Personalized for optimal results that will change your life.
Personalized for optimal results that will change your life.
Is Your Health Holding You Back?
DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU WERE CREATED FOR MORE? THAT GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE BUT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO PURSUE IT?
Is Your Health Holding You Back?
DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU WERE CREATED FOR MORE? THAT GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE BUT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO PURSUE IT?
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
If you have been exposed to Biblical teaching at any point in your life, you have probably heard the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 that talks about how God has a plan for your life. This verse was part of a letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote for the surviving elders and priests that were in exile in Babylon.
God wanted his people to build houses and settle down. They were to plant gardens and eat what they produce. They were to marry and seek peace and prosperity in their new city, being careful not to be deceived by the prophets and diviners living among them.
God promised that after seventy years passed, he would come to them and bring them out of exile. Then, Jeremiah writes
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."
Why am I sharing this with you today? I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, but sometimes it seems like our poor health gets in the way of that plan.
When I was at my very sickest, just surviving each day consumed most of my thoughts and my energy. Serving God and fulfilling my purpose was a thought at times, but was certainly not my main priority.
Can you relate?
your purpose
Reclaim your health and fulfill your purpose.
Empower and Flourish was born out of a desire to help God's people reclaim their health so that they can fulfill their purpose. Of course God can use you even in your brokenness and sickness - no doubt about that.
But how much easier would things be if your health wasn't a stumbling block? How much more could God use you as his hands and feet if you were well?
Speaking of which, when was the last time you felt truly well? Were you in your teens? 20's? 30's? 40's?
Did you know that feeling better is possible?
We have been conditioned to believe that health is unobtainable and that our symptoms are just a normal part of aging.
Or we've been told that it's our genetics that's the problem, and there's nothing you can do about your genetics, right?
That is not actually true. You can feel better. Your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away and we can help you.
the problem
Just treating symptoms does not work. It's like running on a hamster wheel.
Now I just told you that you can feel better and your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away. But, I also need to tell you that if you keep doing the same thing over and over you will likely keep getting the same result.
That is why I like the imagery of the hamster on the wheel. That poor little creature is running with all of his might, he is trying so hard! But he will never get anywhere.
That is what it is like when you just chase your symptoms. You invest time, money, and effort into seeking a diagnosis so that you can finally start treating whatever is wrong with you. Only to discover that you still feel poorly.
This approach simply does not work. It's time to try something different.
Healing occurs when you seek out the root cause or the underlying dysfunction that is causing your symptoms in the first place. This approach is not a quick fix and it takes time and involves making some changes to your lifestyle. But it works and will give you long-lasting results.
Let's get you off that hamster wheel and onto the path towards healing.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
If you have been exposed to Biblical teaching at any point in your life, you have probably heard the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 that talks about how God has a plan for your life. This verse was part of a letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote for the surviving elders and priests that were in exile in Babylon.
God wanted his people to build houses and settle down. They were to plant gardens and eat what they produce. They were to marry and seek peace and prosperity in their new city, being careful not to be deceived by the prophets and diviners living among them.
God promised that after seventy years passed, he would come to them and bring them out of exile. Then, Jeremiah writes:
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."
Why am I sharing this with you today? I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, but sometimes it seems like our poor health gets in the way of that plan.
When I was at my very sickest, just surviving each day consumed most of my thoughts and my energy. Serving God and fulfilling my purpose was a thought at times, but was certainly not my main priority.
Can you relate?
your purpose
Reclaim your health and fulfill your purpose.
Empower and Flourish was born out of a desire to help God's people reclaim their health so that they can fulfill their purpose. Of course God can use you even in your brokenness and sickness - no doubt about that.
But how much easier would things be if your health wasn't a stumbling block? How much more could God use you as his hands and feet if you were well?
Speaking of which, when was the last time you felt truly well? Were you in your teens? 20's? 30's? 40's?
Did you know that feeling better is possible?
