An interview with Barbara Marquardt, Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP) on January 25, 2024 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
Barbara Marquardt, M.Ed., MCHES, WCP, CBT, RYT is the Founder of the Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP). The focus of this program is to educate people on the importance of holistic health practices, and how it improves lives with Parkinson’s. The Holistic Individual Parkinson Program will enlighten and enliven people to understand they can take control of their health, even with a Parkinson diagnosis. Just as other conditions can be improved, so can Parkinson’s with the right tools. I have worked diligently as an educator and advocate, leading and teaching others to enhance wellbeing with Parkinson’s.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Education, in Community Health Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Studies, in Policy and Program Development. My graduate program focused on successful aging, and I was among the first class of Master Certified Health Education Specialists, (MCHES), nationally certified by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC).
In 2015, I was certified in Wellness in Clinical Practice, (WCP) by the National Wellness Institute, and I continued my education with the Fundamentals of Lifestyle Coaching, through Wellcoaches School of Coaching, and the Progressive Practitioner Coaching Program, a Functional Medicine Coaching Program.
I consulted for a digital health company supporting product and marketing teams by creating health education content. Additionally, I worked in a nonprofit in Health Promotion, and as a Grants and Strategic Relations Manager.
Can you tell me more about your organization?
The Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP) is a personalized Parkinson health and lifestyle coaching program, where I work alongside people in partnership in developing an individualized plan to achieve greater wellness with Parkinson’s.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My mission is educating and encouraging healthy, holistic living to help people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Holistic health has always been a passion of mine. Early on in life I found Dr. Andrew Weil as a fascinating pioneer in holistic healthcare.
Not long after my dad retired, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and subsequently with Diffuse Lewy Body Disease as well. It took our family a while to get his specific diagnosis right. We must have taken my dad to a dozen neurologists, surgeons, and specialists in the traditional healthcare system. This was several years before the field of Functional Medicine was formed. I was going to be the daughter to heal my dad of his culmination of symptoms that we call Parkinson’s.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
The primary goal is to take control of Parkinson’s in a HOLISTIC and INDIVIDUAL way. We are putting the power back into the hands of the individual with Parkinson’s, in order to make a meaningful impact in their life.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
Coaching sessions are offered as an Initial 60 Minute session, and follow-up sessions are 30 Minutes. I do offer a One-Time 90 Minute coaching session as well. Sessions are conducted via private Zoom video or conference call.
What effect can it have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP) coaching sessions will help achieve greater wellness with Parkinson’s coming from a holistic approach addressing life physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially and environmentally. The Parkinson coaching sessions will be dedicated to assessing current wellness, and creating individualized plans tailoring to a person’s unique needs and goals. We will connect the health issues surrounding a Parkinson diagnosis, and discuss evidence-based modalities to help transform their life for the better.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your programs?
A future goal for the Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP) is to educate other coaches to work with the Parkinson community.
What events do you participate in?
In terms of volunteering, I am the current volunteer Editor and past Board Member of a Parkinson newsletter, in addition to volunteering previously for the National Parkinson Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, InMotion, and local Parkinson’s Support Groups.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
During Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP) Coaching Sessions, caregivers, family members, and friends are also able to participate in Zoom sessions and calls.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
My website is: www.pdhipp.com
I can also be found online: Instagram: @marquardthipp
Facebook: Holistic Individual Parkinson Program
YouTube: @marquardthipp (videos coming soon)
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
Find your passion surrounding Parkinson’s and involve your local community, and over time your local community will become your global community!
Are you a published author?
Yes. Good.Grief.10 Ways to Heal with Love and Kindness
Good. Grief. 10 Ways to Heal with Love and Kindness is about my loss of my Father from Parkinson’s, and ultimately in the end to lung cancer. This book depicts my personal ten-step journey healing from the loss of a loved one. I share my father’s wisdom, along with my own as I inspire people on their healing journey. This book will help people take the first step in life after loss, and is supported by wonderful, uplifting, and thought-provoking quotes by some of our world’s greatest teachers.
In your opinion what is the key to effective advocacy?
In my opinion, the key to effective advocacy is starting locally with great persistence.
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
We can better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s by fundraising to address the root-causes of Parkinson’s.
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
The activities that I personally undertake to help improve and support my daily living includes a long list; however, my nonnegotiable are eating whole, organic foods; drinking purified water; getting out in sunshine; strength training; yoga; meditation; use of a PEMF mat; supplements; and social connections, especially with family members.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
The number of people with Parkinson’s are greatly under reported. I believe that we cannot say what people should or should not care about; however, it just boils down to being a good human.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
Yes, my Parkinson journey is personal. As I mentioned earlier, not long after my dad retired, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and subsequently with Diffuse Lewy Body Disease as well. It took our family a while to get his specific diagnosis right. We must have taken my dad to a dozen neurologists, surgeons, and specialists in the traditional healthcare system. This was several years before the field of Functional Medicine was formed. I was going to be the daughter to heal my dad of his culmination of symptoms that we call Parkinson’s.
My Dad was willing to see all the specialists and try different pharmaceuticals that were touted as the “gold standard” in traditional Parkinson care. However, he became weaker and suffered unrelenting nausea until we minimized his medication. We knew we had to try other avenues to help create a better quality of life. We started focusing on holistic health and lifestyle. We hired a personal trainer for my dad at our local community center and we saw wonderful results in his moving and walking. He also said that he felt stronger. Additionally, he went to acupuncture, and we saw wonderful results with that as well, especially for his nausea from his Parkinson medication.
A few years later his symptoms progressed, and he was told he was not a candidate for deep brain stimulation. However, I am so grateful today there are so many more holistic treatment options available which garner greater success in helping to reverse Parkinson symptoms.
At the end, my dad was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and lung cancer. After my dad passed, I knew I could not stop helping people with Parkinson’s, and I know this is part of my calling in life. I have so much care and knowledge I need to continue to share, and so much to help educate people through my personal journey with my dad and Parkinson’s.
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
“People do reverse their Parkinson’s symptoms; we are living in a new age in the way we think about Parkinson’s… Positive transformation is possible.”
~Barbara Marquardt, Founder
Holistic Individual Parkinson Program, (HIPP)
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life which song would it be?
I think one song would be difficult to say, but when I think of my life with my dad it would be Josh Groban with Charlotte Church, “The Prayer.”