We were lucky to catch up with Mary Virginia Coffman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mary Virginia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

After 48 years of perceiving myself only as a Liberal Arts person, I dove headfirst into the sciences! Boy, did that feel risky at the time. I had developed a fascination for how nutrition informs our mental and physical health, which inspired me to attend school to earn a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health (this followed my initial Master of Social Work 25 years before). I burned both ends of a lot of candles studying organic chemistry, biochem, anatomy and physiology, and all the biochemical and physiological pathways that flow thanks to the nutrients in the food we eat. Beyond that I rolled up my sleeves to incorporate expertise in genetics through the lens of nutrition. Mind blowing and so cool. I worked really hard and felt great about succeeding. But what would I do with this effort?

Going back to school turned out not to be the really big risk. The really big risk was that I decided to open a private practice in Atlanta. I’m not a business person, and I was really unsure how this would go. As a real newbie in all these realms, and older to boot, I suffered some pretty profound imposter syndrome. I quailed at the thought of having the spotlight on me. Who me, an expert?

Starting a new, time consuming profession in midlife _ just because I wanted to _ felt really selfish. I was used to making myself available to others. Moreover, right as I began to run my practice and my free time became limited, my husband changed his work and his time became a lot more flexible! I easily fell back into familiar patterns, shaped my work schedule to my personal and volunteer life, and said no to some opportunities I would have liked to pursue. I genuinely enjoy supporting my family and community! But I was not yet comfortable carving out time just for my own work given my long held patterns. I felt pulled in a lot of directions and so frustrated. What would I lose by pursuing this new goal?

It’s profound to me to review the arc of my risky decision. My family has only encouraged me. They were and continue to be amazing, and, honestly, impressed with my expertise and knowledge. When I consider putting my work down, I can feel how they buoy me up. But I still often wonder whether I should continue given where my heart is pulled otherwise.

In meditation, there is a call to be in the present moment. We focus on breath, in and out. However, there’s a second, critical part to the practice. Inevitably, the mind will wander. The key, then, is to acknowledge without judgement that the distraction happened, and then return to the breath. The return is as important as the practice itself. That gentle focus expands our awareness and ability to ‘be’ rather than ‘do’ (more scientifically, one of the shifts is to increase heart rate variability, which has a cascade of physiological, emotional/psychological, and brain benefits). The recognition of distraction and the return to breath trains us to pause, see, acknowledge, and choose toward what serves us best.

So, over time I found myself repeatedly distracted from creating my clinical practice (typically for good reasons, too!). It happens even now. In the ensuing pauses I allow myself to sit with my doubt. I often question whether the hard work is worth it. Am I reaching enough clients? Am I evolving as I want to evolve in my field? In those pauses I have the space to recognize that what I’m doing is my heart’s calling regardless of the speed of building a practice. I’m truly helping my clients achieve their most authentic health. Virtually everyone who commits to a professional partnership with me feels better, and their labs, symptoms, language, and mindset all reflect this. Each time I find that I truly desire to return to my clinical and coaching work. I choose it, over and over.

The risk to step into the spotlight of expertise has brought me the deepest, most heartfelt benefits. Learning and using what I have learned to assist people into health could not be more gratifying, even though I sometimes have glimpses of that old imposter syndrome.

And yes, I still feel pulled in numerous directions – and for good reasons! And I will continue to return to this heartfelt work that nourishes me in mind, heart, and spirit.

Mary Virginia, 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?

Almost 15 years ago I surprised myself when I discovered a fascination with how health is informed by the nutrients in our food. It blossomed when I helped my child heal first from chronic sinus infections, and then from panic attacks simply by shifting some food choices and adding a supplement or two. This inspired me to apply to grad school to earn the Master of Science.

My work now is in healthcare with adults 18+ as a Certified Nutrition Specialist, aka a clinical integrative nutritionist. I specialize in integrative nutrition for mental health and stress resilience. My clients typically come to me to help them heal from digestive issues, anxiety, depression, high stress, and/or new or worsened symptoms of neurodiversity, such as ADHD. Metabolic health (blood sugar, cholesterol), thyroid disorders, and sleep disruptions routinely play a role. Notably, I do not work with those who have eating disorders, but many of my clients struggle with disordered eating, misunderstandings about food, and poor perceptions of their body. Building self-awareness and self-trust is key to their success.

