about Cindy
Coach Cindy (aka Dr. P) has been an active general and bariatric surgeon for more than two decades. Her favorite reward from this work has been witnessing patients who really “got it” and were empowered to make amazing positive changes in their lives.
Although she loves interacting with her patients and performing robotic surgeries, in recent years she found herself in deep “burnout.”
Within her professional realm, she felt profoundly alone as well as mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted at the end of every single day. She found it more and more difficult to suppress the frustration and ignore the vague pervasive sense of dissatisfaction.
This years’ long journey of clawing her way out of burnout eventually led, inexplicably and serendipitously, to Polyvagal Theory and subsequently The Somatic School. She felt the certainty in her body that this was exactly what she needed - to reconnect her own body mind and spirit while honoring her core values: Integrity, Insight, and Service.
Her whole body Presence and compassion create the safe space for others to access their own internal light. “This is my greatest joy - witnessing that light and supporting truly aligned health in others.”
The ORIGINAL coaching business name “When All Else Fails…(listen to the patient)” harkens back to her medical school days. It was a tongue-in-cheek sarcastic comment about the over-reliance of the modern medical profession on tests and imaging. It was intended to draw attention back to the place where the real answers lie . . . to the patient.
Many of us are similarly guilty of looking everywhere outside of ourselves for wisdom, guidance, and answers. But the real truth lies within. So …
“When all else fails, … listen Inward.” Let’s use our BODY AS GUIDE!
Before the somatic coaching, I didn’t fully understand how closely my stress levels were tied to my weight and overall well‑being. I always assumed I just needed more willpower, a stricter plan, or a better routine. What I learned instead was eye‑opening: my body wasn’t working against me—stress was.
This coaching helped me understand the science behind stress hormones, emotional eating, and why traditional dieting and stress relief never addressed the real issue. The strategies I learned were practical, compassionate, and actually doable in my busy life. For the first time, I felt supported instead of judged. - DF
coaching certifications AND QUALIFICATIONS