Published: November 27, 2020
Our global community is growing rapidly!
Health coaching and Functional Medicine have been gaining traction around the world, and the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA) is excited to be a part of this global movement.
Our international partnerships also enable us to better serve our students around the world. Because of our work with the Functional Medicine South Africa (FMSA) and the Functional Medicine Health Coaches Association, South Africa (FMHCASA), more and more students from South Africa are choosing our Health Coach Certification Program!
While there are many paths that lead to becoming a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC), what really resonates with us is each student’s “why”—their purpose, and how their journey led them to FMCA. We asked some of our coaches in South Africa to share their journeys with us here:
Loren Hilton, Chair of Functional Medicine Health Coaches Association South Africa (FMHCASA), FMCHC
FMCA Class of August 2017
Q: What inspired you to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach?
A: Approximately 16 years ago, after suffering from glandular fever and adrenal fatigue, and while searching for ways to help my youngest daughter who had sustained a head injury, I learnt about Functional Medicine. I signed up for the FLT (First Line Therapy) course when Lorraine first brought it to South Africa, and then did AFMCP (Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) and many other The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) modules. When Lorraine told me about FMHC I was very excited, as I saw it as an upgrade to FLT and I loved that it could be done part time while I was still working. I love working with clients and seeing them transform from being stressed, overweight, unfit, unhappy and unwell to becoming fit, happy and healthy.
What attracted me most to the course was that it provided me with information and practical application, and that it spoke about using positive psychology to assist and guide each individual patient to make individualised healthy lifestyle changes. What also appealed to me was that all materials, questionnaires and resources were given to me during the course so that I left with a great toolbox of info to use immediately with clients.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: I like the Functional Medicine model of looking at the whole person and healing through diet, exercise, stress management and lifestyle changes. FMCA has this same philosophy and the course is designed to teach coaches how to guide and support clients through the process of change, through the use of positive psychology. Coaches are taught how to best engage with clients in order to help them achieve their own personal overall health and wellness.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: Take part in everything!! This course is better than any others I have looked at, as it provides you with resources, information and practical skills that enable you to be better prepared when you start coaching clients. It is comprehensive and you get support from your cohort leader and group peers throughout the year. You will also learn a lot about yourself and how to make great choices in order to obtain optimum health and wellness. Consider it as education as well as a journey of self-discovery.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: Health coaching is very powerful as it is designed to assist a client with HOW to make changes. Coaches help patients with implementation of the changes which their doctors or Functional Medicine practitioners advise. Coaches spend time engaging with a client in a way that the client feels heard and seen. This positive feedback that the client receives motivates them to make changes. I feel that when a client has to be accountable to a coach and meet with them regularly, they are more compliant and they obtain better results. The regular meetings with the coach also helps the client to make adjustments where they need to faster and with more understanding. The coaching process results in changes for the client that are sustainable and not unrealistic.
Lorraine Leas, Pharmacist, Founder and Director, Functional Medicine South Africa (FMSA), FMCHC
FMCA Class of August 2017
A: There were two essential reasons. 1. I wanted to extend and possibly transition my career choice of pharmacy into a coaching career in order to help more patients. 2. I had met the developer of the program Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum at a conference for The Institute for Functional Medicine and was completely inspired.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: Authenticity, and recognition by IFM. Head developers were impressive in innovation and authenticity.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: This is an opportunity to help patients change their health, their family’s health and their lifestyle, as well as helping the Functional Medicine movement develop and prosper.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: It’s an ideal tool to help doctors to partner with patients in improving their health and lifestyle as well as their families.
Sandy Hughes, FMCHC
FMCA Class of September 2018
I have always had a keen interest in health and the magnificent workings of the human body. In my early 20’s I began my studies into anatomy, physiology and natural modalities to address pathologies. I veered off this path for 16 years and entered the world of design in 2003 where I have had a successful business of my own for the past 10 years, and I raised my son who is now 20.
In 2017 my beloved husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The prognosis was bleak, he was told that he stood a 10% chance of survival if he went ahead with conventional treatment, his decision was final and we would start to explore other options. We began to research and look for practitioners that offered an alternative. I found a Functional Medicine doctor who administered various treatments which we believe did extend his life but it really was too late, we were fighting a losing battle—10 month after his diagnosis he passed.
Just before he died, my husband, who knew I had discovered the FMCA course, insisted that I use the money he had left behind to pay for the course as it was obvious to him by now that this is where my passion is. And secondly, I decided to get all the information I could on my body and health status which was eye-opening. A silent storm was brewing in my body that I was oblivious to and that I was now determined to treat with a Functional Medicine approach.
4 months after his passing I began my training. I can truly say that this was one of the best experiences of my life, amidst the grief I had this group of incredible women meeting weekly, learning together, creating bonds and working towards something we believe in.
Over the past 2 and a half years I have been tracking my personal health data, I see my Functional Medicine doctor regularly and this has built a relationship that has become professional—I refer to him and vice versa, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been and people want to know how I did it! The change is visible. My practice is growing before my very eyes.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: I was introduced to FMCA by my homeopath who was helping me manage the stress of my husband’s illness, she too knew how passionate I was and thought I may be interested. When I spoke to their Admissions Team and looked at the info presented it was an absolute YES, I completely resonated and knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the course for me.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: This course is incredible, it teaches you so much, it’s dense with learning and sets you up with all the tools you need to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach. It also enters you into a community of people who believe in a better approach to health care, it’s well-structured and full of resources. If you choose to do it make sure you have the time and the level of commitment required to gain this knowledge.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: I have personally seen how helpful it is to people to have a coach in their corner. As with top performing athletes, coaches help you see the blind spots and gently guide you towards your best performance. Taking on a health coach helps people become the best version of themselves from a health perspective, and from there, everything can flourish.
