Why Holistic Health?

Have you ever been in a doctor's office and felt, "Is anyone really listening to me"? Does anyone care? Could we just visit for 10 minutes before scripts are handed out for a diagnosis I am not certain I have or was even discussed"? If you have ever asked yourself any of these questions perhaps you too have felt that you were left wanting more from your appointment. I have been there...Frankly, I have been on both sides of the visit.

In my former practice days, my favorite part of the patient appointment was meeting you. Meeting you, learning about your backstory and what brought you to the office. I loved hearing about your family, your pets, your livelihood and took great care and notes when you shared pivotal things so I could add them to your file. I built a rapport with you so that when uncomfortable questions had to be asked about your visit; it would feel less intrusive and more comforting knowing that together we would determine the cause of your symptoms.

Nurse Practitioners are trained differently, We are part of a division of Nursing; therefore our training is different from medical doctors. Many Medical doctors love having Nurse Practitioners on their team because collectively and harmoniously can treat patients with focused time and attention while intervening in more serious cases. It can be a beautiful working relationship.

I trained with several excellent physicians in South Texas; and because my field of study was Family, I had the opportunity to train with the best of the best in their respective fields. I loved that season of my life learning, growing in my skills and it quickly became evident to all what my skill set was; I was a compassionate connector of people with a God-given gift to diagnose.

Fast forward to a move out to West Texas, I was surprised to learn there were not many Nurse Practitioners in the area. I secured a Nursing Instructor role at a local college for the mean time as I searched for the right position. I had enjoyed my Clinical professor role with the A& M systems in South Texas so much that I figured this was a great move to resume helping the future nurses of the community.

I would soon be simultaneously teaching nursing and seeing patients at a thriving Cardiologist's office. I loved so many aspects of my beginning seasons in West Texas. I met so many beautiful people; I felt privileged to be a part of their care. I soon began to wrestle with how I was trained and how my clinic life looked. It was nothing like I had known and I felt we were beginning to miss important elements that often tell the story as to why symptoms are presenting themselves. I began to wonder if addressing the mind, body and spirit of an individual is where answers really come from when treating an individual and their symptoms. Also, shifting to a more conservative approach to healing was more in alignment with my core belief's in healing. At the same, I was being treated for a slipped lumbar disc from my twenties and sought many physicians with no answers or relief. It wasn't till I sought a conservative spine doctor that revealed my problems; Spinal stenosis and mild scoliosis. I'm happy to report that these are managed today with exercise, a low-inflammatory diet and essential oil salves.

I would soon enter the world of non-profit work opening the Odessa center; The Life Center, a center for women and men who have found themselves in an unplanned pregnancy. I was honored to be a part of this organization that helped so many individuals in their darkest hours of life. I oversaw a sonography program for three centers and trained nurses in sonography skills; as well as overseeing all medical services Through this organization, I also had the honor of laying the groundwork for a STI/STD clinic and although my director role was quite different than my clinic days I could see that Holistic care was in my future. Holistic heath is defined as an approach to life that considers multidimensional aspects of wholeness. It encourages one to recognize the whole person; which consists of physical, emotional, spiritual and mental.

I encourage you to talk to your provider as to how he/she addresses all these areas if you feel like something is missing in your care. You have the right to seek out answers untill those are found and answered satisfactory for you. There are many providers that possess hearts of gold and desire that their patients be fully understood for that is the oath they took. Keep seeking answers for you and your family till you are satisfied. I'm in your corner and I'm cheering you on in your health journey.

Here I am, sixth down from the left. I was a part of the first graduating class of Nurse Practitioners from Texas A&M International University.

The original Life Center-Odessa is part of the historical landmarks of Odessa, Tx.

Once owned by the Rice-Hemphill Family.

Fundraiser picture in 2013

Clinic days in the Midland Center.

Photo Meet & Greet with the lovely Shari Rigby in Los Angelos from "October Baby".