About

Coaching Approach

• Sharon helps her clients address stress, nutrition and lifestyle factors as they specifically impact vision and health.
• She teaches experiential self-care practices to facilitate awareness, build skills, promote relaxation, comfort, vision and health. 
• Sharon uses deep listening and gentle coaching; she provides education and resources.
• Her support helps people discover their own answers as they take steps toward their own meaningful goals. 

Sharon’s Story

“I began my career as a fine artist. ‘Learning to see’ the art in painting and the art in life while working and studying at the Barnes Foundation serendipitously led me to “teaching others to see” as a vision therapist and natural vision educator. I was attracted to yoga because it reminded me of dance, which is a form of art, and also because yoga is a philosophy or “way of seeing”. For many years I explored the interconnectedness of art, yoga and vision to each other and to life. All along all I’ve wanted is harmony. That yearning led me to explore the healing arts and also to recognize the therapeutic value of my painting practice. I realized that all meaningful activity is therapeutic – which led me to the work of occupational therapy. 

After approximately two decades helping others, I suddenly became my own patient. In a period of five years, I experienced two bone fractures, daily nausea, and unintentional weight loss. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, high cholesterol and gastritis. An allergic reaction to omeprazole coincided with my true desire to heal naturally. Through awareness, nutrition and lifestyle changes, I lowered my cholesterol, gained strength, and my stomach felt better. A few years later, my food sensitivities and gut symptoms returned. At this point I was diagnosed with leaky gut, dysbiosis and high levels of systemic mycotoxins. Feeling worse each day, I knew I had to reduce my stress levels and bring my body and life into balance. I set an intention to put my health first. I listened to my body, trusted the discovery process, and persevered. After a series of lifestyle changes, including a deep dive into my artwork, I feel healthy again.”

Philosophy

“I believe we all have gifts. Our gifts arise from our strengths and challenges. These gifts are interconnected with our health, life purpose, and well being. My vision has been a strength while my health has been a challenge; together these form the basis of my life work.”

• Health is holistic harmony.
• Vision is dynamic.
• Self-care is medicine.
• Awareness transforms.
• Art is Healing.

Credentials

Sharon Hicks is a Board Certified Occupational Therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art and a Master of Science from Philadelphia University. Sharon entered the health field as a vision therapist in 1994, and went on to teach yoga and natural vision practices in 2001. Having worked and learned under several different optometrists, her training and experience include developmental, neurological, and low vision specialties as well as the Bates Method, Kaplan EyeCode and color light therapy. As an outpatient occupational therapist, during a more recent twelve-year period, she specialized in sensory integration, neuro-visual and concussion rehab, LSVT BIG and Yoga for people with Parkinson’s disease. Ms. Hicks leads an ongoing IRB approved research study investigating the effects of yoga and other activities on people living with Parkinson’s disease. She is certified as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with Gut Health and Hormone Health specialties via the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Health. Other certifications that inform Sharon’s natural holistic approach include Thai Yoga Bodywork, Reiki, Zero Balancing and Aromatherapy. 

Sharon continues her art making practice at her studio in Norristown, PA. She works in acrylic on canvas, fiber and mixed media. See her work here.