Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Sciarini.
Hi Crystal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was chronically ill for more than a decade. Doctors kept telling me it was “ in my head” or to lose weight”. Or worst of all “the pain can’t be that bad, because there’s nothing wrong with you.”
I knew something was wrong. I was young and yet barely able to function many days due to pain.
One day I was complaining to a friend while in line at Starbucks. The lady in front of us turned and said, “You need to se a Naturopathic doctor they will get to the root of what is happening.” I thanked her while secretly not knowing what she was talking about.
When I got home that evening I hopped on Google to figure out what she was talking about. When I read about Naturopathic medicine I knew this was not only the answer for myself but what I wanted to do with my life. I had always been interested in natural remedies and already understood the importance of nutrition and sleep, finding wellness for myself and others through Naturopathic medicine sounded amazing!
Problem was, I had no college degree. So I sat down and drew out a ten year plan that I presented to my husband that night. Undergrad in Nutrition, get accepted to med school, move to Illinois, and in 10 years at the age of 45 I would be a Naturopathic Doctor.
He agreed. Frankly, he probably thought I would never follow through so he was just indulging me.
As I took undergrad classes I began to study anything I could find on the internet about natural remedies and among them I found the answer for myself. By the time I entered med school I was about 75% healhier than I had been as an adult. My student doctors on campus helped me find the final pieces to my wellness.
After graduation I started a private practice in Florida that specialized in gastrointestinal issues. A tenant of Naturopathic medicine is the we “treat the whole person “. However, as I was practicing in Florida I realized that I was missing a huge component that I needed, mental health.
So I went back to school and got two masters in mental health counseling, one with a focus on military resilience. During that time my father was ill and my family moved to Texas to be near my parents.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No! Divorce, deaths of 5 family and friends while in med school. My sons house burned down. Hurricane damaged our house and my parents house.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about MENTIVO Wellness?
I think of Naturopathic doctors as “health detectives” we search until we find the root cause of the dis-ease in the body. When an individual submits their intake paperwork I read every page and take notes. I am hunting for clues and associated symptoms that will direct me to a solution. Then together with the client I discuss my suspicions, clarify any questions, and if needed order laboratory testing to confirm or rule out some pathology.
The treatment plan is collaborative too. As I understand that changing your entire lifestyle is not always an option, budgets are a concern, or someone isn’t able to commit to a tincture regiment.
I love what I do. It is a privilege to help people find hope and wellness whether they see me for Naturopathic medicine or mental health counseling. Finding people wellness is my passion.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My parents were not spontaneous people. However, one evening we had just left church and grabbed some ice cream. As we were eating it my dad saw a spotlight waving around and said let’s hop in the car and see what is happening at the source of the light. So we did! We were laughing and speculating what we would find. We were almost to the light when it turned off! We still managed to find the source, it was a car dealership. But that evening was fun!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MENTIVOWellness.com
