Hi, I’m Tessa
I am a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach and ex Physiotherapist living in Cape Town, South Africa.
I am deeply passionate about WELLNESS and helping people struggling with various health challenges or chronic pain to find long term relief and balance.
I have faced debilitating chronic disease and pain myself, being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 15 years ago and later Hypothyroidism. I have after many Drs, much trial and error, research, soul searching and finally using the power of Functional Medicine, found ways to help myself cope, heal and thrive.
I am here to empower and inspire you to draw on your strengths and find motivation & answers within to make those lasting changes to live a life full of vitality and good health.
Tessa earned her Functional Medicine Health Coach certification from the leading Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA) in the United States.
She is also a qualified Physiotherapist (Bsc Physio UCT) & she has earned a Post Graduate Business Diploma (PDEM UCT).
She is currently a member of the Functional Medicine Health Coaches Association of South Africa (FMHCASA) and is also a registered practitioner with DNANLYSIS Biotechnology.
She has worked for several years in health care in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and has also had a career in the corporate sector.
She is a dedicated mother to two young sons, a wife of a specialist Dr,
an eternal optimist and now also a warrior for chronic disease.
My Story
learn more about me…
My health crisis started 15 years ago. I went from having recurring infections and niggling joint pain that culminated in a severe debilitating flare up 6 days before my wedding. This was shortly after my dear father passed away. I could barely walk down the aisle.
A year following this I was at the point where I almost claimed permanent disability for life. I’m so grateful to my Rheumatolgist who refused for me to do so and encouraged me to live a full life despite the pain. In the last decade, despite being on medication, I have cycled through severe periods of ill health and pain. I have spent 18 months of my life on crutches. I developed two frozen shoulders for 3 years of my life. I have been completely depleted and debilitated – physically and emotionally.
I understand all too well the stressors and complexity of raising a family, losing loved ones, working and trying to survive a chronic health disease.
Fast forward now, I am a new person!
I have gone from simply trying to survive life to finally thriving. This has happened through surrendering, accepting what is, and feeling empowered to make changes to every aspect of my life to support my healing.
My illness had a story, it was a powerful one. At first my suffering was endless, now I see it as a precious gift. It gave me insight and inspired me to not accept I had an incurable disease, but rather to find the answers to my health crisis and what worked best for me.
We all have those answers inside ourselves.
I remember when I found Functional Medicine, I also found hope as here was medicine that wasn’t simply more chronic medication. I was astounded by what I was learning, I had that aha moment. I realised then that you have to go to the root cause to find healing and it is the most delicate balance between the mind, body & spirit.
I began experimenting with detoxing my world and changing every aspect of my lifestyle. I was so excited as now I had the power to make significant changes – eating whole nutritious food, healing my gut, valuing the importance of movement & sleep, and focusing on ways to reduce my stress and increase relaxation. I shifted my mindset to positive emotions, that of gratitude, optimism and pure hope. I started yoga and meditation, both of these are as powerful as any drug.
Slowly but surely a shift happened … my body, mind and spirit started to heal.
Healing is not a linear process, it can be undulated and difficult at times, but with faith, resilience, curiosity, perseverance and courage the general curve is almost always an upwards one.
Today I am so grateful to say I am 95% better and off almost all medications. I am not against Western Medicine medications. They saved me in my time of need, but I don’t believe they are always necessary in the long term if you can find other ways to support your healing. I have found that balance of things that work wonderfully for my unique body and I am still discovering more.
I have a full, active and busy life. I can find joy again in travelling, working, having fun and being a mother to my two young sons.
My symptoms are now minimal and manageable and for this I am so grateful.
I have a gentle, yet balanced approach to health and well being. I trust myself, I listen to my body. I nourish it with what it needs.
If I can do it, I have no doubt you can do the same!!!
I am here to help you renew, restore, find that limitless hope within
and
propel yourself towards an amazing healthy life.
