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Dr. Yolanda Serra, Health and Longevity Coaching

FAQs

Questions people ask before they begin.

About

Who is Dr. Yolanda Serra Martinez?
Yolanda Serra Martinez, PhD, is a health and behavioral scientist, health communication specialist, educator, author, and health and longevity coach. She brings those perspectives together to help people understand change and make decisions that fit their lives.
Why did Yolanda create Health and Longevity Coaching?
She wanted to create a thoughtful place for questions that do not fit into a rushed conversation or a simple checklist. Her work gives people time to consider the evidence, their circumstances, and what they want to do next.
How does Yolanda’s scientific background inform her work?
It shapes how she evaluates information, asks questions, distinguishes evidence from uncertainty, and considers the conditions that make a choice workable. It also keeps her attentive to what coaching can and cannot offer.
Is Yolanda a medical doctor?
No. Her PhD is in health and behavioral science. It is a research doctorate, not a medical degree. Her coaching is educational and does not include medical diagnosis or treatment.
What is health communication?
Health communication is concerned with how people find, understand, discuss, and use information about health. In Yolanda’s work, that means making complex information clearer and helping you consider how it relates to your own circumstances.
What experience informs Yolanda’s approach?
Her work has included health and behavioral science, public health communication, education, nursing, and teaching. Across these settings, she has seen how decisions are shaped by family, culture, time, resources, and the information people receive.
What does "longevity" mean in this work?
It means looking thoughtfully at how we live over time. The focus is on informed choices, meaningful participation in life, and changes that can be sustained, without promising a particular health outcome or lifespan.
Does Yolanda work in English and Spanish?
Yes. She is a native Spanish speaker and works in English and Spanish. You can discuss which language would make a conversation or program most useful for you.
Where is Yolanda based?
She is based in San Antonio, Texas. Details about an individual service or in-person event will specify its location or available format.
Is her approach shaped by culture?
Yes. Culture influences how we think about health, family, responsibility, food, community, and change. Yolanda aims to understand what these things mean in your life rather than assume one approach fits everyone.
Will Yolanda tell me what I should do?
She brings questions, structure, and relevant information. You remain the person who decides what matters, what is possible, and which direction is right for you.
How can I get in touch?
Use the website contact form or email Serra@HealthLongevityCoaching.com. Please keep an initial message general and avoid sending medical records or detailed health information.

Coaching

What is private coaching with you like?
It is a dedicated conversation in which we look at what is changing, what matters to you, and what may be shaping your choices. We work toward practical next steps and revisit what you learn from trying them.
Who might benefit from private coaching?
You may be navigating changes in work, identity, relationships, caregiving, health-related routines, purpose, or several areas at once. You do not need to arrive with a fully formed goal.
Do I need to be in a crisis to begin?
No. You might have a specific decision to make, feel that something no longer fits, or simply want room to think before choosing a direction.
How is coaching different from therapy?
Coaching focuses on reflection, decisions, and practical action within an educational and nonclinical relationship. It does not provide psychotherapy, diagnosis, mental health treatment, or crisis care.
Can coaching replace my medical appointments?
No. Keep recommended appointments, screenings, treatment, and follow-up with qualified healthcare professionals. Coaching can help you prepare questions and think about daily life alongside appropriate care.
Do you create a plan for me?
We develop a workable plan together, but you choose your priorities and actions. A useful plan should reflect your circumstances, responsibilities, resources, and what you learn over time.
What if I am unsure where to start?
We can begin with the question that brought you here, even if it feels vague. Looking at the wider picture often helps identify which decision needs attention first.
Will we discuss evidence and research?
When research is relevant, I help make it understandable and discuss what it can and cannot tell us. Your own circumstances still matter when considering how to use that information.
Is coaching only about health habits?
No. Health and daily routines may be part of the picture, but we may also consider work, caregiving, relationships, identity, priorities, and the conditions that shape your choices.
What happens if an issue is outside the scope of coaching?
I will say so clearly and encourage you to seek the appropriate qualified professional. Coaching should complement professional care when both are relevant.
Do you offer virtual coaching?
Private coaching may be available virtually, subject to availability and the appropriate agreement and onboarding process. Current options can be discussed after an initial inquiry.
Does the interest form book a session?
No. It begins a conversation about your needs and the available next step. A coaching relationship begins only after the appropriate offer, agreement, and onboarding requirements are completed.
Will submitting the form put me on a marketing list?
No. An inquiry lets me respond to your question. Occasional promotional updates require a separate optional choice.
How do I ask about private coaching?
Use the Private Coaching Interest List Form and tell me, in general terms, what you would like to explore. Please do not include diagnoses, treatment details, or other sensitive information in the form.

