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Dr. Bronce Rice's avatar

@Sophie Francis - I just wanted to say thank you for this beautifully woven piece! 11 Wellness Writers' Turning Points isn’t just a roundup—but an amazing reminder of where we’ve come from and what we’ve lost in the name of modern “progress.”

You capture with clarity and care what so many of us in the mental health and wellness space have felt for years: the separation of mind and body was never natural. Thus, I'm glad your piece brings us full circle, showing how healing begins the moment we remember our mind, body, spirt wholeness if you will.

It was an honor to be included alongside so many courageous voices. Thank you for holding space for stories that matter and for helping bring the conversation back to where it belongs: with the person, not just the symptom.

With great appreciation,

Bronce

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for the kind words, Dr. Rice. It was truly an honor to have you included! You are so right; we need to shift the conversation back towards the person rather than the symptoms. The whole rather than the parts. 🤎

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Brittany Alperin, PhD's avatar

I love this array of stories. What a beautiful collaboration!

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Grace Barker's avatar

Sophie, thankful for this thoughtful piece. As always, your writing providing some excellent reminders in this constantly changing world that is only getting sicker by our lack of focus on the whole person. I appreciate you including my contribution. Here's to continuing to support people in living healthier lives together.

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for contributing 🤎

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Karina Baloleanu, CFNC's avatar

Sophie, this collaborative post you've put together is amazing! I've loved reading each story, and I truly feel honored to be among these great names in the health and wellness space. Thank you for this opportunity, for putting this out into the world, and for everything you're studying, sharing, and doing! You're going to do amazing things! You already are!

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for the kindest words, Karina! Lovely to learn and grow alongside wonderful people like you :)

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

Thank you, Sophie, for this beautiful collaboration. I am honored to be included🧡

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Sophie Francis's avatar

It was an honor to include you, Beth 🤎

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Caitlin McColl's avatar

I love the variety in all these stories! And happy to hear another person finds running helpful for their MH!

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you so much for contributing, Caitlin!

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Barbara Grace's avatar

Powerful stories. Strong reminders that mind and body together create wellness - whether emotional or physical.

While I work in the emotional world of relationships & trauma, particularly with families of young children, I see and hear the impact of poor sleep, overwhelming stress, inconsistent diets and lack of time to move their bodies and properly care for health and wellness.

The result? A dysfunctional family struggling to connect, and on the brink of breakdowns.

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Barbara. Everything truly is connected!

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Shannon Dubois, MS's avatar

I was honored to be included in such a diverse collection of stories and wisdom from so many health and wellness writers! We can all benefit from reading about others' experiences and what they have learned through their challenges. How wonderful to use those experiences to help and guide others 🩷

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for contributing, Shannon! You’re right- it’s so special to hear everyone’s unique stories!

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Ashley Gish's avatar

This was so fun to read! Love hearing everyone's stories. Thanks for putting it all together so beautifully Sophie!

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for contributing, Ashley 😌

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Jana Francis's avatar

LOVED IT!!

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Monica Dubay's avatar

So much to digest —I love your stuff and want to learn more. I’ve been in holistic health for 35 years and it’s served me well. No doctors or therapists- just real healing of the mind - body - energy field. You have such an important voice Sophie.

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you so much for the kind words, Monica! I truly appreciate it 🤎

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Sara Redondo, MD's avatar

This is a deeply powerful and necessary post Sophie. It’s an honor to be featured alongside such inspiring voices in health and wellness. Grateful to contribute to this powerful conversation on functional mental health and share what’s been a turning point in my own journey.

You’ve captured something many of us feel: that our current model of mental health care has become so fragmented, so reductionist, that we now need to add qualifiers like “functional” or “integrative” just to signal that we’re actually seeing the person as a whole.

Thank you for your voice, your perspective, and your courage in reframing what mental health can truly mean.

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Sophie Francis's avatar

I so appreciate your kind words, Sara 🤎 Glad you were able to contribute your unique story!

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Danni Macfarland's avatar

A great collaborative piece on the importance of the connection of body, mind and spirit. I enjoyed reading everyone’s contributions and always learn something new. Thank you Sophie for including me.

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Sophie Francis's avatar

Thank you for contributing, Danni!

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Dana OHara Smith's avatar

Love love love this!

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Jenny Brandemuehl's avatar

We need more stories like these. Thank for posting them. I’m in the middle of healing from my nervous system being stuck in fight or flight. It’s a real health condition that I’m being intensively treated at a chiropractic neurology clinic for. A big part of my treatment is therapy to release my unconscious beliefs to shift the habitual ways my body responds to stress. Yup - mind body connection is real.

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Christie Sausa, MS's avatar

It was wonderful to read so many perspectives from other health-and-wellness-minded folks. Thanks, Sophie, for including me!

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