THE HEALTH BEGINS HERE PROGRAM
You don't need to try harder.
You need a different approach.
We’re Different. By Design.
For women who have done everything right, but still don’t feel amazing. There is a reason. And there is a way.
If this sounds familiar…
You’re getting everything done - work, family, responsibilities - but something still feels off.
You are overwhelmed by conflicting health advice and all the products out there
Your labs come back "normal" — but you know something is wrong. You've been told it’s just your age, and you're exhausted by that answer.
You're there for dinner, bedtime, the conversations — physically present, but mentally elsewhere.
Deep down, you’ve started to wonder if this is just how it’s going to be.
Here’s what we know.
You haven’t failed anything – the things that used to work just aren’t what your body needs in this season.
Your body isn't broken. In fact, it's been working overtime trying to get your attention.
What you feel is real — and there is a reason for it. You just need someone willing to look at it all and connect the dots.
Healing doesn't come from trying harder or stacking more protocols. It comes from aligning your lifestyle with what you actually need.
Chronic does not mean permanent. There is always something that can be done. Always.
When you start in the right place, reconnecting with your body and restoring the foundations of health, transformation happens faster than you think.
We start where most ignore – the foundation.
WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENTMost functional medicine practices begin with extensive testing panels and complex supplement protocols.
But over the years, we’ve discovered something important:
Testing first is rarely the most direct path to healing.
More data doesn’t automatically translate to more health. In fact, it often leaves you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and still searching for answers.
Instead, we begin where real healing starts — the foundation of your health : your daily lifestyle.
When your body finally receives the sleep, nourishment, movement, and support it has been asking for, something remarkable happens. It begins doing what it was designed to do all along: heal.
And the results speak for themselves.
On average, our clients experience a 63% reduction in symptoms within the first three months, before we ever order a single test.
It’s not complicated and it doesn’t leave you feeling more overwhelmed.
But it is incredibly effective.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Step 1. Reconnect
We begin where no one else has: a deep look at your full story. Not just your symptoms, but the patterns, the history, the moments when things shifted, how hard you’ve worked to get here. You'll work 1 on 1 with your own health coach who sees your story as legitimate clinical information — not something to minimize, reframe, or redirect. She helps you reconnect and become aware of your body’s wisdom and signals. Awareness replaces overwhelm. By the end of this phase, you will finally understand what your body is trying to tell you. The relief of that alone is significant.
YOU'LL EXPERIENCEYour story validated as powerful data
A clear picture of your upstream driver(s)
An invitation to listen to, and reconnect with, your body’s wisdom
A personalized roadmap built for your life
The first real sense of relief that things are going to be different here
The Health Begins Here Program
A journey with visible milestones.
YOUR PATH FORWARDYou don't just want to “feel better,” you want to understand how we will get you there. What makes this different. Here is what the process actually looks like, step by step, over the course of 3 months.
Step 2. Restore
No overwhelming commitments or ten-step routines you'll abandon in a few days. Your coach helps you identify the "low-hanging fruit," the targeted, personalized, sustainable shifts that will give your body the signal it's been waiting for. Small, doable changes that build on each other. Progress you can feel. Within the first few weeks, something starts to shift — quietly at first, then unmistakably. You’ve caught a glimpse of relief and you’re ready for more. Your coach is there with you to celebrate each win and help translate subtle improvements into sustainable routines.
YOU'LL EXPERIENCEKnowing what changes to make for big results on your own healing journey
Symptoms start to stabilize
Energy is more dependable
Small victories start to compound
Your confidence is building in yourself and in your body
Step 3. Transform
This is where the changes are undeniable. Your symptoms have dramatically improved. Energy returns. Your healing has accelerated and there’s no doubting any longer. You are witnessing an empowering evolution of your health. You feel invigorated, motivated and ready to deepen this transformation even further. Your coach is there to help you navigate making these changes a sustainable way of life - through life’s ups and downs, when traveling or even amidst the holiday rush.