We have been conditioned to believe that health is unobtainable and that our symptoms are just a normal part of aging.
Or we've been told that it's our genetics that's the problem, and there's nothing you can do about your genetics, right?
That is not actually true. You can feel better. Your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away and we can help you.
meet theresa
I know what it feels like to be sick, with no hope in sight. You can feel better and we can help you.
When I was 18 years old, I served as a hospital corpsman (medic) in the United States Navy, then I served as a combat medic in the Army National Guard. When I got out of the military I worked as a nursing assistant while attending nursing school.
To say that my experiences in healthcare are varied would be quite the understatement! I have worked in orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, medical/surgical, psychiatric/mental health, critical care, home health, and hospice.
Each of the healthcare specialties are different, but they also have quite a bit in common. Unfortunately, one of the things they seem to have in common is the providers’ lack of ability to zoom out and consider the big picture. That's one of the things that we do really well at Empower and Flourish.
We combine our training in Lifestyle and Functional Medicine with our training and experiences in conventional healthcare. This allows us to zoom out and consider your symptoms from a unique perspective.
Looking back it is hard to imagine that I was so sick. It seems like a lifetime ago that the rheumatologist recommended I file for disability stating "I'm so sorry. There's nothing more we can do."
I'm grateful that God has allowed me to use my own experiences to help you. Most of my 20's and 30's were spent in and out of doctor's offices praying for answers. I know exactly what it feels like to cry out to God, to deal with chronic pain, and to struggle just to make it through each day.
There is hope. I have been there. I can help you.
the problem
Just reading symptoms does not work. It is like running on a hamster wheel.
Now I just told you that you can feel better and your symptoms can improve or possibly even go away. But, I also need to tell you that if you keep doing the same thing over and over you will likely keep getting the same result.
That is why I like the imagery of the hamster on the wheel. That poor little creature is running with all of his might, he is trying so hard! But he will never get anywhere.
That is what it is like when you just chase your symptoms. You invest time, money, and effort into seeking a diagnosis so that you can finally start treating whatever is wrong with you. Only to discover that you still feel poorly.
This approach simply does not work. It's time to try something different.
Healing occurs when you seek out the root cause or the underlying dysfunction that is causing your symptoms in the first place. This approach is not a quick fix and it takes time and involves making some changes to your lifestyle. But it works and will give you long-lasting results.
Let's get you off that hamster wheel and onto the path towards healing.
meet theresa
I know what it feels like to be sick, with no hope in sight. You can feel better and we can help you.
When I was 18 years old, I served as a hospital corpsman (medic) in the United States Navy, then I served as a combat medic in the Army National Guard. When I got out of the military I worked as a nursing assistant while attending nursing school.
To say that my experiences in healthcare are varied would be quite the understatement! I have worked in orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, medical/surgical, psychiatric/mental health, critical care, home health, and hospice.
Each of the healthcare specialties are different, but they also have quite a bit in common. Unfortunately, one of the things they seem to have in common is the providers’ lack of ability to zoom out and consider the big picture. That's one of the things that we do really well at Empower and Flourish.
We combine our training in Lifestyle and Functional Medicine with our training and experiences in conventional healthcare. This allows us to zoom out and consider your symptoms from a unique perspective.
Looking back it is hard to imagine that I was so sick. It seems like a lifetime ago that the rheumatologist recommended I file for disability stating "I'm so sorry. There's nothing more we can do."
I'm grateful that God has allowed me to use my own experiences to help you. Most of my 20's and 30's were spent in and out of doctor's offices praying for answers. I know exactly what it feels like to cry out to God, to deal with chronic pain, and to struggle just to make it through each day.
There is hope. I have been there. I can help you.
how we help
Empowering you to reclaim your health, naturally.
how we help
Empowering you to reclaim your health, naturally.
they said
My clients have experienced amazing results like weight loss, increased energy, & improved lab results.
they said
My clients have experienced amazing results like weight loss, increased energy, & improved lab results.