I stand out because I’m deeply trained in the functional medicine model, where we dig into the root causes of illness via lab work, medical and social history timelines, symptoms, and genetics. My treatments/interventions are a combination of food choices, supplemental nutrients and herbs, and lifestyle practices. I coordinate care with my clients’ doctors.

However, sometimes my clients want something different than just clinical expertise. They are looking for a shift in mindset and new choices and behaviors that serve their long term, very personal health and wellness goals. Because of this, I enhanced my prior experience with therapeutic interactions by training as a Health and Wellness Coach. Behavior change is at the intersection of the nutrition care plan and finding sustainable overall wellness. Coaching is now formally integrated into my practice as both a standalone and woven into my clinical appointments.

Perhaps most importantly, I approach my clients as the unique, complex, and capable individuals they are vs a walking set of symptoms. I’m proud of the safe space I create and the warm, positive relationships we build together.

The expertise I have developed has allowed my clients to recreate their health in the most authentic and enduring ways. It’s heartwarming and humbling to witness what it has meant to them. I had a mom tell me the other day that I have helped her adult child (who has complex health issues) more than 99% of the doctors she has seen. A new client who came to me in despair wrote me a note right after our intake session, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” She felt a hope she hadn’t experienced in months. A college student among my first clients recovered from the hives, rashes, and digestive woes that had plagued her every time she ate. It’s incredible, fulfilling work, and it’s still a surprise that I discovered a passion for it in midlife!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

There are really two primary routes that have allowed me to build my reputation: networking and speaking engagements.

Networking is multi-pronged, of course. I attend professional events to meet other practitioners and hand out cards. I also belong to private professional groups on Facebook, where I have cultivated some really pleasant relationships that have resulted in referrals. I also post about my work on FB, LinkedIn, and Instagram, which have brought me clients.

However, most of my best connections are made when I simply discuss my work during more informal moments. For example, I’ve spoken to my own doctors after my annual checkups to make sure they know that I can be a resource for their other patients, and my client base is growing because of it. Sharing my knowledge with friends and family has created understanding and trust in my expertise with my communities. As they have conversations within their circles and hear about their own friends’ struggles, they give out my contact information. There is a really beneficial ripple effect.

The positive impression I have made through those informal contacts has also led to speaking engagements. I’ve spoken at weekly therapist group meetings, church Sunday schools, to high school student groups, and for a mental health education program in Atlanta, called One Lamb, on nutrition and mental health. Being able to speak to larger groups has led to an increase in signups for my newsletter and more clients. I carry my cards and provide QR codes, then offer a verbal invitation to meet with me.

Currently I’m reaching out with more “cold call” emails to a variety of groups to be hired for more paid speaking engagements. That said, there is something really magical in the in-person connection. There’s a lovely energy and response that occurs.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first got so energized by nutrition and health, I gradually became almost vegan. That wasn’t my real intent, but I was doing my own research and learned about some terrible things within the world of food manufacturing that really shaped my choices. I was 97% of the way to believing that everyone else should eat like I did.

Working with so many experts in the field of nutrition during grad school really opened my eyes. There were a couple of experiences that caused me to ‘unlearn,’ or rather return to a beginner’s mind. They have made me a better practitioner.

One big shift occurred across time through my coursework. I learned how each body’s needs for nutrition are unique, and therefore I could not assume that the way I chose to eat, or even any given food plan (e.g. low salt or gluten free), would be appropriate for the client in front of me. Education on life stage nutrition revealed different requirements for micronutrient amounts, for example. How someone’s interact with food also shapes my recommendations. Some people will heal more effectively when they pointedly include animal protein in their meals. Moreover, culture and tradition are important to food pleasure and my clients’ participation in their community. Certain flavors and foods must be incorporated in order for the client to engage with the nutrition care plan effectively. And we have to take into account realities like cost of food, food deserts, and food swamps.

Returning to my beginner’s mind has allowed me to see each client’s individuality and to personalize my recommendations for better healing and health.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coffmanintegrativenutrition.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffmanintegrativenutrition/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoffmanIntegrativeNutrition/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mary-virginia-coffman

Image Credits
Mary Virginia Coffman Rob Carter Hilary Rose