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Stepping Up The Game - 9-26-07

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Gandhi

Name: Frances Cheung

Age: 26

Occupation: Holistic Health Counselor

Did you go to college? Yes

What did you study? Cultural Studies

Where do you work? Self-employed

Where are you from? Brooklyn, NY

Why did you pick this career?

I love helping and empowering people to be the best they can be. Through my work, I get to see people grow, challenge themselves, become healthier, livelier, and break through old, unsupportive habits to create new ones. It is very fulfilling to know that I am making an impact in the lives of others. At the same time, I am constantly learning and growing - from my clients and others in the health and wellness fields.

What are your future plans for your career?

I'm working on building alliances with other health and wellness, and personal development individuals and groups right now. I'm also planning on organizing retreat intensives for nourishing our bodies and souls, inside and out.

How did you get involved in this career?

It actually started out as a blessing in disguise. I was involved in the non-profit sector for a couple of years before I even became interested in the health field. I had always wanted to help people, but never realized or understood the importance of balance in my own life. Stress, an imbalanced lifestyle, and poor eating habits eventually led me to become sick and develop gallstones, but it was through sickness that I learned to slow down and what it meant to really nourish myself. I went to different doctors - traditional and alternative - and became frustrated because no one was able to tell me how I could prevent myself from getting sick again. I reached an epiphany one day when I realized that I could no longer blame others for my own well-being, I had to start taking charge of my own body and learning how to heal and take care of myself. And I realized, after healing myself through eating well and incorporating healthy lifestyle habits, what a big difference wellness really has on my body and my outlook in life. I just felt so much more vibrant and optimistic. At that point, I knew that wellness was something I wanted to be involved in as a lifelong passion, and that I wanted to guide, inspire and empower others in their own healing journeys.

How did you prepare yourself for this career?

Firstly, through personal exploration and becoming more in tune with my body's needs and messages. Secondly, I attended a wonderful school called the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I trained in the different dietary theories, from the eastern traditions of ayurveda and Chinese medicine, to the modern concepts of raw foods, Atkins and the blood type diet. The training I received at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition has been crucial, as I learned the importance of bio-individuality, that there is no one right diet for everyone. I also learned that wellness is more than just what we physically put into our bodies, but contains many other elements of life, including career, spirituality, family, exercise, and relationships.

What are the downsides to this profession?

It can be difficult to find a good balance between work and play sometimes when you're working for yourself.

What is a typical workday for you?

I spend about 15% of my time each day preparing for sessions with my clients - reviewing their goals, recommendations, handouts, and 50% of my time actually meeting with clients. I spend about 30% of my time on marketing, such as my monthly newsletter, writing articles, attending networking events, health fairs, planning workshops and health food store tours, etc. I spend 5% of my time following up with people who have expressed interest in working with me. It really can vary though, from day to day. That's part of the great thing about health counseling — there really is no typical workday.

How might this job be a stepping stone to other professions?

Holistic health counseling is a great healing profession. The world is our oyster. We begin by understanding and learning more about human nature and the human mind, and the variables for healing. From there, we can expand in many, many ways. Some become yoga instructors, personal chefs, wellness coaches, massage therapists, or consultants for corporations. You can start your own or star in a radio or TV show, develop your own health and wellness products, or write a book. There really is no limit to what you can do.

What is the single-most important piece of advice you can offer a person pursuing this career?

Follow your passion and never, ever give up.

What steps do you recommend to someone who is planning to pursue this career?

I think it's crucial to attend a school like the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, because it's a very comprehensive education model, where you learn to walk the talk in addition to the educational theories and business skills. It's also important to have good support systems because as a health counselor, you also need people who support, guide, inspire and empower you in being the best you can be. I would recommend finding a mentor or business coach - perhaps someone who's successful with their practice and is willing to mentor you in what it takes to develop a successful practice.

What professional or community volunteer organizations are you currently a member of?

The American Association of Drugless Practitioners

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