Marie Beard
“It's mind blowing. Life changing is really an understatement.”
Theresa teaches information that I'd never heard before, even though I was educated as a nurse practitioner and worked in nursing since the 1990's. I had been sick for about a decade and was taking numerous prescription medications that I thought I'd have to take forever. It's frustrating to know that the answers are so simple, but no one is talking about this. I'm so grateful that my health has improved and now I have the energy to do things I hadn't been able to do for a long, long time.
Marie Beard
“It's mind blowing. Life changing is really an understatement.”
Theresa teaches information that I'd never heard before, even though I was educated as a nurse practitioner and worked in nursing since the 1990's. I had been sick for about a decade and was taking numerous prescription medications that I thought I'd have to take forever. It's frustrating to know that the answers are so simple, but no one is talking about this. I'm so grateful that my health has improved and now I have the energy to do things I hadn't been able to do for a long, long time.
faith based
Your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right circumstances.
Serving God's people is our favorite thing to do.
This concept of serving permeates everything we do at Empower and Flourish. Our goal is to help you regain your health so that you can go out into the world as God's hands and feet.
Everything we teach is based on Romans Chapter 12, which explains that each of us were given different functions and different gifts.
God designed us to serve His people in unique ways and no one else can fulfill what God created you uniquely to do.
faith-based
Your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right circumstances.
Serving God's people is our favorite thing to do.
This concept of serving permeates everything we do at Empower and Flourish. Our goal is to help you regain your health so that you can go out into the world as God's hands and feet.
Everything we teach is based on Romans Chapter 12, which explains that each of us were given different functions and different gifts.
God designed us to serve His people in unique ways and no one else can fulfill what God created you uniquely to do.
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to get started is by completing the comprehensive “How Healthy Are You” assessment and then scheduling your free consultation so we can discuss your assessment. This will give us a chance to get to know each other and for us both to determine whether or not our practice is the right fit to help you reach your health goals. Click here to sign up to take the assessment.
After working in traditional healthcare for more than 25 years, I am well-versed in how symptoms and chronic diseases are managed in the United States. Rather than teaching you how to continue managing your symptoms, you will learn how to start making different choices that will result in different outcomes. You will learn how to support your body naturally so that it can heal itself with foods God gave us for that very purpose.
Our approach does not necessitate lots of expensive laboratory testing or thousands of dollars in supplements. We take a more minimalistic approach, focusing on how to help you reach your goals as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Supplements lab testing have their usefulness, but there are lots of ways we can support you without breaking the bank.
No, I have determined that I cannot help you to seek the root cause of your symptoms and teach you how to support your body naturally within an insurance model of care. However, many HSA or FSA plans will accept my services. If you would like to use your HSA or FSA, I encourage you to check with them first to ensure their insurer permits services by an RN or MSN. Some insurers may require a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your primary care provider to be submitted to them prior to approval. More often than not, your insurance will allow you to use FSA and HSA funds, but be sure to confirm this first.
We believe that your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right set of circumstances. Our approach considers your body in its entirely, not broken up into separate body systems. We understand that each system is dependent on the next and that you must give your body enough of what it needs to heal itself. Ideally, you will provide your body with what it needs in the form of foods rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, though strategic and targeted supplementation is often helpful.
newsletter
Get insider access to all the good stuff!
I understand that by submitting my email address, I am agreeing to the terms & conditions provided by Empower and Flourish and I am signing up to receive their emails, from which I can easily unsubscribe at any time. I will never spam you or sell your information and I will do my best to send educational emails that are a good use of your time.
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to get started is by completing the comprehensive “How Healthy Are You” assessment and then scheduling your free consultation so we can discuss your assessment. This will give us a chance to get to know each other and for us both to determine whether or not our practice is the right fit to help you reach your health goals. Click here to sign up to take the assessment.
