The Pacific Center is dedicated to helping people living with Parkinson's create healthy habits that feel good and last, so they can feel more empowered in their health.
We believe that even with the challenges and complexities of Parkinson's, there are still many positive ways we can support our health.
We take a whole-person approach built around three deeply interconnected areas that work together to support health and well-being: BODY · BRAIN · BEHAVIOR. That means looking at how we care for and support the body, how our mindset and identity shape the way we think and respond, and how we turn what we know into everyday behaviors that help healthy habits feel good and last.
Through our Simple Action Plans, we turn research into simple guidance and steps that make healthy changes easier to put into daily practice. Our plans explore areas including nutrition, stress and nervous system health, environmental health, healthy habits, and mindset, while drawing on the science of behavior change to help bridge the gap between knowing and doing. Our goal is to help you move forward, build momentum, and create the conditions that give you the best opportunity to support your health and well-being.
I'm a research psychologist, health and wellness coach, and stress and nervous system coach. My interest in brain health grew out of my own health journey. Many years ago, I experienced multiple concussions that led to depression, fatigue, and PTSD. As I worked to recover, I began learning more about the brain and body, and the many, many ways we can support our health and well-being!
Over the years, I learned a variety of mind-body practices that supported my health and changed the way I think about healing and what it means to care for the whole person. I learned that even in the midst of challenging times, showing up for yourself matters. Taking small steps matters. And perhaps most importantly, so does the self-belief that you can always play a positive role in your own health and well-being.
Today, I'm dedicated to helping others feel more hopeful and empowered in their health, especially people living with Parkinson's and other chronic health conditions or mental health challenges.
My background includes an undergraduate degree from Duke University, and a PhD in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine. As a research psychologist, I'm also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA).
I'm also a certified Health and Wellness Coach and a Stress and Nervous System Coach, with additional training in applied neuroscience tools that help calm the nervous system and reduce stress.
Outside of my work projects, I love gardening, walking, enjoying our hillside view, and spending time with my family, including our three grown children and our spirited shepherd mix, who brings us great joy.
When a family member was diagnosed with Parkinson's, our neurologist gave us a bleak outlook and little hope about what the future might hold.
At first, we grieved and kept the diagnosis mostly to ourselves. Still, deep down, we felt there had to be a better way.
Little by little, we began searching for answers. We read books and articles, listened to interviews and presentations, asked lots of questions, connected with Parkinson's communities, found a forward-thinking neurologist, and learned from inspiring people around the world who were approaching health in new ways.
The more we learned, the more hopeful and empowered we felt. We began to see that while we couldn't control everything about Parkinson's, there were many positive ways we could support both physical and mental health and focus on becoming as healthy as possible.
And we wanted the Pacific Center to help others feel that same sense of possibility.
Educate🔹Inspire🔹Empower
Our Mission
Our mission is to help people living with Parkinson's learn what's possible, believe in what they can do, and feel empowered in their health. We turn research into simple guidance that helps people create healthy habits that feel good and last, making it easier to support their health in everyday life.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every person living with Parkinson's sees possibility, moves forward with self-belief, and knows that the choices they make each day matter.
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