MEET KALIN JOHNSON,
PHARM D
(She/Her/Hers)
MY STORY
My personal experience with mental health and chronic illness gave me the push (nay, kick in the ass) to create a private practice.
Although I appeared healthy, athletic and was successful in my high stress career, I secretly struggled with a growing number of physical symptoms. Things like extreme fatigue, dizziness, brain-fog, gastrointestinal disturbances, muscle spasms, and tremors. Mentally, I just didn’t feel like myself. Physically, I felt I had lost control of my body.
After months of extreme insomnia, I was crushingly soul tired and finally mustered up the courage to ask for help (because you know, I WAS TOUGH and SMART, so I could totally fix myself, right? WRONG).
When I reached out for help, I had to practically knock down doors to be heard and taken seriously, even has a healthcare professional. My ability to live my own life, both personally and professionally, was almost impossible and I found little support and understanding.
For two years I proceeded seeing specialist after specialist, having my symptoms misunderstood, misaligned, and misdiagnosed.
I spent hours on the Internet and the phone trying to find support from physicians and therapists that were covered by my insurance, only to find they weren’t taking new patients or they weren’t the best provider for my needs.
The energy I was pouring into navigating a fragmented system left little energy to exist, let alone focus on healing.
THE TURNING POINT
What I didn’t realize was that a lifetime of masking undiagnosed ADHD, autistic traits, and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome symptoms, & years of suppressing PTSD created a symptom tornado from hell that caused mass confusion for my care team, and myself.
I was eventually able to get the diagnosis and treatment that I needed and identify the things in my life that I needed to care for and change.
But I had to be incredibly vulnerable and gutsy to speak up when I knew the treatment I was receiving wasn’t correct. And believe me, there were so many times I wanted to give up, crushed by not being truly heard.
That’s when I realized: I’m someone who navigates medications, inter-professional communication, and advocacy for a living. How could anyone who doesn’t know the system or is uncomfortable asking for help be successful in getting the support they need?
So much of my negative experience in establishing a care team and an effective care plan could have been avoided.
If I would have had someone to help me advocate for my health and optimize my life balance, I could have focused my energy towards healing, knowing I was getting appropriate care.
*Insert light bulb moment.*
HEARTACHE INTO ACTION
I quickly realized that there were others like me; neurodivergent high-achievers who were suffering and exhausted. But this time, I knew I had the education, expertise and confidence to do something about it.
Today, I am determined to walk with those on their health and wellbeing journey, utilizing my education and experience to care for the whole person.
I know how difficult and isolating it is to advocate for your health. You are already struggling so much, your healthcare treatment shouldn’t ask for extreme resilience just to get the support you need.
I’m happy to report that I have figured out how to feel great, and live a life that aligns with my values, my needs, and my boundaries. I’m at home in my body and can be present for my family and myself.
Of course, the journey never ends and there are still good days and bad days. But the bad days are much less dark, and the good days are so bright. I’m in love with my life and am feeling healthy and peaceful.
And I want the same thing for my clients.
LET’S GET PERSONAL
I like to describe myself as a sequined soul. I’m a 5’11’’ ex competitive dancer, volleyball player, and collegiate rower who wears as much glitter and neon colors as I can get my giant hands on. I was never going to blend in with this physical body or mind, so why try?
I am an extremely passionate person who does everything with a ferocious intensity. I am also very patient and hyper-empathetic to the inclusion of others. This can often be seen on wedding dance floors where I will pull as many people as possible to come bust a move with me ALL NIGHT.
I am internally competitive with low external competitiveness. This provides me the discipline and determination to put my *balanced* everything (this girl still must rest) into helping you succeed.
I’m a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. My wife, Marnie, and I have been together since 2009 and were married in December of 2019. We have a two-year-old Cavachon named Yoshi whose love for his Mom’s is equal to our obsession for him.
We live in the Midwest where we both grew up. We both come from families with 3 girls, Marnie the youngest and myself the oldest. Marnie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in early 2019 and utilizes her experience with this auto-immune disease to relate to her clients as a personal trainer.
In pre-COVID times, we loved to travel. Frequent trips to NYC for Broadway shows, Disney Parks & cruises, and international travels (France is our favorite…Bonjour!) were commonplace. Experiencing the discomfort and resourcefulness that being a traveler of the world takes is so valuable! Plus, the people watching at airports is *chef’s kiss.*
Nowadays, you are likely to find me snuggling in a pillow and blanket fort with a warm bowl of curry watching RuPaul’s Drag Race or The Great British Braking show. I’m also an avid reader, weightlifter and enjoy frequent dance parties in our disco-lit home gym or researching new Tiki bars to visit with my wife.
