LAUREN SIMKO
Health Coach & Herbalist
Being the Founder and Visionary of Areté Earth-Based Wellness has provided Lauren with the opportunity to serve in many capacities.
In addition to performing as the Medicine Maker/Formulator of the herbal apothecary, Lauren is a Traditional Western Herbalist, and works as a Health Coach.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition, and a Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree concentrating in Integrative Health. In addition, she is certified as an Integrative Health Coach. Lauren is also certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health and Fitness Specialist (ACSM-HFS), and through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
Lauren has been employed as a Health Coach for The Chester County Hospital near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and as an Exercise Physiologist for the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease at Jefferson Regional Medical Center located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
As a guest speaker at the 2010 annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA) held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lauren presented a lecture entitled, “The Integrative Health Coach: A New Advocate for Health Promotion.”
Lauren’s passion for plants, healing, and nature arose after several years of studying wellness, health and fitness. Despite her academic studies, Lauren felt that a vital link was absent from the “complete” picture--there had to be more to health than just exercise and nutrition. Upon studying the ancient healing tradition of botanical medicine, Lauren had found the piece that was missing.
"Our health is deeply connected to nature. Living in harmony with the natural rhythms of the Earth and reconnecting with our inner wisdom is the essence of living a fulfilling, authentic, and purposeful life. Our health is so much more than just the absence of disease."
- Lauren Simko