We recently connected with Charlotte Diefenbach and have shared our conversation below.

Charlotte, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission is to help people feel healthier and more fulfilled, strengthening their sense of connection and self-awareness. I teach people how to take small, manageable steps to improve their physical and mental health through lifestyle, nutrition, and herbs. When people are healthier and happier, they are able to make more of a positive impact on their community. When people feel better, they do better. Now, more than ever, our world needs people who are prioritizing healing not just for themselves, but for our planet.

This is extremely important to me, because I’ve struggled with my mental and physical health in the past. I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, so I didn’t know how to fix it. I often felt helpless in my own life, and confused about my connection to the world around me. The pathway of my journey is paved with the bricks of self-compassion, imperfectionism, adopting a growth mindset, radical self-awareness, choosing healing over self-destruction, and a responsibility to make the world a better place.

There are more and more studies coming out about how lifestyle medicine not only slows down the progression of, but can also reverse serious health conditions. Lifestyle medicine includes things like eating more plant-based foods, improving sleep quality, managing stress, moving your body regularly, and increasing social connection. It is backed by science that the more changes you make in these areas, the more results you will see. People can make huge improvements in their health by making these adjustments (that are often free!), and that is a revolutionary concept.

Charlotte, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Clinical Herbalist and a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). I specialize in functional nutrition, and I have created a line of handmade herbal products for health and home. I also offer 1-1 remote coaching sessions where I work together with my client to improve their health with a personalized care plan.

In the past, I struggled with my physical and mental health. I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia, I had a poor relationship with food (and myself) and often dealt with symptoms like pain, fatigue, and insomnia. Over the years, being intentional about listening to my body helped me make small adjustments and find relief. I ate more home cooked meals and whole foods, learned how drastically sleep quality impacted my symptoms, reduced harsh chemical use in my home, and started incorporating Pilates and yoga.

Eventually I decided I wanted to work with herbs, and I found a program called the Holistic Wellness Pathway. That program not only gave me the knowledge of lifestyle medicine and herbs, but it gave me the courage to change my life and leave the abusive marriage I was in at the time. It helped me cultivate self-compassion and a sense of purpose.

Health is not just what we eat- it’s our mindset, emotional wellness, and our sense of connection. That’s what I help clients with now, and that’s what sets me apart. I meet people where they are. I don’t ask them to change, or give them a cookie-cutter list of goals to meet. I create a safe space and listen to them. They choose what to focus on, and I’m a judgement-free guide along their path to healing. So many times we try to cover up symptoms instead of addressing the source of the problem, but that is like mopping the floor while leaving the faucet turned on. That’s why I focus on supporting the foundations of health like whole foods, stress management, quality sleep, and social fulfillment.

Plants and humans have evolved alongside one another for thousands and thousands of years. Plants were our first form of medicine, and even some current medicines were derived from plants. Modern medicine is outstanding, and there is a place for both modern healthcare AND using herbs safely to support health. That’s why my motto is: Modern science, ancient wisdom, and a little woo.” It’s all about balance and doing what’s right for you as an individual.

I want to make herbalism more accessible for people who are interested, so I teach classes occasionally and I talk to anyone who will listen to me at local farmer’s markets and craft fairs! My herbal product line includes things like loose-leaf tea, salves for skincare, extracts, herb-infused oils, beeswax candles, electuaries, etc. In 2025 you can find me regularly at the Farmer’s Market of O’Fallon and the Lake St. Louis Farmer’s Market.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

If I had a nickel for every pivot in my life, I’d have so many nickels. Not just personal pivots, but professional and educational ones as well.

I have been a waitress, a bank teller, and a bartender. At one point I was going to school for physics, then my life suddenly changed and I became a stay at home mom for several years. I was itching to have a career goal again, and I started a business centered around all the crafting I did as a mom. My very first business was called, “Paint & Lace Keepsakes” where I sold handmade crafts on Etsy. I made some sales, but it wasn’t quite right so I moved on.

Next, I created “Herbal Homemaking.” I had honed in on working with plants and making natural products, but it still felt like something was missing.

After crafting my little heart out, I finally went back to school. I got my biology degree in tandem with the herbal and nutrition program. The name “The Helpful Hermit” suddenly came to mind and it was perfect. I’m an introvert who wants to help people. Also, there’s a Tarot card called “The Hermit” that represents looking inward to find the answers. That concept is close to my heart. I didn’t plan on even becoming a coach at first, I just wanted to work with plants. But the coaching concepts are what help instill lasting change, and I use that knowledge every day.

It’s good to check in with yourself about what is and is not working. I’m so grateful for pivots.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Vulnerability and authenticity, hands down.

I have gotten to a point where I feel more myself than I ever have. It sounds so cliche, but being myself has helped to attract my people. It also helps to weed out the people who don’t want to work with me. Talking about vulnerable things with safe people helps take back the power that shame can hold over you. By being more open and vulnerable, other people feel safe to do the same. Life is too short to hide ourselves. My whole business is so closely connected to who I am as a person, and that can be scary but it’s also been the best thing for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://helpfulhermitholistic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpfulhermitholistic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehelpfulhermit