Michelle DeStefano has been coaching people towards health since 1999 as part of her role as an acupuncturist. In 2022 she retired from acupuncture but has never lost her desire to help people towards better health and well-being. She is now, with her 8 week signature program, specializing in helping people with diabetes gain a healthier life style so they can live a longer life with vitality and well-being. She also partners with doctors who are simply too overloaded to offer this support to their patients. Her approach transcends the conventional 'here’s what you need to do' advice readily available online. She empowers her clients to cultivate a mindset where health changes are perceived as “effortless and instinctive.”
Meet Michelle DeStefano
Your Wellness Coach at
Free Yourself Coaching
Can you describe your journey into health coaching and what inspired you to become a coach?
Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to help people. When I found out about acupuncture, I was hooked! I graduated with a Masters in Acupuncture from the first acupuncture school in the U.S.The training emphasized the critical importance of truly listening to our clients, a foundational element of holistic healing. In addition to acupuncture, our services included comprehensive coaching aimed at fostering healthier habits. We received extensive training in nutrition, physiology, and mindfulness, equipping us to support our clients in a holistic manner. This approach is essential for promoting overall health and well-being. Thanks to my experience as an acupuncturist, wellness coaching was a natural step that now allows me to serve people nationwide.
What specific areas or niches do you specialize in?
I specialize in supporting individuals with diabetes in achieving their health goals. I offer an 8-week 'Journey to Vitality' program designed to enhance compliance, whether self-motivated or following doctor's recommendations.
This program addresses critical aspects such as diet, exercise, weight and overcoming barriers to healthy habits. It aims to guide clients from their current state to their desired health goals in a fun and enjoyable manner, ensuring they feel they are gaining value rather than making sacrifices.
How does your coaching philosophy align with the Meaning-Centered Approach used by Integrated Life Management?
I find that client-driven insights foster better compliance in designing a healthy lifestyle. By facilitating clients' own discovery of solutions through skillful questioning, the strategies become more realistic and client-centered, leading to greater long-term success. This approach leverages their inner wisdom to create effortless and sustainable changes.
Can you share a success story from your coaching practice that highlights your approach and its impact?
Certainly. I worked with a young professional woman who was experiencing significant stress both personally and professionally. She needed to improve her diet and establish a regular exercise routine but felt too busy and overwhelmed to prioritize her health.
Through our sessions, she redefined her priorities and recognized that her health was paramount. We then focused on time management and developed effective strategies for better nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management. After three months, her glucose levels improved significantly towards the non-diabetic range, she lost 12 pounds, and she experienced a profound sense of peace and well-being.
What are some common challenges your clients face, and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?
The most common challenge my clients encounter is managing their time effectively for self-care. Once I assist them in redefining their priorities, there’s a noticeable shift in their perspective. From that point, our sessions on cultivating healthy habits proceed with significantly less resistance and great satisfaction.
How do you integrate the Life Purpose Process from the Life Purpose Institute into your coaching sessions?
As an acupuncturist, my role primarily involved advising clients on better health habits, acting more as a consultant. While this approach was effective, I find that with the Life Purpose Institute (LPI) emphasis on asking powerful questions, clients are able to develop their own solutions, which is significantly more meaningful for them. Additionally, the solutions they devise are often more innovative and effective than what I might have suggested. This approach is incredibly rewarding.
What do you enjoy most about being a wellness coach, and what keeps you motivated?
I love guiding my clients from their current state to where they aspire to be. It's incredibly gratifying to witness those 'aha' moments when insights emerge and perceptions shift, evident in their body language, facial expressions, and comments. This transformative work is not only powerful but also enjoyable. I am continually inspired by my clients' dedication to their growth and wellness, and I learn a great deal from their unique ideas and solutions. This work is so fulfilling that I would continue doing it even if I had all the money in the world.
What personal values do you bring to your coaching practice, and how do they influence your work with clients?
Care. I genuinely care about people and am deeply committed to my clients. I hold a vision for their fullest potential and find joy in guiding them on a journey to well-being by helping them change their thoughts and perceptions to improve their outlook on life. My dedication extends beyond initial guidance; I am truly invested in ensuring they achieve lasting results. I also make it clear that I am available to support them through coaching in other areas of their life, fostering a continuous path to holistic growth and wellness.
