Explore the world of holistic healing with Sarah Dawkins, a renowned Holistic Health and Healing Coach, Keynote Speaker, and author of "HEAL YOURSELF". Formerly a registered nurse for 20 years, Sarah seamlessly integrates conventional medical expertise with personal victories over health challenges. With a BSc, MSc, and AMC certification, she offers insights into her holistic approach during an exclusive interview with Sofia Health.

Having been a Registered Nurse, what inspired you to transition into holistic health coaching, and how do you leverage your nursing expertise in your current holistic approach? 

We were living in America, and one of the nurses I worked with questioned my use of pharmaceuticals for acid reflux. I was taken aback and wondered why she would do this, especially as a nurse herself. But I was curious, so I started researching alternatives to pharmaceuticals. I found many options, started changing my diet, and made small lifestyle adjustments to see what would happen.

 

I naturally healed the acid reflux I had. I then went on to heal psoriasis and eczema. After that, I healed chronic pain, candida, an underactive thyroid, burnt-out adrenal glands, and finally, depression with suicidal thoughts.

 

Once I started healing myself, I wanted to help others see that it was possible, too. However, this was at odds with my role as a registered nurse. So I trained as a coach, left my nursing job, and used my knowledge of how illness is treated within the medical model, along with my own healing experience and the knowledge I gained through extensive research, to help others start their journeys to wellness through natural means.

 

Given your background as a Holistic Health Coach and Registered Nurse, how do you bridge the worlds of holistic healing and conventional medicine in your approach to helping clients find and heal the root cause of their health issues? 

In my role as a nurse, I saw that the root cause of people’s symptoms was often not addressed. Their symptoms were grouped into a diagnosis, and doctors prescribed medications and interventions based on that diagnosis.

 

Through my own healing, I understand that we need to take into account not just the physical issues within symptoms and disease, but also the mental, emotional, and spiritual issues. Healing needs all of these areas to be addressed in order to be truly holistic, as they are all interconnected.

 

Through conversations with clients, I help them explore why they might have developed the symptoms and illnesses they have, what needs those symptoms may be serving, and/or what childhood issues have not been resolved. I also help them understand their own beliefs, as these can often be unconscious.

 

I do believe conventional medicine has its place, especially for accidents, trauma, and emergencies.

 

Your book, "Heal Yourself," details your journey and those of 74 others dealing with chronic conditions. Can you share a specific story from the book that highlights the transformative power of holistic healing and finding the root cause? 

In Chapter 2, Marcia Murphy was diagnosed with chemical and electromagnetic sensitivities, which caused burning, stinging eyes, fatigue, digestive disturbances, bladder pain, hypoglycemia, irregular heartbeat, and food and pollen sensitivities.

 

Marcia found a doctor who had healed herself of the same issues and went to see her. Marcia was given a list of comprehensive protocols to follow, but 18 months later, she was still not healed. However, Marcia had not followed one of the protocols: finding and dealing with stressors in her life.

 

Marcia booked herself into a health institute and was supported in identifying her stressors. She recognized emotional and spiritual stressors, including feelings of rejection and guilt, the need to be perfect, feeling responsible for others’ happiness, living life from a “should/have to” standpoint, difficulty asking for what she wanted or needed, and a lack of trust in Source.

 

Marcia identified all of these as coming from her childhood and from not feeling loved. With support from the institute, Marcia healed these issues, and in doing so, she healed the chemical and electromagnetic sensitivities.

 

What Is Self-Care and Why Is It Important?

Self-care is about taking time to do things that make you feel good. It can be something as simple as sitting down with a good book, walking outside, chatting with a friend, taking a hot bath, meditating, or doing anything meaningful to you. Self-care can look different for everyone.

 

Self-care also encompasses eating nourishing food, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, setting boundaries, having downtime, understanding your limits, and being mindful.

 

It is important because it helps manage stress, supports illness prevention, and improves overall well-being.

 

It is also worth noting that self-care is not selfish. It is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle.

Sofia Health connects you to traditional, integrative, nutritional, holistic, and spiritual healing professionals to help you personalize your healing journey.

Self-care is a term often used but sometimes misunderstood. Why do you think there might be a misconception or negative perception about it in our society?

Self-care can be negatively perceived as people being lazy, self-indulgent, selfish, or uncaring toward others. Our modern world is busy, busy, busy, and I believe some people feel obligated to keep up with the pace of daily life. As a result, they may not feel able to slow down and take time for themselves.

 

Given your experience in critical care, do you find that there are common patterns or lifestyle factors that contribute to the chronic conditions you encounter, and how does holistic healing address these factors? 

Yes, I do see common patterns and lifestyle factors. It is so easy to take a pill, treatment, or surgery advocated by a doctor and then carry on with the same lifestyle that contributed to becoming unwell. The pills suppress the symptoms, and people are deemed “better.” I did this for many years.

 

Taking responsibility for our own health requires effort because we have to make lifestyle changes and do inner healing work.

 

The work I do with clients around holistic healing addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of disease and healing because everything is interconnected. Sadly, Western medicine has separated the human body into specialized parts and treated the mind as a separate specialty.

 

The term "holistic" often encompasses various aspects of well-being. Can you elaborate on how you approach the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual health in your coaching practice? 

I encourage clients to discuss their health issues and work with them to find the root cause.

 

While their symptoms are often physical, the root cause can predominantly be mental, such as a belief they hold, often unconsciously; spiritual, such as losing connection to their inner voice, higher self, the Divine, or whatever name they give it; emotional, such as unhealed past traumas or experiences that affected them; or physical, such as not nourishing or hydrating their bodies, experiencing sleep deprivation, or needing more movement.

 

Our discussions focus on all holistic aspects, i.e., physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional, and the impact these areas have on the client’s suffering and health.

 

Once clients find the root cause or causes of their issues, I work with them to find their own solutions for healing through all four aspects of holistic healing.

 

You discuss healing without pharmaceutical medications. How do you address the challenges or concerns that clients may have about transitioning away from conventional medical treatments in favor of holistic approaches? 

Not everyone is consciously aware of their beliefs. The client’s belief system needs to be made conscious and understood. For example, their belief that they need a doctor and medication may have been borrowed from their parents or caregivers when they were young, and this belief may have run their lives from the subconscious mind. Once they start thinking about it, they can make an informed assessment of their beliefs and make any necessary changes.

 

Additionally, my 20 years in nursing and my own natural healing journey helped me understand their concerns and fears and share a new perspective with them.

 

I also have my book, Heal Yourself, to share with clients and help them see how others have healed themselves without pharmaceuticals. Seeing others heal reinforces the idea that it is possible to heal naturally.

What are your most helpful tips for optimal health?

These are my tips for optimal health and a happier life:

• Physical: Nourish and hydrate your body with whole foods and natural beverages. Move your body every day, prioritize sleep, and practice regular deep breathing. Walking is a great option.
• Mental: Be mindful and present in the moment by using your senses. Meditate, be creative, challenge your mind with puzzles, or learn a new skill.
• Emotional: Heal your past, be part of a community, and share your problems with trusted friends.
• Spiritual: Reconnect with your inner voice, whatever name you give it. Meditate, pray, even if it does not have to be religious, or join a spiritual group.

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