Background & Qualifications
I am a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and have been working as a coach for over six years. Daily, I educate and inspire individuals who have a poor relationship with food or exercise, engage regularly in negative self-talk, and have found themselves stuck in a fixed mindset (one that says they can’t do it). I coach a variety of individuals, but my passion is with athletes (especially runners) which is why I chose to pursue Athletic Counseling in graduate school.
In May 2020, I graduated with an M. Ed. in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College. In order to graduate from my program, it was necessary for me to obtain 400 hours of supervised counseling experience (I was under the supervision of Dr. Judy Van Raalte). To meet that requirement, I worked with athletes participating in various sports including dance, gymnastics, football, tennis, track & field, and cross country. Of course, my heart has always been with the runners.
While completing my degree I also worked in the Sport Injury Rehabilitation Clinic on campus. There, I worked alongside athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches to help athletes cope with injuries and improve mental wellness while they were unable to participate in their respective sports. Athletes who are confronted with an injury often face psychological effects such as identity crisis, loneliness, confusion, anxiety, and even depression. Many times, athletes derive significant portions of their self-worth from sports, and a serious injury could be a threat to their basic identity (a concept called identity foreclosure). It was my responsibility to guide athletes as they worked through and overcame those negative emotions, while also enhancing other pieces of their identities.
My Approach
My approach to wellness coaching with runners is entirely holistic, focusing on the complete person (not just their sport or their current challenges). I believe in finding balance and not allowing sport to completely overshadow other interests. I believe in a healthy lifestyle but do not believe in diets/restrictive eating. I believe that challenging ourselves is important, but I do not believe that pushing past our limits makes us stronger.
Together, we will work on keeping (or rediscovering) your love for running, finding a healthy balance of sport and life, preventing or overcoming restrictive eating behaviors, setting reasonable goals (as they relate to sport and/or your mental health), tap into your intrinsic motivation, and make each stride you take a little bit sweeter.
Admitting you have an unhealthy relationship with running is difficult — it was for me, too. But recognizing that I have value other than being “Kerry the runner” or “Kerry the super skinny girl” has made me infinitely happier, healthier, and a much better daughter, sister, friend, and partner. You deserve that, too.
Wellness Coaching
- 45-minute sessions bi-weekly or weekly
- In-person if local to Buffalo, otherwise via Zoom
Contact me at sweeterstrides@gmail.com to set up a free 15-minute consultation.