1:1 CIRS Initial Intake Appointment

For CIRS Recovery Resources + CIRS Advocate Training Members

You’ve been learning the why behind CIRS.
This is where we turn that knowledge into a personalized roadmap for your brain, body, and day-to-day life.

During this 60-minute Initial Intake, you’ll work with Heidi, a Shoemaker Proficiency Partner Diplomate with a Master’s in Psychology and advanced training in brain health and compliance psychology, to map out your unique CIRS picture and craft a step-by-step lifestyle plan you can actually follow.

This is not a generic “health coaching” call.
It’s a deep-dive, data-informed CIRS strategy session designed specifically for people already inside the CIRS Recovery Resources or CIRS Advocate Training programs who are ready for extra support, clarity, and structure.

Why the Initial Intake Matters

CIRS is complex. Most patients are:

• Overwhelmed by information

• Unsure what to do first

• Afraid of missing something crucial in their labs, brain health, or environment

Your Initial Intake is where we:

• Pull all the pieces together (brain, body, labs, lifestyle, and environment)

• Prioritize what matters now vs. later so you’re not spinning in circles

• Co-create a realistic plan that fits your energy, brain fog, and real life

You leave with a clear, written Lifestyle Plan plus tools you can share with your doctor and care team.

What’s Included in Your 60-Minute Intake

We’ll move through a structured process that looks at both biology and psychology – because CIRS is not “just in your head,” but your brain and nervous system are deeply involved in how you heal.

1. Cognitive & Brain Health Screening
To understand how CIRS is impacting your thinking, focus, and memory:

• MoCA Testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
  Screens memory, attention, language, and executive function to identify areas of cognitive strain related to CIRS.

• VCS Test (Visual Contrast Sensitivity)
  A key CIRS screening tool that helps identify neurological and visual pathway changes commonly seen in biotoxin illness.

• Brain Health Assessment
  A structured review of your brain-based symptoms (focus, mood, sleep, memory, irritability, and overwhelm), so we can target support where you feel it most.

• BRIGHT MINDS Risk Assessment
  A comprehensive brain health framework (from Amen Clinics) to identify risks in blood flow, inflammation, genetics, toxins, sleep, mental health, and more – all crucial for CIRS recovery.

2. Lab & History Review (Within Coaching Scope)
We’ll walk through your available labs and key history from a CIRS + brain health + functional psychology lens, helping you:

• Understand what your labs are suggesting in plain language

• See how your symptoms, environment, and labs connect

• Identify what to track, what to ask your doctor, and where the gaps may be

(Note: This is educational and coaching-focused, not medical diagnosis or treatment.)

3. Personalized Lifestyle Plan & Coaching
Together, we’ll build a step-by-step plan centered around:

• Nutrition – CIRS- and brain-friendly strategies that fit your current capacity

• Exercise / Movement – gentle, nervous-system aware options that support energy without crashing

• Supplements – an educational review of supportive options to discuss with your doctor

• Mental Wellness & Nervous System Regulation – practical tools grounded in functional and compliance psychology to reduce overwhelm, support consistency, and improve follow-through

You’ll receive a written Lifestyle Plan that outlines your key action steps, broken down into doable phases.

4. Shoemaker Protocol Discussion + Doctor Packet

Many doctors don’t know the Shoemaker Protocol – but you still need a path forward.

During your Intake, you can:

• Ask questions about how the Shoemaker Protocol works at a high level

• Understand where you may be on the CIRS roadmap

• Learn how to better communicate with your doctor

You’ll also receive an information packet for your doctor that:

• Summarizes key concepts of CIRS and the Shoemaker framework

• Helps your provider understand the clinical rationale behind your concerns

• Makes it easier to advocate for appropriate testing and support

By the End of Your Initial Intake, You Will Have:

• A clear picture of how CIRS is affecting your brain and body

• A personalized Lifestyle Plan grounded in brain health, CIRS science, and functional psychology

• Targeted questions and talking points to take to your doctor

• A sense of relief and direction – knowing you’re not guessing anymore, you’re following a plan

If you’re in the CIRS Recovery Resources or CIRS Advocate Training Program and you’re craving specialized, one-on-one guidance, this Initial Intake is your starting line.