Tessa Brandt, FMCHC
FMCA Class of September 2019
A: Functional Medicine has saved my life. I have had a history of chronic health ailments dating as far back as I can remember. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 15 years ago in my twenties. The disease became unmanageable 5 years ago as I went through the stress of losing my mother to early onset dementia.
Arthritis ravaged my entire body. I was in constant debilitating pain, I had to stop working to survive, I was on crutches for a year, and I developed two frozen shoulders. Conventional medicine did indeed help me, but only to a point and with that I was taking a cocktail of heavy pharmaceutical drugs and still not pain free. From the depths of my chronic illness I never gave up the hope that there was a better way to heal, one where I could find the route cause of my illness and one which looked at me as the whole person. That is when I found a Functional Medicine doctor in Cape Town who spent the time listening to me and looking at every factor of my health. She ran the labs, prescribed lifestyle and diet changes, and my health slowly transformed over a period of 2 years.
From my own personal experience, I felt so strongly moved to help others facing chronic disease…and to empower people with knowledge. It was the knowledge and support I wish I had had on my own journey to recovery. I always said that if I had had a health coach to support and guide me and celebrate my successes with me, I would not have felt so alone. My doctor steered my on my path, but she didn’t dig deeper than my physical health. With a health coach, my healing would have happened so much faster. My physical, mental and spiritual health would have come into balance so much sooner, thereby unlocking my own healing ability. Today I am happy to say I am pain free and thriving, with no permanent disabilities and I’m loving my new life as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach where I can now serve others.
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: Through my own healing I became aware of and read many books by leading Functional Medicine doctors in the USA. It was through a post I saw from Dr. Mark Hyman were I first learnt of FMCA; a globally recognized institution endorsed by The Institute of Functional Medicine.
I had a very exciting admissions enquiry call with the International Relations Coordinator and course facilitator, Mahnaz Malik. I also spoke to past South African students who had completed the course and all confirmed what an incredible year of learning and self-discovery it was.
I felt as though the course was my destiny. I knew I wanted a career in health coaching, I believed deeply in the power of Functional Medicine, and FMCA allowed me to marry the two and take that path into healthcare. I felt assured by the fact that FMCA is endorsed by The Institute for Functional Medicine, they teach life altering proven principles that are based on science, along with modern coaching techniques which includes positive psychology.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: “Believe you can and you will.”
It is a gift to be able to guide, educate and empower human beings to live a healthier, more balanced and vital life. The world needs more of us health coaches now more than ever.
Don’t you think it would be amazing to be a part of this pioneering movement in health care?
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: Health coaching can transform lives. A health coach can add so much value to a client in so many countless ways, it really can unlock a person’s true potential, which leads to lasting change. Sometimes the simplest thing as your client feeling heard can have a profound impact on their health and well-being. When you work with clients over time, their narrative will change from that of trying to heal, to that of lasting well-being. For me the most powerful impact I can have on a client is empowering them to be conscious of how to nurture their body, mind and spirit–to really draw on their own inner wisdom. I always ask clients to hold a vision of where they are going and we celebrate their successes all along their journey. Every challenge they face can be changed to an opportunity and when they overcome those challenges, they can be turned into gifts.
Sonja Bohnsack, FMCHC
FMCA Class of September 2019
A: My inspiration to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach started when I lost my fiancée in a car accident that we had in 2002. The grief I experienced led me to become a Grief Recovery Coach, where for 5 years I supported others through their grief. I then felt I needed a new venture and started my Pilates practice, which has given me experience in working with groups. As well as being an active person, I was also a healthy person. I believed strongly in the principle that “Food is thy medicine, medicine is thy food” and therefore it was a natural progression for me to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach. I could now incorporate everything that I have learned and experienced in my life so far and create the ultimate career for myself!
Q: Why did you choose to study at The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy?
A: When I discovered FMCA and read through their course material I was elated to find that the calibre of education and the faculty of science-based information from IFM would allow me to be the very best Functional Medicine Health Coach I could possibly be!
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to future students considering FMCA, what would it be?
A: The very best advice I can give is to invest in yourself and your education! The time for Functional Medicine Health Coaching is NOW! With COVID-19 as well as autoimmune deceases running rife on a global level, it is vital for health coaches to jump into action and get the message out there, and assist people to make the necessary lifestyle changes that will shift their immune systems, health, well-being and happiness to a new level. If health is your passion, don’t look further than doing your training through FMCA.
Q: If we asked you to describe the power of health coaching, what would you say?
A: The power of health coaching is evident for me when it comes to facilitating my health group workshops. The group dynamic is powerful—there is a connection and sharing of a common journey and goal that creates team spirit and support for each other and where they hold each other accountable, creating great friendships which continue long after the workshops are over.
These inspiring Functional Medicine Health Coaches from South Africa are making their impact, and we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of their stories.
Are you ready to start your journey to becoming a Functional Medicine Health Coach? Learn more about our immersive and internationally-connected online training program here!
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