WHAT HAPPENS HEREEnergy is returning
Inflammation decreases
You are starting to recognize your old self again
Habits feel like self-respect, not self-management
You begin to trust your body and respect its needs
Step 4. Embody
This is the shift that lasts a lifetime. You are embodying your healing not as something you are working towards but as who you are. You are needing less and less guidance. You have come to understand your body's language. You know what your symptoms are saying and how to respond. The panic is gone — replaced by informed curiosity. You are becoming your own best advocate and the CEO of your health. Your coach helps you cement your gains, cultivate autonomy and navigate challenges without reverting to old patterns. They act as a guide and mirror, helping you see how far you’ve come and ensuring your new identity feels natural and sustainable.
WHAT YOU TAKE WITH YOU – FOREVERA framework that belongs entirely to you
The ability to troubleshoot without panic
Trust in your body as a partner, not an enemy
The version of yourself you thought was lost
A new way of doing life that inspires those around you
Our Philosophy
❋ Lifestyle First, Testing Later
Your body heals in safety, not in overwhelm. We build your foundation before adding complexity, which means faster results and less money spent on things you don't need once your foundation is strong.
❋ Your Whole Story Matters
You are not a collection of lab values. Your history, your struggles, your goals and your life context all shape what's happening in your body. We meet you there - getting to know who you are and what’s truly important for your care.
❋ Root Cause, Not Symptom Coverage
Your brain fog, insomnia, gut problems and hormone issues aren't separate problems; they're downstream signals from one upstream driver - the day to day environment your body is living in. We start upstream and work there, impacting all the body systems at once.
❋ You Leave Knowing Yourself
The goal isn't to keep you dependent on our guidance. It's to give you an empowering framework that's yours to keep so you know how to problem solve and find solutions if something comes up long after our work together ends.
The changes are profound.
CLIENT STORIESMy health coach Karen was absolutely fabulous. I implemented just about every piece of advice that she gave me and I made huge improvements with my high cholesterol counts and improved my sleep significantly. I highly recommend Dr. Emily and the Balanced Living team.
— SaraMy coach’s expertise and thoughtful health guidance changed my life. She did far more than just listen to my health concerns; she gained a deep knowledge of my entire medical history so she could advise me from a fuller understanding of who I was as a whole person. She tailored my health coaching program—from dietary recommendations to fitness help, to lifestyle shifts—to solve the two unpleasant symptoms I was suffering from.
— MacyMy Health Coach was also spot on with her recommendations. It is very easy to order supplements directly from her website and she provides a vast amount of support materials, as well as informational Zoom calls. I feel so much better in just 6 months! She really changed the way I think about and can impact my health.
— ToniThe Health Begins Here Program
Three months.
A foundation that lasts.
A 3-month, 1:1 virtual functional medicine foundational lifestyle program — designed for the woman who is done with quick fixes and ready to build something that actually lasts.
What's included
Your Personal Health Coach
1:1 guidance with a board-certified functional health coach trained personally by Dr. Emily — 2 sessions per month via Zoom, for a total of 90 minutes per month — moving through the 4-step framework listed above.
Your Individual Roadmap
A care plan designed specifically for your life, your history, your body. We find your "low-hanging fruit" first — the small, doable changes that create the biggest wins quickly.
Full Support Between Sessions
Access to Dr. Emily's entire educational library, live community meetings, webinars, dietary and lifestyle guides and recipes, member discounts, and ongoing support — so you're never lost between appointments.
Dr. Emily's Oversight, Built In
Your coach works closely with Dr. Emily throughout your program. She reviews your case, provides guidance, and stays present in your care — without you paying her rates for lifestyle work our coaches are better trained to do.
A Clear Pathway to Further Care
For Ohio residents who want testing and targeted supplements after creating a strong foundation, completing Health Begins Here opens access to work directly with Dr. Emily or our Nurse Practitioner. When you already have a solid foundation built, fewer tests and supplements are needed and results come much faster.
Why start with a health coach — not Dr. Emily directly?
Because we've discovered that the fastest, most lasting transformation comes from building your lifestyle foundation first — before piling on complex testing, loads of supplements, or advanced protocols that can feel quite overwhelming.
