Jeannine's Journey
In the beginning…Health Educator
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My journey began in 1993 as an assistant dietitian. While in college I worked in the food and nutrition department of a local hospital, aiding registered dietitians in planning and supervising nutrition programs. Ensuring patients dietary needs, monitoring eating habits, and recommending changes in behavior were general responsibilities. My passion was overall wellness and health promotion. I made a shift to broaden my skills beyond inpatient needs. I received my bachelors in Public Health specializing in health promotion and nutrition in 1994. As a certified health educator my responsibilities were geared toward improving the quality of health assessing, coordinating, educating and evaluating programs to help individuals and communities adopt healthier behaviors. I enjoyed teaching prevention strategies but knew it was my destiny to offer more. |
The next step…Nursing
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Three years as a health educator had passed and still my passion for wellness continued to intensify. Working full time as a health educator, I embarked on a three year commitment in the hospital's nursing program. The training was intense and having to maintain full time work was stressful. Yet I loved it . As as registered nurse, wellness and prevention remained my passion. Now armed with clinical training, my skills and experience lead me towards Women's Health, specifically breast health management. I soon became Manager of the hospital's Wellness Department. I was involved in developing and facilitating a variety of programs such as nutritional, diabetes, oncology, cardiac and prevention services. But it was my solid wellness background and nursing experience that fostered the development of a multifaceted breast health program, which included mobile mammography, community education and coordination of care for those managing through breast cancer diagnosis. I became part of an oncology integrative healthcare team. Initially, integrative meant surgeons, radiologist, health educators, nurses and nutritionist working collaboratively. However, in time, the hospital integrated holistic therapies as complementary services to augment care plans. Holistic services were offered to support the often overlooked family members. My interests were ignited! I became the liaison for holistic therapists and collaborated with hospital and outpatient healthcare teams to integrate wellness and holistic therapies into patient services. I was privileged to have the opportunity to hear patient's positive responses to these therapies. I was not only reading about holistic therapies, I had actual anecdotal information. As a nurse who enjoys research, I was inspired! Relaxed and energized feelings were feedback descriptions by the patients. This intrigued me! Therapies appeared to support and facilitate the body's ability to heal. However, I had yet to fully understand how much. Although subjective information was compelling, I had yet to embrace holistic therapies as a “necessity” in facilitating the healing process and achieving wellness. |
The turning point…Patient
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Then in November 2004, my life was about to change dramatically! For 10 years, I have been working in the field of wellness. I felt so blessed to work in a career I actually loved, successfully providing services to individuals, communities and healthcare professionals promoting, improving, and maintaining healthy lifestyles. I understood and fostered the whole person approach to wellness, or at least I thought! While I was deeply caring for others, I did not honor my own self-care needs. I neglected the profound negative effects of ongoing unmanaged stress, poor nutritional habits, and lack of physical activity, and I continued to assume more responsibilities that depleted my energy. My life became out of balance, consequently my health began to deteriorate slowly. Then, one beautiful Autumn morning I began the day as any other. However, this day would be different because my life drastically changed. It was the day before my 32nd birthday; I was diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome, a condition wherein the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. The disorder included varying degrees of weakness and pain which increased in intensity until it was difficult for me to walk. