your body needs they are key components to a healthier life. 

What if I am still unsure of working with you?

As I mentioned, I work with people that know they are ready to make changes in their life to improve their health.  If you are not sure at this time, that’s ok too.  Please feel free to contact me, we could schedule the Initial Consultation and discuss what might be holding you back. Maybe this is not the right time for you, or you are unsure about achieving your health goals.  But if you are dealing with health issues, I urge you to find someone you trust to guide and support you in working toward a healthier you.  There is no need to suffer with chronic pain or health issues.

What will be expected of me?

During our 6 months of working together I expect both of us to show up and to be on time for each session. If you can not make a session, a 24 hour notice is required to reschedule.  I also expect you to be open to making changes as we progress.  This is your commitment to yourself so I expect you to commit to this work. I also expect that we are both honest with each other as to what is working and what is not.  And I ask you most of all to be honest with yourself while you explore your thoughts and actions.  In order to progress, we must both declare a strong commitment to this program and to your health and wellbeing.  If you do this, you will succeed.

Does this really work?

Yes it does.  Many of my clients meet their goals in the first 3 months.  We then spend the time to ensure the new habits that you have created continue to work and we set further goals to get you to a higher level than you ever expected.  When you are committed to making changes, there is nothing that can stop you from accomplishing what you set out to do.  And I am with you every step of the way to guide, encourage and support you.

Who is NOT likely to benefit from your programs?

Those looking for a quick fix, and who are not willing to commit to themselves and to follow through. This program is most likely not appropriate for you if you use excuses to not meet your goals, or if you are expecting me to do all the work.  I want to work with people who are ready to make their health a priority and who are not afraid to learn more about themselves, their body and their current destructive habits.  If you are motivated and excited, I will help you get out of your own way, end your need for self-sabotage, and make the process simple, easy and fun. This is not an ordinary program or diet, we will not be counting calories or grams of fat, rather it is about building your confidence and knowledge about what works best for your unique body so you can engage in the experience of being fully present and enjoy eating with confidence.

I'm not sure if I can afford the monthly payments right now do you offer extended payment plans?

Yes! I offer extended payment plans based on individual needs. If you truly want to be engaged in one of my programs we will find a way to work it out! Contact me for possibilities. 

 
Can I do one or two sessions and see if I like it?

Although I do offer one time sessions this alone does not work for everyone.  This plan is best for those that have completed the 6 Month Program and want to continue with monthly support or “tune ups”.  You can certainly start with this but it may not give you the support to make life long changes, at a pace that is right for you. 

I recommend the Initial Consultation as the first step and then decide from there.  The Initial Consultation is not in any way an obligation to work together, but more an informal means for the two of us to get to know each other better and to see if working together would be something we both could commit to. 

This is a great way to see what it's like to work with me as a Holistic Health Counselor.  Implementing lasting change takes time. This is a gradual process. Each session builds on the last, in a progression. If you are honest with yourself on the recommendations, and show up, you will experience positive results. I invite you to be completely authentic first with yourself and with me throughout the program.

Entering into a program of this type does include some self evaluation and a commitment to making changes.  But you will not be alone.  Together with support and guidance from me you will strengthen not only your confidence but you will learn much about yourself and understand what works best for you and why you do what you do in regard to nutrition.  You with be accountable for the progress you are committing to and for the wonderful results.

This will be fun, easy and the effects will be long lasting.

With the Balanced Nourishment Program you will:

 1.      Make yourself and your health a high priority in your life.

2.       Be clear regarding your goals for yourself and your life.

a.       Review all the areas in your life to see where you want to make adjustments

b.       Set short term, mid range and long term goals that are realistic and challenging.

3.       Devise do-able action steps to get you to each goal and review often.

a.       Taking only a few steps at a time depending on your comfort level.

4.      Address the areas of your life that may be holding you back.

5.      Change of mindset that nourishing your body, mind and spirit is the building block to a healthier, happier life.

6.       Be open to:

a.       learning new ideas

b.       trying new alternative

c.       rewarding new options.

7.      Review your goals often

a.       have you accomplishes some?  Reward yourself!

b.       Set new goals.

c.       Review where you are not moving forward and make a change so you can.

8.      You are responsible for all your results

9.     Congratulate yourself on your accomplishments.

10.   Have fun and enjoy the new you.  Make this a way of life.

If this sounds like what you are looking for, you will most likely benefit from one of 
The Balanced Nourishment Programs.  I offer Initial Consultation, Group Counseling, Public Workshops, Corporate Wellness Programs  and Telephone Counseling to match your health related goals.

Let me know how I can support you?

Become the responsible participant in your life.  Allow your body to heal.

Please review my client testimonials on my "About Me" page and learn what other people have gained from working with me and see how this could help you. 

Are you ready to make your health a higher priority?

Contact me at 860 306 3722 or pamcarignan@comcast.net to set up your
Initial Consultation