Dr. Emily designed this program after watching hundreds of clients succeed with targeted lifestyle changes, often dramatically reducing or eliminating the need for complex interventions altogether. Starting here means healing begins on day one — not after 100+ labs show problems that can be resolved with an upleveled foundation.
Our coaches have each had their own functional medicine healing journey. They understand where you are, have extensive training in habit change and have entirely unique backgrounds.
And if you are ready for further care, you'll arrive there from a place of clarity, not overwhelm.
About Dr. EmilyShe has been both the doctor and the patient.
Dr. Emily was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 10. She spent most of her life on strong medications — even through 15 years of practice as a family medicine physician. Then she discovered functional medicine. She reversed her RA. Eliminated her medications. And could never go back to practicing the same way.
That's not a marketing story. It’s real life. And it's why, when she tells you that permanent change is possible for you, she isn't just offering you hope. She's offering you testimony.
She left conventional medicine to build Balanced Living Functional Medicine — a virtual practice pioneering a lifestyle-first approach that has since been featured at the Institute for Functional Medicine's annual international conference. She now leads a team of health coaches who share her mission, each with their own functional medicine healing story. Her mission is to inspire, educate and empower you to understand your body and how to care for it so that you can lead a full and complete life.
YOUR QUESTIONS
A few things you might
be wondering.
Will this work for my specific condition?
Health Begins Here addresses the foundation that underlies most chronic conditions — inflammation, energy dysregulation, poor gut health, hormone imbalance, and sleep troubles. Because we go upstream to root causes rather than treating isolated symptoms, the program is effective for a wide range of concerns. In functional medicine, we know that all the body systems are interconnected, like the branches of a tree. And if the foundation, or roots and soil, are healthy, then those branches are thriving. If you're unsure, watch our program video or reach out — we'll help you know if this is the right fit.
Why don't I work with Dr. Emily directly from the start?
Dr. Emily personally trains each coach in her exact methodology. They work as extensions of her, supervised by her throughout the program. Beginning with a coach allows you to move faster, invest less in the lifestyle phase, and arrive at deeper care (if needed) with a body that's ready to heal. Dr. Emily's medical expertise is available — it's simply applied at the right stage of your healing. We understand this isn’t typical –that is by design. You don’t need more complexity and overwhelm. Healing starts with the simplicity of a solid foundation.
What if I need more support right away?
For those with complex medical needs or who want to move more quickly, we offer further care programs (for Ohio residents only) that move you directly to work with Dr. Emily or our Nurse Practitioner alongside your coach. These programs involve a greater investment of time, energy and resources. Apply to see if you're a good fit.
I've tried so many things. Why would this be different?
It’s likely most of what you've tried addressed symptoms in isolation, piecing together tactics without an organized plan — without addressing the upstream driver that connects them. You weren't failing those approaches. They were incomplete for where you are. We build your care around your full picture, starting with what will move the needle most and adding complexity only where it's needed. You've already done so much. We're not asking you to try harder. We're offering a different path.
Who can see you?
Health Begins Here is open to anyone in the United States. Dr. Emily + our nurse practitioner can see Ohio residents directly for further care. Out-of-state members are welcome to complete Health Begins Here with our coaching team and continue with a coach-only advanced care path.
What's the time commitment?
Health Begins Here offers two virtual sessions per month — one 60-minute and one 30-minute — for a minimum of 3 months. There are many resources available to you in our educational library. You will be asked to spend some time in implementing the changes in your personal care plan. This is not a program designed to overwhelm you. It's designed to clarify and simplify, one sustainable shift at a time. And it’s built around the pace and intensity that feels best to you.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT MORE...Further Care Options
Some women need a faster pace, deeper access to Dr. Emily, or more intensive support from the start. We have options for that — all designed with the same foundation-first philosophy (Ohio residents only).
Further Care
After completing Health Begins Here, work directly with Dr. Emily or our Nurse Practitioner for strategic testing and targeted supplement protocols — on a foundation already built to make those tools work.
Fast Track
For those ready to move quickly and committed to significant transformation. A more intensive pace with higher-touch support – you see both a health coach and provider at the same time.
First Class
The ultimate experience for those who want the highest level of ease, convenience, and personalized access. Apply to see if you're a good fit.