hi, i’m april, your retreat guide. i am certified as a holistic life coach, a wellness coach, a mindful eating coach, and a food psychology coach. i also have bachelor’s degrees in both business and psychology, and a master’s degree in mental health counseling.
i’ve been in the counseling/coaching field for 25+ years, starting my own business (essence7 wellness) in 2011. i’ve mentored adult women, as well as adolescent girls, with a variety of eating issues. i’ve counseled kids with chemical dependencies. i’ve helped clients navigate their way through devastating grief & loss. i’ve worked with people struggling with various types and levels of depression. more recently i’ve coached women of all ages who are serious about living out their dreams (and seeking their essence in the process).
what all of my clients have had in common is the courage and inspiration to take bigger leaps than they’d ever thought possible. and it’s been my pleasure and privilege to be present for their amazing revelations.
in the fall of 2016, i pushed myself way out of my own comfort zone and relocated from the u.s. to an italian villa in tuscany. the villa was my primary residence for four years, as i became an italian citizen and adjusted to a new culture and lifestyle. it still serves as the destination location for my in-person retreat-no-more experiences. the entire adventure has been a dream come true for me in many ways.
as many know, villa magnolia is a work-in-progress. it is also a masterpiece, as its original beauty and character is continually coaxed to shine through. and its reawakening has become an apt metaphor for THE ARRIVAL.
because even in its haven’t-quite-arrived state, villa magnolia’s majesty and magnificence shine through. and that seems rather fitting to me. we are all works-in-progress, just one step away from our own majesty and magnificence. with time, attention, and energy, we can allow our own brilliance to illuminate us. we can realize the masterpiece.
