About Renata

Welcome, I’m Glad You’re Here

I’m Renata Atkinson, a clinical herbalist dedicated to helping women navigate midlife with greater ease, clarity, and vitality.

My love of herbs began early. As a child, my dad taught me how to harvest sassafras roots and make tea. I was completely amazed that you could walk into the forest, find the right plant, and create something nourishing to share with others.

All these years later, I’ve studied herbal medicine and worked closely with women to improve their wellbeing. I’ve seen how deeply plants can help us heal and feel whole and vibrant. Now I dedicate my work to helping other people foster connection to their bodies and to the natural world, and to building a sense of wellbeing that feels sustainable and true.

 

A Bit More About Me

When I’m not working, you can probably find me tending my gardens, foraging for wild herbs, or wandering the forest near a mountain stream, usually accompanied by a Rhodesian Ridgeback or two.

I believe humans are an integral part of the natural world. Spending time outdoors, being in the elements, attentive to the plants, birds, animals, and their tracks through the seasons keeps me connected to that deeper knowing and informs how I live and work.

 

Supporting You Through Midlife Change

For more than a decade, I’ve supported women through the changes of perimenopause and beyond. I’ve also lived this transition myself, so I understand firsthand how confusing, frustrating, and isolating it can feel. You’re not imagining what’s happening, and you’re not alone.

Many of the women who come to me have already made it through the roller coaster of perimenopause and are on steadier ground. And yet, something still feels “off”.

I was in a similar place. I was feeling off kilter even though I was taking good care of myself, and one of the things that helped me through the transition was connecting deeply with herbs in a more intuitive way that is different from what you might find in the textbooks.

You might be doing all the right things; eating well, staying active, prioritizing sleep and yet still dealing with low energy, brain fog, sleep challenges, or a lingering sense that you should be feeling better than you do. A new health concern may have surfaced, or you may be thinking more seriously about long‑term health risks at this stage of life.

If you’ve felt dismissed or unheard in conventional healthcare, you’re likely picking up on something real. At the same time, the menopause wellness world can be loud, confusing, and contradictory, making it hard to know what’s truly helpful and what’s simply marketing.

If any of this sounds familiar, there is a way forward.

One of the main reasons I do this work is to help people re-center in nature and in what you know to be true for yourself, so you don’t have to rely on the outside noise but can move inside.

I’m here to offer grounded, holistic guidance and a supportive partnership you can trust.

 

My Approach: Moving Forward, Not Back

Vitality looks different in every stage of life. In midlife, it can be deeply frustrating to realize that the routines and strategies that once kept you feeling well no longer work the same way.

Rather than trying to “get back” to an earlier version of yourself, I help you move forward, building sustainable wellbeing for the person you are now. I strongly believe that this transition offers an opportunity to become a stronger, wiser, more connected version of yourself.

Through individual or small‑group wellness programs, we work together over three to six months to gently uncover what your body truly needs.

When I work with people I include:

• Personalized herbal blends created specifically for your needs and goals
• Supportive guidance around food, movement, rest, and daily rhythms
• Practical self‑care practices that fit into your real life
• Supportive partnership every step of the way

… because, while there are common threads in the menopause experience, every woman’s journey is unique, and a plan created specifically for you is the best way for you to reach your highest state of wellbeing.

We introduce changes gradually so they feel manageable and lasting and we adjust along the way as your body responds. I know that it can be fun and exciting to implement a complex new wellness protocol all at once; it can feel motivating and inspire optimism at first, but it doesn’t stick.

I want to help you get to a place of renewed wellbeing without it feeling hard, without feeling like you have to force yourself to do things just to feel okay; a place where you feel good and supporting that sense of wellbeing feels natural.

 

How I Show Up for My Clients

Over the years I’ve had so many experiences where I felt I haven’t been listened to; where I’ve been talked over, felt dismissed because I’m a woman, I’m older, and don’t come across as very assertive. I know how it is to feel like you’re not being taken seriously and not getting the care you need.

When I work with clients my goal is not perfection but taking small steps to really change things for the long term.

Working with me you can expect:

• To feel truly heard and understood
• Clear, thoughtful guidance tailored to you
• Practical, doable recommendations that improve your wellbeing and fit your everyday life

 

Classes & Workshops

Looking back on that day with my dad, learning to harvest sassafras, I now understand that what mattered most was the feeling of connection; with my dad, with nature, and with the friends and family gathered around a campfire with a warm cup of tea that was a gift from the forest.

That sense of connection still guides me today. I believe that herbal knowledge belongs in every household and community, which is why I offer classes and workshops in wild herb foraging, medicine making, and kitchen medicine - to help others rediscover that same sense of belonging and connection.

I’ve taught these workshops at The National Arboretum, Pearlstone Retreat Center, Living Earth School, and several municipal recreation departments and community organizations.

 

Experience & Education

I’ve had the honor of working with women as a clinical herbalist for over 11 years.

Before, and overlapping with the early years of my herbal practice, I spent 25 years working as a chemist, studying environmental influences on the phytochemical content of foods and medicinal herbs.

I've learned herbal medicine in a variety of ways through the years - through self-study, by taking clinically focused and nature-based courses and workshops in community settings, and in formal academic settings.

This background gives me a deep respect for both traditional herbal wisdom and scientific study, as well as an understanding of where research can be helpful, and where it falls short. I bring this balanced, evidence‑informed perspective into all of my work.

My education includes a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism and a Post‑Master’s Certificate in Clinical Herbalism from Maryland University of Integrative Health (now NMDU), as well as a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Maryland. I’ve also completed extensive graduate-level study in Integrative Nutrition, along with community-based and continuing education in herbal medicine.

 

Are We a Good Fit?

I work best with women who want to embrace midlife and care for their wellbeing in a holistic way that respects their body’s wisdom.

If you’re looking for personalized, compassionate, evidence‑informed support, we’ll likely be a great fit. And if your needs are different, I’m always happy to help you find the right resources or referrals.

 

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to begin your journey toward greater vitality and ease in midlife, I’d love to connect.

You can:

• Join my newsletter, where I share insights on women’s wellbeing and wild herbs through the seasons, and where you can find out about the workshops I’m teaching.