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Ever since our first cohort of coaches graduated from our AIP Certified Coach Practitioner Training Program, we’ve been watching with pride and excitement as they bring the AIP to the traditional healthcare landscape. Our AIP Certified Coach Spotlight features give you a look at what it means to be an AIP coach, and what you can expect when working with one as part of your healthcare team.
Sarah Deavitt took on a major life change when her nagging health issues motivated her to move to California from NYC, quit her job and go back to school to study holistic nutrition. Having multiple family members with autoimmune disease and having been diagnosed with it herself, she knew autoimmunity would be her focus. Now, Sarah works with clients 1:1 to help them mange symptoms using the Autoimmune Protocol.
How did you become involved in the healthcare field in the beginning?
I became involved in holistic health after having several unexplained reactions to certain foods in my early 30s. I wasn’t getting satisfactory support from my healthcare team, and I began to research and advocate for myself. This led me to make a major shift in my life… quitting my job, moving back to CA from NYC, and going to Bauman College for Holistic Nutrition.
What prompted you to use your skill set and training to specifically focus on serving the autoimmune disease population?
I always knew that autoimmune disease would be my focus, and was a major area of study for me in school. My mother and maternal grandmother both had autoimmune disorders, as well as my sister. Growing up bearing witness to their journeys made me curious about the root cause of these diseases, as well as alternatives to their treatment. For 20+ years, I have known something was “wrong” with me and suspected that I was headed for an AI diagnosis. With a lot of persistence, I finally got my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in February 2021.
You recently became an AIP Certified Coach. Were there aspects of the program that you feel were particularly beneficial?
I found it incredibly beneficial to be going through the elimination phase of AIP while also going through the training program. I allowed for a greater depth of understanding on both sides, and the support system of the training team and fellow students was phenomenal. I loved that I was able to go at my own pace, since I was navigating my own healthcare needs at the same time.
What kinds of plans do you currently have for your practice? Anything exciting coming up?
I just launched a monthly workshop with a local holistic wellness center called Healthy Cooking Made Simple. It is a free community workshop via Zoom supported by Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health. Each month I will be introducing simple recipes in conjunction with a variety of topics and therapeutic benefits. I am currently only working with a handful of established 1:1 clients while I address my autoimmune symptoms.
Can you share an autoimmune client success story?
A recent client testimonial:
“Working with Sarah has been one of the best gifts I’ve given myself. She helped me develop a sense of awareness in regards to my body that I’ve learned is essential to how I live my life. I’ve struggled with endometriosis since I was a teenager and eventually had surgery in my mid 20s in 2014 (which did not help as expected). Because of my endometriosis, I’m very sensitive to what I put in/on my body. Sarah helped me see this and learn how to navigate this foreign area of my life. Since working with Sarah, my endometriosis symptoms have drastically improved. I used to be in constant pain throughout each month. Now I experience a few days of cramping with my cycle. My periods have been regular for three years without any hormonal birth control. Somedays I wonder if I even have endometriosis. I know I do—it’s not something that will go away. But Sarah helped me find the tools to continue living and enjoying my life.”
Where can our readers find you or learn about working with you?
You can find more about me on my website: www.soulfulnutrition.us and join my mailing list to be notified when I am accepting new clients. Also please follow me on Instagram.
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