Seeing medicine with a new perspective, I was compelled to pursue a more holistic and alternative education. While I explored my options, I had a good opportunity fall into my lap and started working as a contracted vocational counselor for the WA State Department of Labor and Industries. In this capacity I assisted injured workers with return to work planning and retraining. I completed coursework and testing to become a Certified Disability Management Specialist.

 

Soon thereafter, with my dream of moving into the healing field still alive, I applied and was accepted to the Naturopathic Medicine program at Bastyr University. But, life (and love) swept me in another direction, and I instead found myself buying my first home, rescuing my first dog, (breaking off an engagement), and settling into a fun and free lifestyle as a young adult in a vibrant college town. 

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I ultimately worked in the vocational rehabilitation industry for almost 20 years and have been trying to find my way back to my heart's true calling ever since. Once I met the man I knew I wanted to start a family with, we were soon married and had a baby on the way, our sweet daughter, Sierra (her brother, Aksel, came along four years later). As we prepared to bring a newborn into our lives it became clear that a 5-year naturopathy degree wasn't in my immediate future. Instead, I pivoted within the rehabilitation firm I worked for and studied to become a certified ergonomics specialist, which was much more in sync with my natural interests and abilities. I stepped into a leadership role and helped build both the ergonomics and assistive technology divisions, which was challenging and rewarding. I enjoyed helping people prevent injuries versus working with them post-injury, and it was a bit of a bridge to the yoga I'd fallen in love with in my mid-20s (I became a certified Bikram Yoga instructor in 2009 and now practice many styles).

 

The firm landed the national ergonomics contract at Microsoft and I was able to join that team, where I provided evaluations on campus and remotely to employees across the United States. I worked in this capacity for over 7 years, also consulting for numerous other employers throughout the Puget Sound, including Boeing, Providence Medical Centers, and King County. I started my own ergonomics company in 2019 as I saw a need for a quality equipment provider in the region, and consulted and/or provided equipment for clients that included WA Department of Labor and Industries and Amazon. These were cush gigs -- frankly, I earned a good full-time salary with part-time hours, on my schedule, and most often from home. But I always felt I didn't belong and needed to get out before it was too late. I didn't want to be in the rat race or continue to support the soul-crushing corporate culture (although I didn't know nearly the breadth of it at the time). My heart was never fully in it.

Thankfully I listened to my internal voice and left the ergonomics firm, and Microsoft, in mid-2019. What a blessing to not have been there when the lockdowns occurred. All of the in-person ergonomics work I'd been doing for corporate employers immediately dried up. As I slowly began to understand what was really happening in the world, it became clear that it was time to step into the work I'd been dreaming about, and studying incessantly, for most of my life.  

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Over the past several years, I've obtained certifications as a Functional Nutrition Counselor and Quantum Coach. I recently received training in Phlebotomy and IV Therapy and am taking an Expert Master Seminar in Oxidative Health through the Kalcker Institute. I'm currently learning the BodyTalk System and next on the list is Block Therapy certification. I'm highly self-taught and have been deeply researching autism for the last decade, among other topics. Helping children on the spectrum has been a goal for many years.

Along the way I've been on my own healing journey. I've moved through an eating disorder I developed in high school and struggled with for 15 years. I've grieved my father's passing and have learned (and am learning) from and overcome a variety of addictive habits. Yoga/mindfulness and music have been lifechanging and integral. It's a continuous process and the healing never really stops....  or does it? I'd like to think so. 

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First and foremost, I've come to understand the importance of physical, emotional, and spiritual health as they are closely entwined and all worthy of focus. Going through a deep physical healing is a prerequisite to emotional and spiritual healing, and vice-versa. Physical healing has been of great interest for decades and emotional/spiritual vitality, which I used to view as "woo-woo", are now equally prioritized.

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I'm also a musician and writer and have recently launched the following creative project:  https://aethersreach.substack.com/. Continuing to be creative ensures the progression of healing.

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I am grateful to have crossed paths and am here to support! We are all children of the God, finding each other for synergistic expansion during this lifetime.

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               Mikkel 

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