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, merely noted as “a virus”. However, the “cause” I later learned, was the disruption of energy flow caused by negative energy blocks associated with chronic stress and an unbalanced lifestyle. In this way, the chronic unbalanced state I was living eventually manifested into my physical illness or “dis-ease”. I remember sitting across from the doctor as he explained the prognosis. As a nurse, I anticipated his explanation and treatment options provided. What I didn't anticipate was my desire to embrace holistic therapies to complement the medical treatments. Although I was familiar with holism and knew about the positive affects of its therapies, I had never utilized them personally. That changed on this day. Without hesitation, my first response was to integrate a holistic healing process. To my delight, my medical team was supportive in my decision. Once perceived as the worst time in my life, I now embrace my diagnosis of GBS as a gift. Because it was so profound in its life lessons, this became a transforming experience! I was blessed to have an aunt who was a Reiki Master and Healing Touch Practitioner, so I had access to powerful holistic healing techniques. She also encouraged me to become a student of holism to harness my own intrinsic healing abilities. Pain and recovery impelled me towards becoming a Reiki Practitioner. Now I had the tools to restore myself! I began to give myself daily Reiki treatments. Although the healing did not occur in a single therapy session, the process was definitely tangible. After each session I felt different. My pain threshold decreased, my ability to walk increased and so did my energy level. I felt a sense of calmness and hope. But more importantly, I gained a sense of control over my body and health! But another challenge arose. Urinary output was less than desirable. I was familiar with Reflexology, feet reflex body systems, and the potential benefits by working with "energy pathways". After discussing this with my healthcare team, I "put my nursing assessment hat on" and allowed two weeks to "experiment" in order to see improvement. Reflexlogy sessions emphasized what is known as the "kidney reflex" and "the urinary system". I had reflexology for an hour each day, and as you may anticipate what I'm about to profess...YES my urinary function was back to normal! Some may say that it's a coincidence, I say it was my turning point! For me, my therapies complemented my treatment plan and helped facilitate a quicker healing process! |
Put it all together…Holistic Therapist
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I had a wonderful medical team and knew the treatment plan was appropriate for the diagnosis. However, GBS had an unknown etiology as well as an undetermined recovery period. This "unknown" was frustrating and my pain threshold intense, therefore I sought additional resources to facilitate my healing process. Yet for all of its challenges, GBS was also a life-transforming experience because it convinced me that the body has an energetic system and pathways that are real! Though terrifying and profoundly painful, GBS became my teacher because it put me on a journey. That journey allowed me to experience first hand how holistic therapies like Reiki, Healing Touch, and Reflexology uses the body's energetic process helping me to harness my own body's intrinsic healing ability! Just as importantly, I was ready to be open to this new way of healing. Put differently, GBS became a gift because it put me on a journey that allowed me to explore enhanced wellness methodologies to overcome it, allowing me to better serve others! It offered me the opportunity to learn first hand how holistic therapies complemented my conventional medical treatment plan. Although they claimed to be "optimistic skeptics" even my conventional healthcare team was impressed with how holism cut down my recovery time! To enhance my knowledge base beyond my personal experience, I pursued a Masters in Nursing specializing in Integrative Healthcare. To further expand my skills and expertise in the field of integrative healthcare, I studied and trained within specific holistic therapies. I am trained in healing touch and reiki therapies, I am certified as a Reiki Master/Teacher (mentored by my Reiki Master who facilitated my personal healing experience). As a certified Reflexologist, I completed 200 hours of extensive training through the New York Open Center, Vital Energy Source, LLC and Omega Holistic Institute. In 2011 I began 160+ hours of Manual Lymphatic Drainage training through the Dr.Vodder School International anticipating full certification by May 2012. In my healing practice, I combine the best resources of conventional and holistic medicine. Why wait until a health crisis strikes to experience the benefits of holism? If you want to feel less stressed, more energetic, relaxed, calm and empowered, then allow me to serve you by sharing the lessons of my professional and personal experience. Through a meaningful partnership, you will find what I have learned that optimal health is possible when our body's energy system is free flowing and in balance! I am honored and excited to work with you and support you along your journey! |
To schedule an appointment
Email: info@intrinsichealthsource.com
Call: 203-450-0786
Payments: Medical Insurance is not accepted. Intrinsic Health Source accepts cash and check as payment methods. Holistic Therapies and Wellness Services are generally not covered by insurance. However Health Savings Accounts and Health Flex Accounts may offer some coverage. Please check with your individiual insurance carrier to explore possible wellness benefit reimbursements.
Discounts: Helping you incorporate holistic therapies and wellness services into your healthcare plan and financial budget, Intrinsic Health Source provides several opportunities to receive services at a reduced rate.
