Dr. Marci Catallo-Madruga is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her professionalism and expertise.
She began her career in physical therapy, working with people navigating the fears and frustrations that come with injury and chronic pain. But over time, she grew disillusioned with a system that managed symptoms while ignoring the deeper causes. Driven by a desire to offer something more meaningful, she pursued health coaching, NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP), and hypnosis, building a holistic approach that treats the person, not just the problem.
She knows what it means to struggle. Growing up on welfare, watching her parents file for bankruptcy twice, and battling back pain from the age of three, she made a promise to herself: to create a life different from the one she came from and to show others they could too. That personal experience became the foundation of her work, allowing her to connect deeply with clients who feel overlooked, exhausted, and ready for change.
She now empowers clients to take back control of their health by teaching them to listen to their own intuition and create customized wellness plans. Her coaching is customized to each individual’s needs and uniqueness. Her clients don’t just follow instructions, they come off medications, rediscover energy, and build lives they actually want to live. Here is what she said…
Meet Life Coach Dr. Marci Catallo-Madruga:
Name: Marci Catallo-Madruga, Dr., PT, DPT, CFMP, CAdvHypnosis NLP
Pillar: The Mind, The Body
Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to gain clarity and optimize their health so they can be vital and strong even when they are 80 years old.
How they can help: By using various tools and techniques like assessments, DNA epigenetic testing, NLP and Hypnosis, just to name a few.
First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?
We are doing mostly well.
The kids (twin boys) are still making some adjustments and are not as outgoing as they were before.
My husband is still working from home most of the time.
And my business could still be better.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?
The pandemic created a lot of anxiety and uncertainty in people.
It’s not unlike the current political climate.
There was a sense of dread and fear.
They wanted some security and some sense of connectedness.
For me, it devastated my business.
It was certainly scary, but it also allowed me to focus on how to best support my family, to better budget, meal prep, and plan so that we could make it through with ease.
What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?
When the world crashes, you might too.
And that’s okay.
But always think critically.
Always look deeper.
Sheep are always going to be taken advantage of, and they will always be victims.
Those who choose to question, to be bold, they may face ridicule in the beginning, but they will have the value of peace of mind in the end.
The Origin:
Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?
I actually started my coaching career with my physical therapy practice.
I was helping people navigate the trials and fears post injury, and also chronic pain.
I decided to start digging deeper into the causes and found that, most often, people were symptom managed instead of cause managed.
It was frustrating, and I knew it needed to be different.
I started with a simple health coaching certification and moved from there into Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis, and so on.
What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?
I feel like I have been put where I was and where I am because it allows me to better understand and feel.
We grew up on welfare and food stamps.
We didn’t have enough to go around.
My parents filed for bankruptcy two times before I was 18.
It was a struggle.
And on top of that, I had back pain from age 3.
It seemed like there was just always a struggle.
And I made decisions based on experience to try and never be where I was growing up.
To show others that there was a way out.
That if they believed they could, it would happen.
The Coaching Style:
How do you innovate with coaching your clients?
I think that the biggest thing I do is try to get the client to come to their own solutions.
They know, intuitively, what they need.
They are just afraid to say it.
In part, because they have been told that it’s not real or that it’s all in their heads.
In part, because they are tired and frustrated and just want someone to see them.
What’s unique about your coaching approach?
I take clients with health challenges and teach them how to bring health first thinking forward.
I don’t use the traditional models, but I focus more on education and guidance on what the basics should look like, and then how to customize that.
And then, I ask them:
“How will this fit into your life?”
“How do you want your life to look?”
“How do you want your life to look in 20 years or 50 years?”
“What are you willing to do now so that you are able to do what you want at age 80?”
And I let them come to the plan.
What benefits do your clients get after working with you?
Most of my clients end up (DE)medicating.
They come off of things like cholesterol meds, blood pressure meds, Metformin, and some even their insulin.
I have had many come off thyroid meds, and meds for anxiety and depression.
They come away from my coaching with a better understanding of their specific biophysiological processes and what they need to do to be as healthy and vital as they can.
And then, they make choices they want to make to obtain that.
Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?
I use a platform called Practice Better to deliver video content and email content.
I also use group coaching twice per month and surveys to see where they are.
All of my annual membership clients also have DNA epigenetic testing done to find their blueprint.
The Impact:
If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?
You are different from everyone around you.
Stop making your health so hard.
Find your blueprint and follow it.
But if you don’t want to do that, remember the basics:
- Protein, 90 grams minimum, but most females need 120, and men 150.
- Real food that you make or cook, not from a package with ingredients you can’t pronounce.
- More water than anything else you drink.
- Move every day, even if it’s just getting your 30 minute brisk walk in.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?
It’s important to not get too big for your britches.
I see so many that have found their “spiritual awakening” or “enlightenment” or overcome a big health challenge and now think that their way is best.
But the truth is, we are all still individuals.
And what worked for you may not work for me.
It still has to be customized to the person making the decisions and then the sacrifices.
Your final thoughts?
Life was meant to be enjoyed, not endured.
If you aren’t finding joy in what you do, maybe look at where you want to be and who you have around you.
Do they want to be there?
Or do they just want to endure?
Where Can You Find Dr. Marci Catallo-Madruga?
If you liked this interview and if you would love to take back control over your life and optimize your health so that you can be vital and strong even when you are 80 years old, schedule a full 90 minute call and get Your Personalized Path to Optimal Health here.
If you want just to test the waters and see if you are a good fit to work with Dr. Marci, schedule your FREE 20 minute discovery call here.
And if you are absolutely unsure of what she can help you with specifically, take her short quiz and find out.
Feel free to check her website and learn more about her services.
If you want to peak a glimpse into her coaching, watch this video.
We strongly suggest to follow her YouTube channel and check her books.
You can also follow her Instagram account and X where she shares golden nuggest of value.
And if you’d like to connect with her more personally, you can do that through LinkedIn or by sending her a direct message on her Email drmarci@agilityphysio.com. It was an honor having this interview with her.