Wow! What a year it has been! It has been a huge pleasure to have shared 2024 with you through both Inner Workings and in my clinic. As we wrap up 2024, I thought it might be fun to have a quick year in review! In Wellness, Mary Virginia Inner Workings Newsletter All told I have written 31 newsletters (counting this one), and 21 of those were in 2024. My first article, titled Nourishing Mind, Body, and Spirit, dropped in July 2023. I take pride in these pieces in part because there’s no AI involved. My writing and research are all mine, and I truly enjoy it. In January 2024, we kicked off by learning how to Cultivate the Pause to improve your health. We discussed blood work, using food and lifestyle practices to boost mood, nutrition and genetics, the vagus nerve and stress resilience, protein, fats, and carbs, food and cooking safety, and much more. Make sure to go read them again! You’ll find new nuggets every time. The Inner Workings audience grew by at least a third, and our subscribers have tuned in from all over the place! We’ve seen logins from the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, France, Germany, and Greece! And guess how many times Inner Workings newsletters have been opened? 29,070! I love writing about what energizes me around integrative nutrition, and, gratefully, y’all seem to like it, too! Here are some of the nice comments you have sent. Thank you for all the amazing feedback! "This is so comprehensive!! Very clear. The way you frame it makes people feel less alone.” — Tracey W. “Love the latest. So reassuring and empowering…” — Christine C. “Loved your article and perspective of DE [disordered eating]. I found this to be a great introduction into a deeper conversion around health.” — Jessica C. “Your information is amazing. I read every newsletter thoroughly 😁.” — Ann I. “This is FANTASTIC! One of the most comprehensive descriptions of Polyvagal theory I’ve seen in one place. Bravo! Saving this to share...Great work.” — Rebecca S. Presentations I made several presentations in 2024 to a wide variety of groups, everything from Sunday school classes to other professionals to “ask me anything” events. One I particularly enjoyed was to One Lamb, a mental wellness ministry of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. "Thank you so much for the terrific presentation you gave yesterday!! I’ve already gotten feedback about how good it is to hear the information you gave being consistent with other trusted sources; you present with ease and warmth helping the audience feel comfortable with asking questions. I am so appreciative of you putting together such a well thought out talk where the audience could participate.” — Ann S. “Mary Virginia, thank you so much for your time and wisdom and enthusiasm and wonderful presentation this afternoon! Everyone was so engaged and your delivery was exceptional! I learned a lot and was also reminded of content from your visit to our Sunday School class. We are so lucky to get wonderful education from an expert like you who can instruct us on nutrition & wellness.” — Diane M. Professional Growth This year I deepened my knowledge through continuing education courses on migraine, depression, Parkinson’s Disease/Neuroinflammation, and ADHD, and reinforced my engagement in trauma-informed practices. A group of us mental health nutritionists met monthly to discuss best practices, and I enjoyed joining other nutrition experts across platforms to learn from them about autism, AuDHD, anxiety, the neuroimmune system and brain health, and other topics. I also earned a certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching to enhance my clients’ successes (I take the national board exam in March ’25). This builds on my long-held Master of Social Work degree, where I majored in Interpersonal Relations. Behavior change is often a key component to reaching your health goals. Coaching shines a light and clears the path so you can envision your health and wellness goals and utilize your most effective tools to achieve them. Coaching also allows me to bring my integrative nutrition expertise into every state in the country and around the world! Clinical Successes The real focus of all of my efforts, though, is directly working with my clients. These are profound relationships in which my clients are able to build toward their own best authentic health and rediscover physical, emotional, and psychological resilience. Each client is a unique individual, and it truly is a pleasure to design a healing plan that meets their singular needs. “I worked with a specialist who is an expert in the field [of this illness], and she could not do for me what you have.” — S.B. “Mary Virginia is exceptionally compassionate, understanding, and smart. She grasps the issue and I could not recommend a person more.” — Judy B. “This work is dramatically life changing...it has increased my sense of safety and trust in my body.” — Name withheld for privacy. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” — M.P. Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year! That last sentiment above is exactly how I feel about all of you! Thank you, thank you, thank you for joining me on this journey of exploration into how our bodies interact with food, nutrients, and lifestyle practices. It is endlessly interesting to me, and what a delight it is to share this information with you!
Get Ready — Inner Workings is kicking off January with an exciting multi-part series on ADHD you won’t want to miss!
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AuthorI am Mary Virginia Coffman (I go by “Mary Virginia”), a clinical nutritionist who focuses on mental health, digestive health, metabolic health, and nervous system regulation. My unique combination of clinical interventions, education, and coaching will help you feel well in body, mind, and spirit. Categories |