The best way to get started is by completing the comprehensive “How Healthy Are You” assessment and then scheduling your free consultation so we can discuss your assessment. This will give us a chance to get to know each other and for us both to determine whether or not our practice is the right fit to help you reach your health goals. Click here to sign up to take the assessment.
After working in traditional healthcare for more than 25 years, I am well-versed in how symptoms and chronic diseases are managed in the United States. Rather than teaching you how to continue managing your symptoms, you will learn how to start making different choices that will result in different outcomes. You will learn how to support your body naturally so that it can heal itself with foods God gave us for that very purpose.
Our approach does not necessitate lots of expensive laboratory testing or thousands of dollars in supplements. We take a more minimalistic approach, focusing on how to help you reach your goals as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Supplements lab testing have their usefulness, but there are lots of ways we can support you without breaking the bank.
No, I have determined that I cannot help you to seek the root cause of your symptoms and teach you how to support your body naturally within an insurance model of care. However, many HSA or FSA plans will accept my services. If you would like to use your HSA or FSA, I encourage you to check with them first to ensure their insurer permits services by an RN or MSN. Some insurers may require a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your primary care provider to be submitted to them prior to approval. More often than not, your insurance will allow you to use FSA and HSA funds, but be sure to confirm this first.
We believe that your body was created to heal itself when given the right environment and the right set of circumstances. Our approach considers your body in its entirely, not broken up into separate body systems. We understand that each system is dependent on the next and that you must give your body enough of what it needs to heal itself. Ideally, you will provide your body with what it needs in the form of foods rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, though strategic and targeted supplementation is often helpful.
newsletter
Get insider access to all the good stuff!
I understand that by submitting my email address, I am agreeing to the terms & conditions provided by Empower and Flourish and I am signing up to receive their emails, from which I can easily unsubscribe at any time. I will never spam you or sell your information and I will do my best to send educational emails that are a good use of your time.
the blog
Articles about a variety of health-related topics.
I have shied away from ever creating a Weight Loss focused program because I have seen the devastation caused by weight loss programs and I refuse to offer yet another quick fix solution that I know with certainty does not work.
Traditional weight loss programs do NOT deliver on their promises. The weight may temporarily come off, but it rarely stays off.
Even non-traditional weight loss fixes don’t give long-term benefits. Take for example, the GLP-1 medications, which were originally created for diabetes but found to impact weight loss. One of these medications is called Ozempic, is also called semaglutide or Wegovy.
These medications were designed to be taken long-term. “They are chronic medications for the treatment of chronic conditions (both diabetes and obesity)” (Northrop, 2024).
The active ingredient in these medications is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that works by activating GLP-1 receptors throughout your body and by enhancing the effects of naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone.
If you don’t know to ask more questions, then this probably sounds great, right?
After all, if your body is already naturally making this GLP-1 hormone and you already have these GLP-1 receptors, then maybe it’s a great thing to take a medication that activates these receptors, right?
Not necessarily. First, I don’t know about you, but do you really want to get into the cycle of taking yet another medication for the rest of your life? These GLP-1 medications are long-term medications. If you lose weight and stop the medication, which is incredibly expensive by the way, then you’ll regain all that weight (Mayer, 2024).
That seems like a pretty silly solution to me, but it’s right in line with all of the other quick fixes out there. Think back to all of the diets and supplements you’ve heard of that are supposed to bring about weight loss. Do any of them offer long-term solutions? Or, does the weight come right back as soon as you stop?
Let’s circle back to the concept that obesity is a chronic condition. In conventional or main-stream medicine, the belief is that obesity and type 2 diabetes are chronic, life-long conditions (Mayer, 2024, Northrop, 2024). Therefore, life-long treatment is required to “manage” these conditions. If you’re going to take medication long-term to manage your chronic condition, then you may as well take something like these GLP-1 medications.
