Master the Practice of Life Story Medicine™
Our life stories are full of plot twists — some we welcome and some we wish had never arrived. But you have the power to heal what they mean for you when you practice Life Story Medicine.™
Hi, I'm Dr. Suzie Carmack
Creator, Life Story Medicine
I have been blessed to play many roles in my life (as a wife, mother, and grandmother) and in my work (as a performing artist, professor, yoga teacher trainer, author, leadership coach and communication scientist). And what I have learned from the performance of all of those roles is that every one of us can heal from any of life’s plot twists when we know how to co-create meaning in our life story.
That is what I call Life Story Medicine,™ and I would love to share it with you. This framework is inspired by my graduate training in the fields of health communication (PhD); theatre (MFA); and kinesiology (MED) as well as professional certification in leadership coaching (PCC), health coaching (NBC-HWC) and yoga therapy (C-IAYT and ERYT 500). The framework has also evolved over time, based on my work with 1000’s of coaching clients, my peer-reviewed research in coaching practice, and my own very real life story.
That’s why I’m so excited to share this framework with you, so you can apply it in your own life and in your work with clients. Because when you know how to make sense of your story when life hands you a plot twist, you’ll enjoy a greater sense of well-being and quality of life — and expand your capacity as a healing force for change in the world.
Meet Life Story Medicine™
Become a Healing Force for Change
Dr. Suzie Carmack
Dr. Suzie Carmack is the Creator of Life Story Medicine, a framework based on her doctoral research which discovered that an individual’s ability to make sense of their life story and to feel seen and supported in how they share it predicts their quality of life and well-being (Carmack, 2014). This framework is inspired by her own compelling life story as well as her 30-year career as a performer (telling stories on stages as a dancer, actress, choreographer and director); coach (empowering clients to heal how they communicate with themselves, others and the world); and scholar (researching the impact of communication on well-being). Her formal training includes a PhD in health communication science; an MFA in theatre (MFA); an MED in kinesiology as well as professional certifications in leadership coaching (PCC), health coaching (NBC-HWC) and yoga therapy (C-IAYT and ERYT 500). She is the best-selling author of Well-Being Ultimatum, Genius Breaks, Yoga for One, Chakras of Business, and Life Story Medicine (to be released in December 2026).
Now retired from her 33-year career as a professor in higher education, Dr. Carmack shares her Life Story Medicine framework with coaches, leaders, teams, organizations and government agencies through her company, YogaMedCo. She also continues to enjoy co-creating theatre as a performing artist, researching the impact of communication on well-being as a Senior Scholar with the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University, and spending time with her husband, adult children and grandchildren. For media, speaking and consulting inquiries please contact Dr. Carmack’s team.
Books & Creations
Research & Career Highlights
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention · 2016 Physician Burnout: A U.S. Public Health Crisis in Need of a Socio-Ecological Solution
Embracing Complexity in Health, Springer · 2019 Life Course in HEARTS: Telehealth, Resilience and Mindfulness in Older Adults
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2021 Competencies for Group Health and Wellness Coaching
BMC Health Services Research · 2024 A Coaching Program for Physician-Scientist Well-Being
Academic Pediatrics · 2024 Evaluating the CDC and NBHWC Group Coaching Certificate Program
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · 2026 Psychosocial Predictors of Behavior Change
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention Life Course in HEARTS: Telehealth, Resilience and Mindfulness in Older Adults
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Degrees, Certifications & Appointments
Master the Practice of Life Story Medicine.
For coaches, healers and change agents who are ready to become communication mystics — using the art of story-telling and the science of communication as healing tools in their life and work.
You communicate with yourself and your clients every day. But you were never taught how to turn the art of story-telling and the science of communication into healing tools — until now. On Day One you learn to practise Life Story Medicine™ in your own life: finding the scripts you inherited and never chose, stepping into the lead role in the daily scenes of your work and life, and accelerating your own life story healing in a sacred space of support. On Day Two you learn strategies for sharing Life Story Medicine™ with your clients at work and with your loved ones in your life. By the end of this two-day, life-changing online workshop you too will be a practitioner of life story medicine: someone who can heal their life story and become a healing presence for change in their community and world.
Trusted Globally by Coaches, Leaders, Healers, Teams, Organizations and Government Agencies
“Suzie has the greatest understanding of the totality of mind-body practice that I have ever seen in one human being — and she can transmit that understanding to others in a way that touches them deeply. One of the greatest teachers I have ever known.”
“I sincerely recommend Dr. Suzie Carmack as a visionary scholar and practitioner. She combines rigorous research and innovative communication to develop evidence-based interventions.”
“Suzie is the consummate professional. She has worked many times with our Fairfax County Public Schools theatre teachers delivering relaxation workshops, and has always delivered an awesome session.”
“I simply cannot thank her enough for the incredible value, passion, and insight that she gave. She honored us by her kindness and her steadfast commitment to real value that has resulted in direct impact on people’s lives, including mine.”
“Suzie is amazing and I miss her so much. I strongly recommend her as a trainer and life coach.”
“Suzie is fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed her method of coaching — one that boosts confidence, allows for positive, incremental changes and gets results. I HIGHLY recommend her.”
“In just one session, she helped me identify my target market, craft a purpose statement, and articulate my elevator pitch in a way that finally clicked. She doesn’t just teach — she shows up for her graduates long after certification.”
“Her YogaMedCo training program enabled me to grow not only in my professional skills but also in my own personal development. Her approach to show up for her trainees is inspiring and life changing.”
“Learning from Suzie has not only strengthened my practice, but also deepened my understanding and appreciation of yoga as a holistic path to health, creativity and well-being. I recommend her without hesitation to anyone seeking a teacher who embodies both excellence and authenticity.”
“Suzie was the trainer for the bulk of my RYT work, and she did an amazing job. She knows the science behind everything we do on a yoga mat. I’d enthusiastically recommend her as a teacher or trainer for anything mind/body-related.”
“I wholeheartedly support Suzie as a lifestyle guide, teacher, trainer and mentor. The enthusiasm and compassion she shares with her clients is truly remarkable — she is undoubtedly one of the best.”
“I went to Suzie when physician-recommended exercises weren’t helping my knee. In our first session she identified something in my alignment I needed to know, and took time to understand what I really wanted. She has expert knowledge of the physical and emotional sides of people.”
A Healing Community for Coaches, Leaders & Healers
If you are the one everyone looks to — the healer, the coach, the leader who spends your days holding it together for everyone who is counting on you — you deserve a place you can go to receive the support you need, so you can show up fully for your people and your community. My YogaMedCo studio features live weekly master classes on Monday nights, monthly online retreats on Saturday mornings, and a library of somatic (mind-body) healing practices that range from chair yoga, to restorative practices to reflection journals to strategy planning. It is your sacred space to be supported and seen, where you get to receive healing presence, restore your energy balance, and reconnect with your inner wisdom.
