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In this returning episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, Michele welcomes back Carolee Horner, functional nutritionist and health coach who specializes in working with people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners.

When Carolee first joined the show, the conversation focused on Parkinson’s as a whole body condition, the importance of gut and brain health, and why caregivers and care partners are essential to quality of life. This episode builds on that foundation and goes deeper into what it truly means to live well with Parkinson’s over the long term.

Michele and Carolee explore how Parkinson’s is not a single disease with a single solution, but a highly individual condition that requires curiosity, experimentation, and ongoing self advocacy. They discuss why medication alone is not enough, how environmental toxins play a role, and why lifestyle choices can dramatically influence progression and symptom burden.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why Parkinson’s presents differently in every person
• The role of environmental toxins and gut health
• Why exercise is the most effective treatment for Parkinson’s
• How movement supports brain and body connection
• Why caregivers are better described as care partners
• How nutrition impacts fatigue, anxiety, constipation, and brain fog
• The importance of stress reduction and sleep in neurological health
• Why small changes lead to meaningful progress
• How coaching helps people implement changes that stick
• Why a diagnosis is not a death sentence, but a wake up call

This conversation is practical, hopeful, and deeply empowering for anyone living with Parkinson’s, supporting someone who is, or navigating any chronic neurological condition.

About Carolee:
Carolee Horner is a functional nutritionist and board-certified health and wellness coach who works with people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. She focuses on gut and brain health strategies that support the whole family and help slow symptom progression using integrative, realistic approaches.

Carolee’s Links:
🌐 http://www.nutritionforpd.com
📘 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095318119061

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In this returning episode of Beyond the Diagnosis, Michele welcomes back Loretta Donovan, leadership coach and healthcare strategist, for a deeper conversation on physical therapy as a powerful and often underutilized tool for chronic wellness.

In her previous appearance, Loretta and Michele explored the role mindset, personal responsibility, and proactive engagement play in shaping health outcomes. That conversation centered on the idea that while doctors treat disease, patients must actively participate in their own well-being. This episode builds directly on that foundation.

Together, they focus on physical therapy not just as a short term solution after injury or surgery, but as a long term strategy for maintaining strength, mobility, independence, and quality of life, especially for people living with chronic conditions.

In this conversation, Michele and Loretta discuss:

• Why physical therapy is valuable even without a recent injury
• How aging naturally changes muscle tone, balance, and mobility
• The role of physical therapy in managing chronic illness
• How surgery, accidents, and long term conditions affect the body over time
• Why home based exercises are just as important as clinical sessions
• The emotional and mental health benefits of staying physically active
• How physical therapy supports independence, dignity, and daily function
• Why patients must take an active role in their care to improve outcomes

This episode offers practical insight, relatable examples, and empowering reminders that movement, strength, and intentional self care are essential at every stage of life. Whether you are navigating chronic illness, recovering from surgery, or simply aging, this conversation reframes physical therapy as a foundational wellness practice rather than a last resort.

About Loretta:
Loretta Donovan is the President of iAttain and a Professional Fellow with the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She is a former Chief Learning Officer in healthcare and an educator who has guided leaders and clinicians for more than a decade. As a patient, mother, caregiver, and lifelong learner, Loretta brings deep empathy and perspective to conversations about healing, mindset, and resilience.

Loretta’s Links:
🌐 iAttain: https://about.me/iAttain
🌐 Appreciative Inquiry Consulting: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/48345/
🌐 ReInvive Coaching & Leadership: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13322073/

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I’m joined by Emily Terrani, Director of Membership and Community Engagement at the Institute of Coaching and founder of Mind Growth Lab, for an honest conversation about living with an invisible chronic condition and building a life that supports well being.

Emily shares her experience being diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age and how chronic pain has shaped her approach to wellness, movement, and emotional health. We talk about the realities of managing pain that others cannot see, the emotional toll of long term discomfort, and why listening to your body matters more than following rigid rules.

This conversation also explores burnout, resilience, and how coaching tools can help people tolerate discomfort, make intentional choices, and care for their future selves.

In this episode, you will learn:
• What it is like to live with scoliosis and chronic pain from childhood
• Why invisible conditions are often misunderstood
• How stress and emotions can amplify physical pain
• Why consistency matters more than perfection in self care
• How small, sustainable habits support long term wellness
• The connection between mental health, physical pain, and burnout
• How coaching helps people tolerate discomfort and make change
• Why honoring your body is not the same as giving up

About Emily:
Emily Terrani is a coaching leader, researcher, and founder of Mind Growth Lab. Her work focuses on burnout, resilience, and helping people build well being across mental, emotional, and physical domains. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about chronic conditions and quality of life.

Emily’s Links:
https://www.mind-growth-lab.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Mind-Growth-Lab/100095793840827/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-terrani-b8334034/
https://www.instagram.com/mind_growth_lab/reel/DDujneipUQQ/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mind_growth_lab
https://www.youtube.com/@Mind_Growth_Lab