Meet Joia Clifford | Holistic Nutritionist & Hormone Health Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joia Clifford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I tried living a risk-averse life, and I soon discovered it wasn’t for me. I got my bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering mainly because I knew that it would afford me job security, but not far into my first real job I realized that it was not my long-term path. My freedom and passion was not a fair trade for a steady paycheck and two weeks of vacation. Though it took time, I learned to lean into the uneasy feeling of taking risks. I let myself admit that I wanted a totally different career and life path. I allowed myself to reignite my passion for nutrition, health and wellness. I wanted my work to light me up. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives while having freedom and agency over my own. The fear of completely changing my life path revealed itself as excitement in time. Once I let go of the idea of security and embraced the uncertainty, my life completely transformed. I started my health coaching and nutrition business, moved from Boston to San Diego, left my job and started my master’s degree all in a matter of months. My sister gave me a piece of advice that I think of often: making a decision out of fear is never the right decision. When I need to make a decision now, I ask myself, which option is rooted in fear and lack, and which is rooted in excitement and possibility?

What should our readers know about your business?
I primarily help women struggling with hormone-related health issues such as PMS, PCOS, low energy, suboptimal thyroid function, hormonal breakouts, post-birth control syndrome, painful, missing or irregular periods, or women wanting to boost fertility and reach optimal health before conceiving. My holistic signature process gets to the root cause of the issue and nurtures the whole body instead of slapping a bandaid on the symptoms presenting on the surface. Nutrition is a big piece of the puzzle, but we also focus on stress and the HPA axis, circadian rhythm, gut health, sleep, environmental exposures, mindset, routine and so much more – all of which are upstream influences on the hormone imbalances they are experiencing. My method connects mind-body medicine, my clinical nutrition experience, and coaching techniques that overcome barriers to change and create sustainable habits. My program is more comprehensive than any other method I have seen in this space, which sets me apart and gets real results. I offer 1:1 services and am launching a new 12-week group program in January 2022.

I am so passionate because I was in the same position as my clients only a few years ago. My original draw towards this subject matter was a desire to heal myself, which has blossomed into a career of helping women do the same. Business wise, I am still very much at the beginning and there is so much more I want to achieve, but I’m extremely happy with where I am now – helping even just one person brings so much fulfillment that it’s hard not to be. I am confident in my ability to help people, which makes overcoming business challenges much easier. I focus on the client and showing up for them in the best way possible, and success follows.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Second Nature PB for brunch, Pali Wine Co. in Little Italy for tasty small plates and good wine, Java Earth and Palmy’s for good coffee and a nice work spot, and Swami’s in Encinitas for the best acai bowl. Nothing beats the view from the trails at Torrey Pines, a beach day at Black’s, or swimming with seals and leopard sharks in La Jolla Cove.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my boyfriend Colby for his endless love and support and for believing in me always, and taking the leap with me in so many ways including picking up our life to move across the country. I’d like to thank my clients for giving me purpose, and for all of the amazing people I have met in the nutrition and wellness space that have shown me what is possible. Some of my favorite books that have influenced my career are The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty, You are a Badass by Jen Sincero, and Quantum Success by Christy Whitman.

Website: www.joiahealth.co

Instagram: joia.health

Other: email: hello@joiahealth.co

Image Credits
Colby Mattheson (IG @colbymattheson)