Before joining the Resilience Wellness Programs team as their health coach, Shasonta Delmage had been working towards establishing a career within wellness after leaving a stressful job in the corporate world. Her decision to switch gears came after spending years in and out of dermatologist’s offices battling eczema; and finally receiving a diagnosis that led to a revelation about her health.
“I had an awful cyst-like rash across my chest, so I again went to the dermatologist. All I got was steroid creams, antibiotics, and skin scrapes before he finally said, ‘I need to test for celiac.’ I was off the charts on all markers, so I met up with a nutritionist. And when I dropped wheat and gluten, the rash was gone within two weeks! That’s when I realized the power of food.”
When Shasonta first heard about the position at the practice, she had been trying to gain more experience as a coach and had already become invested in educating others on the power they hold over their health. So, when she received the invitation for an in-person interview she met Dr. Camille Koontz, toured the practice, and knew instantly that she had found her home.
“I had started a business and just wanted to get better at being a health coach. I wanted to help people understand that what we put into our body matters. When the position came up, Dr. Koontz invited me to the office and when I walked in, I felt this overwhelming sense of calm and thought I’m going to get this position because this is my home.”
After her quick transition into full-time, Shasonta closed her business to dedicate herself to the practice and describes being a part of the three-person team as a “gift.” She says that the enormous amount of trust and appreciation among them is what helps them tackle challenges and support each other in the growth of the practice.
“Since I started, not one thing, not one process, is the same. It’s a fascinating speed boat of change and we appreciate each other through it. We’re building the ship as we’re sailing it. Every single one of us gets up every day and we want to be here. We want to do better for people, and we want to give them the gift of confidence in their health.”
The most significant challenge that they recently tackled was hosting their first talk in the practice after having grown accustomed to webinars. On top of analyzing each piece of the talk to successfully adapt it to the in-person scenario, they also had to put in some manual labor before the event.
“We had to remodel our entire lobby to make it happen. We moved boxes and files and found out we had a fireplace that had been hidden behind a massive desk. We were incredibly nervous. We had to get really clear on our roles and on what each piece of the talk looked like. But it came together beautifully, and we got 10 out of 10 to sign up. And now we’re getting ready for our next one.”
Having transparency in expectations is a crucial component when it comes to cohesion and teamwork, and when coupled with open communication it leads to having what Shasonta calls a “dream team.” Creating this type of environment requires nurturing and for the Resilience team, this often comes in the form of laughter.
“We take time to connect and joke. Every day that goes by at least one of us is howling with laughter. We do yoga once a week together and the three of us even bought roller skates. We also make dinner plans, and sometimes we just talk after work and drink champagne. It’s so much fun!”
Although Shasonta has only been with the team for a year she knows that she is exactly where she belongs and sees herself with the team for years to come. She is determined to grow in her role and is willing to face any challenge to become a more supportive health coach and colleague.
“When you say you can’t do something, that’s fear speaking; and it’s those challenging times that we learn and grow from. It’s okay to be scared but just be honest. And if you need support, ask, because needing help is not a sign of weakness.”
Are you ready for your own success story?
If you are, I have good news! We can get you results like this. It won’t be easy, nor will it happen overnight, but I’ve seen it happen so many times that I can tell you that’s it’s possible.
You’ve got to be hungry, driven, up for the work, listen more than you talk, complete more than complain, implement plans more than you announce them, and show up daily with a beginners mind. If you’re ready, it’s time to get to work!
