“What Integrative Care Looks Like When Life Gets Real”

It’s easy to talk about wellness when things are going smoothly. But in my practice, the people I work with are often navigating complexity — health systems that feel inaccessible, chronic conditions that leave them exhausted, or simply the confusion of figuring out what’s actually helpful amid a sea of online advice.

This is what integrative care looks like when life is real.

Case Study 1:

The Patient Alone in the Hospital

They were admitted unexpectedly — no preparation, no family nearby, and no friends who could offer guidance. Sitting alone in the hospital room, they were surrounded by machines, unfamiliar faces, and a flood of medical jargon.

When they reached out, they weren’t just asking about her diagnosis — they were asking: “How do I even navigate this?”

In our work together, we:

• Translated medical language into human terms

• Created a simple map of what to expect during hospitalization

• Identified ways to advocate for themselves in a system that often overlooks quiet voices

• Worked on grounding practices to ease panic during long, uncertain nights

• Had me as a partner throughout the entire experience

What made the difference?
It wasn’t just the medical advice. It was the reminder that they didn’t have to be fluent in healthcare to have agency in her own healing.

Case Study 2:

Living with Chronic Illness — and Frustration

They had been managing a chronic illness for years, but lately, the appointments felt mechanical.
The providers felt rushed.
The recommendations felt copied and pasted.
And underneath it all was anger.

They asked me, “Is this all there is? Am I supposed to just cope forever?”

Together, we:

• Gave space to validate his frustration (anger is information, not failure)

• Explored integrative approaches beyond what the clinic offered, rooted in evidence but tailored to their lived experience

• Created a plan for navigating appointments with more confidence, including how to communicate needs to providers

• Built sustainable, body-based practices to soften the edges of the daily grind of living with chronic illness without pretending it could be fixed overnight

• Communicated with their healthcare team through every step of the way

His words at the end of our work:
"I thought I was coming for wellness tips. What I got was a reminder that I still have choice, even here. I can ask for help and Sara was there to pick up the slack where I felt overwhelmed allowing me to truly rest and feel better"

Case Study 3:

The Seeker in the Era of TikTok Wellness

They weren’t sick. They weren’t in crisis. They were simply overwhelmed.
Should I be cold plunging?
Is it cortisol or capitalism?
Do I need supplements or boundaries?
What’s actually helpful, and what’s just trending?

In our sessions, we worked less on prescriptions and more on discernment.

We:

• Cut through the noise of wellness trends and marketing

• Grounded their approach to health in personal values, not viral advice

• Built a customized and sustainable set of practices based on their actual needs, not someone else’s morning routine

• Developed critical skills for engaging with wellness content without spiraling into confusion or perfectionism

They left saying:
"I finally feel like I’m not chasing something. I actually know what I need."

Why This Matters

Healing looks different depending on the person, the season, and the situation.
For some, it’s navigating a hospital without an ally.
For others, it’s making peace with a chronic condition in a broken system.
And for many, it’s simply sorting through the noise to find what’s actually nourishing.

Integrative care is not about adding more — it’s about returning to what makes sense, for you.

This is the heart of my work.