1) What is Occupational Therapy?

In short, Occupational Therapy (OT) is a profession that works with people across the lifespan to address personalized goals in order to help individuals complete the activities they need and want to do in their daily life; activities that occupy our time are otherwise known as occupations. I have a blog post written on this topic that you can read if you’re interested in learning more!

2) What is Holistic Nutrition?

As a Holistic Nutritionist, I serve as a mentor who supports and guides you to make sustainable changes to your nutrition that will provide long-term nourishment, rather than recommend quick fix fads. Working with a Holistic Nutritionist will involve personalized care that will cater to your bioindividuality and determine which nutritional changes are best suited for your specific needs and lifestyle. For this reason, I don’t believe in providing my clients with restrictive meal plans; I like to teach you how to understand what true nourishment looks like for your own body.

3) What is Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT)?

CFT is a gentle, hands-on approach to healing with powerful therapeutic effects. CFT is the work of Dr. Barry Gillespie. It originated from the cranial osteopathic principles of Dr. William Sutherland, the myofascial release work of John Barnes, P.T., and Dr. Gillespie's background as a periodontist. It is based on Gillespie's theory that the craniosacral and fascial systems are not separate but one interconnected system, and that you cannot affect the craniosacral system without addressing the surrounding fascia.
CFT techniques are designed to gently unwind accumulated fascial strain throughout the body, allowing optimal mobility of the tissues and cerebrospinal fluid, and therefore facilitating better brain function. When the craniosacral fascial system is loose and open, there is optimal flow of cerebrospinal fluid to help nourish the body and cleanse toxins that build up and create dysfunction.
CFT is an ideal therapy for children as it is non-invasive, gentle, active, and fun! Removing fascial strain from childbirth, vaccinations, and other early traumas has been demonstrated to help with issues of tongue ties, colic, digestive discomfort, hyperactivity, attention deficit, autism, allergies, asthma, earaches, learning disorders, bedwetting, and other childhood ailments. CFT is effective for all ages and benefits a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to:
- Infants: birth trauma, tethered oral tissues (tongue, lip, buccal ties), torticollis, reflux, colic, difficulty feeding, digestive issues (constipation, indigestion, gas), asymmetrical head shape, strabismus, ear infections, etc.
- Children: asthma, earaches, concussions, ADHD, Autism (ASD), learning disorders, sinus issues, anxiety, depression, neck pain, allergies, headaches, scoliosis, bedwetting, nasal breathing, etc.
- Adults: headaches/migraines, concussions, TMJ, neck pain, back pain, hip pain, sinus issues, allergies, whiplash, pelvic pain, scars, depression, anxiety, etc.

4) Who Do You Work With?

• Individuals wanting to transform their health and lifestyle in order to feel their best

• Individuals of all ages who experience fascial strain (or any condition listed above associated with fascial strain), or any physical trauma

• Children and infants with tethered oral tissues (tongue, lip, and/or buccal ties) - both pre & post release!

• Families looking to maximize nutrition for all members

• Families that are having a difficult time transitioning their children to eating more nourishing foods

• Families with “picky eaters”

• Families wanting to start their babies off with nourishing foundations from the time solid foods are started

• Prenatal mamas looking to optimize their wellness and nutrition for fertility and overall hormone health

• Pregnant women looking to fill nutritional gaps while growing a little human

• Postpartum mamas looking for support in the fourth trimester - either with navigating nutrition and replenishment of nutrients lost during pregnancy or with adapting to role changes and new responsibilities as a mom

• & MORE! If you don’t fall into any of these categories listed, but you resonate with my story and mission, please still reach out to me via my contact page so we can discuss the possibility of working together! I am more than happy to help you!

5) Do You Work With Remote Clients?

Yes! I actually exclusively work with remote clients, unless you are local to Southern New Hampshire and would like to connect in-person. If you would like to explore an in-person option of working with me, please email me! We can always jump on a free consultation to see if we would be a good fit for each other. CFT Sessions are always in-person within about a 30 mile radius of Hudson, NH.

In-person workshops will be held in the Southern NH area for local mothers, but there are plans to get these workshops available to more people online in the future, so stay tuned for that if you’re interested!

6) What Does Live Freely Nourished Mean?

The state motto of New Hampshire is “Live Free Or Die” and I have loved using that as a guiding force in everything I do in my professional career now that I live in New Hampshire. I value people, places, and things that remind me of the freedoms granted to me as an American, and I am grateful for the things I am able to do personally and professionally because of those freedoms. When naming my business, I wanted to exemplify those same values, while focusing on wellness and true nourishment, because I believe that proper nourishment of the mind, body, and soul, allows you to live a life that provides the freedom to engage in everything that is meaningful to you. Thus, Live Freely Nourished was born, and I hope to empower and inspire you to live a freely nourished lifestyle that brings you fulfillment and joy :)

7) Do You Accept Insurance?

I do not accept insurance at this time. I value our work together too much to be bound to insurance regulations that limit what I am able to be reimbursed for when I work with you to help you reach your goals. CFT is also not a treatment modality that insurance companies reimburse for. If payment is a barrier to our ability to work together, I do not want that to detract from your healing journey, so I will work with you to establish a payment plan we are both comfortable with.

8) What would a CFT Session look like?

A CFT session is done fully clothed on a massage table, chair, or floor (for kids). The first session begins with an intake and assessment of brain motion (the brain cycle). Then, according to your health history and the areas of your body that present as constrained, we will gently unwind the fascial strain to open the system. The treatment consists of a gentle touch to release tightness and toxins sored in the body. At times, you may feel some stretching or there may be a more active "unwind" motion that I encourage you not to resist. Trust that your body knows what to do and how to do it in order to heal itself and feel well. We all have layers of fascial strain that can be unwound to release physical/emotional pain and trauma from the body. Please plan on about 4-6 sessions to begin the healing process and start to see lasting results. Many clients find initial relief after just a couple of sessions, but deep healing can take more time, especially if there have been many injuries or traumas to the body. CFT is a modality that can provide relief to the body and nervous system regulation at any time, not just while you’re in a treatment session, so benefits may carry with you after our session together!