“My purpose is to help people have a better quality of life, find or define their purpose, explore healthier choices, and lead a fuller, more balanced life—to not just live, but to thrive,” says Integrative Health Coach Susan Waldrum, MA, NBC-HWC.
Thriving brings joy—a joy and growth that comes from investing in yourself.
Susan’s journey to integrative health coaching and the study of wellness found its roots in an unlikely place: her cancer treatment experience. She felt that her treatment plan lacked attention to the whole person, and she developed a thirst for learning about wellness. She began studying lifestyle choices and their impact on cancer development and recurrence. She researched the environment and exposure to toxins; diet, exercise, and sleep habits, of course; but also how nurturing relationships and feeling connected to a sense of purpose is essential to thriving. She learned that resilience, self-love, mindfulness, and spirituality are integral facets of health.
"Life after cancer treatment can be a difficult time, but it’s also an opportunity for growth. I thought of ‘quality of life’ in a different way after cancer,” says Susan, whose transformative cancer experience deepens her relationships with current clients who are often going through other major life transitions like divorce, moving, empty-nesting, or career changes. “Healing includes figuring out your new life. It may sound odd, but many positive things came from my breast cancer. I have grown stronger spiritually, physically, and intellectually.”
Armed with new insights into health and wellness, as well as her Masters in Counseling, a cancer-free Susan attended The University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, where she completed the Integrative Health Coaching program. Driven to enrich her expertise, Susan also attended the Duke Health & Well-being Integrative Health Coaching Program where she became a Duke Integrative Medicine Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Subsequently she was certified through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching ( NBC-HWC). In 2021, she launched Flourish Together Coaching with the mission of supporting her clients in a journey toward more flourishing and fulfilling lives.
Susan acts as a supportive partner in a collaborative, client-driven exploration of the client’s whole being—from nutrition, sleep, exercise, and environment to relationships, resiliency, and spirituality—to develop a tailored plan with goals toward becoming their best self. “Integrative means that our mind, body, and spirit are all connected. For example, when we exercise, which is a physical activity, we feel better mentally,” says Susan. “Another example is how our environment or sleep affects our mood or energy level.” Because of the interconnectedness of these aspects of the whole person, small changes can make a big impact. And Susan is quick to note how the journey of self-improvement can be not only deeply satisfying, but really fun.
“I love coaching because it is about living life to the fullest and feeling our best. And it’s a fun process! Positive growth is a joyful experience,” says Susan.
Helping someone improve the quality of their life energizes me. It gives me purpose and makes me flourish and thrive.