Retreats

What is a Midlife Transitions retreat?
It is a guided opportunity to step away from daily demands, reflect on changes across life, connect with others, and consider practical next steps. Each retreat has its own setting and program details.
What is the OSM Mini Retreat Series?
It is six in-person Thursday morning gatherings at Old School Maker Space in San Antonio, built around Midlife Transitions. The series combines guided exploration, personal reflection, conversation, and time together around the table.
When does the OSM series meet?
The series is scheduled for January 21 and 28 and February 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2027, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Central Time.
Do I need to attend every session?
The gatherings build on one another, so please plan to attend the full series. If you know you may miss a date, mention it before registering so we can discuss whether the series is suitable for you.
How large is the group?
The OSM series is planned for a maximum of 16 participants. The small group gives us room for guided reflection and conversation without requiring anyone to share more than they wish.
What is included in the OSM promotional package?
The $300 promotional package includes all six in-person group sessions, the Midlife Transitions book and journal, and a personal gift from the author. Review the current registration page for the complete inclusions before paying.
When is my place confirmed?
Your place is confirmed after availability has been confirmed, you have accepted the applicable terms, the required payment has been received, and you have received written confirmation of your place.
What are the cancellation and refund rules?
The cancellation and refund policy is presented with the registration terms before payment. Please read it carefully, including the deadline for a participant cancellation and what happens if the organizer cancels or materially changes the series.
Will I have to share personal experiences with the group?
No. You can contribute to a conversation, listen, write privately, or step back from a reflective exercise. We ask everyone to respect the privacy and dignity of other participants.
Is the series offered in Spanish?
The group sessions are planned in English. I am a native Spanish speaker and can offer clarification and support in Spanish when helpful.
Can I request an accessibility or dietary arrangement?
Yes. You may ask about an arrangement through the registration process or by email. Share only the details needed to plan for participation; you do not need to provide a diagnosis or medical history.
Will I be photographed or recorded?
Identifiable photography and audio or video use require separate, optional permission. Leaving either choice unchecked does not affect participation. The event notice will explain any planned recording and the uses for which permission is requested.

Midlife Transitions

What is Midlife Transitions?
It is a framework for understanding changes that may affect several parts of life at once and for deciding what deserves attention now. It connects reflection with practical action you can review and adjust.
Is Midlife Transitions only for a particular age?
It focuses on questions that often arise in midlife, but it does not ask you to fit a strict age threshold or a single description of this life stage.
Is the approach only about menopause?
No. Health changes may matter, but the approach also considers identity, relationships, work, caregiving, resources, purpose, and everyday responsibilities.
What are the six phases?
The phases are Locate Yourself; Understand What Shapes the Journey; Choose Your Direction; Plan the Next Workable Stretch; Act and Learn; and Decide What Comes Next. They offer a sequence to guide reflection and action.
Do I have to complete the phases in a rigid order?
No. The phases provide structure, and you can return to the map from where you are when your circumstances or understanding change.
What tools does the approach use?
The four tools are the Midlife Alignment Map, Priority Positions, Workable Action Plan, and Action Learning Review. Each supports a different part of seeing your situation, making choices, acting, and learning.
What are Priority Positions?
They are six ways to describe how you may relate to a priority right now: Pursue, Prepare, Protect, Monitor, Shelve, and Release. A position can change as circumstances change.
How are The Book and The Journal different?
The Book explains the ideas and the reasoning behind the approach. The Journal gives you space and guided prompts to explore your own circumstances and record your choices.
Can I use the Book and Journal without joining a program?
Yes. You can read and reflect independently, use the two resources together, or bring them into a workshop or private coaching experience.
Do I need to know my next step before I begin?
No. The starting point is to understand where you are and what is shaping the situation. A next step can emerge from a clearer view of what matters and what is workable.
What if my priorities change?
You can return to the Midlife Alignment Map, reconsider your Priority Positions, and revise your action plan. The approach includes learning from what happens rather than treating a first decision as permanent.
Where should I start?
Explore the Midlife Transitions page for an overview. If you want to reflect independently, begin with the Book or Journal; if you want a guided setting, look at the available group experience or ask about private coaching.

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Services offered by Yolanda Serra Martinez, PhD are educational and nonclinical.