That seems to be the prevailing wisdom in conventional medicine. The problem with this way of thinking is that it is just not true. Obesity and type 2 diabetes do NOT have to be chronic, life-long conditions. Rather, they are the consequence of lifestyle choices. Therefore, they can be improved or possibly even reversed by making different lifestyle choices.
One of the core concepts I teach my clients centers around “why do you eat?” What is the purpose of eating? We don’t think about this very often, but our brains tell us to eat because we need the energy from our food for fuel and we need the vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and phytonutrients from our food to repair damage in our bodies that happens as a consequence of living.
These GLP-1 medications as well as the other fad diets out there, limit the amount of food you consume. Artificially messing with your brain’s hunger signals, slowing the emptying of your stomach, or starving your body by limiting calories is not a healthy choice. And it will not give you the long-term results you’re looking for.
The alternative is to focus on building health by feeding your body what it was designed to eat. Change your lifestyle to a health-focused lifestyle instead of a crazy rushed lifestyle that consumes heavily processed foods out of necessity.
The consequence of making these health-focused lifestyle changes happens to be weight loss. Your cholesterol, fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and systemic inflammation will also improve. All pretty cool consequences that don’t require you to ever be hungry or to sacrifice everything you love.
It does take time, effort, and may even feel like work in the beginning. But that’s why we are here. Let us help you to (1) learn the truth and (2) implement what you are learning.
The beta test of our first ever Weight Loss Focused Program starts soon. Will you join us?
References
Mayer, B. A. (2024). How to reduce your risk of gaining weight after stopping Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/avoid-weight-gain-after-ozempic#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20a%20clinical%20trial,(the%20maximum%20Wegovy%20dose).
Northorp, A. (2024). Ozempic for weight loss: Cost, side effects, and efficacy. https://www.forbes.com/health/weight-loss/ozempic-for-weight-loss/
answers
Here are answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions
the blog
Articles about a variety of health-related topics.
Did you know you can access lab testing without an order from your physician? We have partnered with Vibrant Labs to offer you a comprehensive set of labs for a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere. Check it out now and let us know if you have questions.
All supplements are not created equally. That's why we only recommend Practitioner Grade supplements. We have partnered with Fullscript, an online dispensing platform that ships recommended products to your front door! Create your free account now.
Deciding where to start is often the most difficult part of your health journey. The easiest way to get started is to chat with us so we can help you decide where to focus your efforts. Once you schedule your call, we will send you a link to take the free health assessment.
At this time we are only able to work with clients that live in states that recognize compact nursing licenses. We are hopeful this will change in the future, but if you live in one of the following states then we cannot work with you at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Feel free to contact us to learn more.
Alaska, California, Conneticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon.
Our staff are not medical doctors. Therefore, we do not diagnose or treat specific disease. Instead, we provide education so that you can become empowered and start to make better, more educated and informed decisions regarding your health. The information provided on this website, by Theresa, or any member of the Empower and Flourish team is intended to be construed as education, not medical advice. Please refer to our disclaimer, privacy statement, and terms and conditions for more information.
Did you know that you can access lab testing without an order from your physician? Theresa can answer your questions and provide education about this. Schedule your free call here.
There’s an easier way to refill supplements! We’ve partnered with Fullscript, an online dispensing platform that ships recommended products to your front door! Create your free account now.
Deciding where to start is often the most difficult part of your health journey. The easiest way to know what to focus on first is to take this free assessment and then talk with Theresa to discuss your results.
At this time we are only able to work with clients that live in states that recognize compact nursing licenses. We are hopeful this will change in the future, but if you live in one of the following states then we cannot work with you at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Feel free to contact us to learn more.
Alaska, California, Conneticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon.
Theresa is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not diagnose or treat specific disease. Instead, she provides education so that you can become empowered and start to make better, more educated and informed decisions regarding your health. The information provided on this website, by Theresa, or any member of the Empower and Flourish team is intended to be construed as education, not medical advice. Please refer to our disclaimer, privacy statement, and terms and conditions for more information.
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