Redefining Stress, One Subtype at a Time
We love keeping you in the loop — not just on what we do at The FIT Collective, but why we do it.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve made some big observations about stress. And honestly, it all started at home.
Our family was navigating a tough season, and we knew we needed help. We found an incredible DBT therapist, and the emotional regulation tools we learned truly changed our lives. That experience opened my eyes to something bigger.
I began noticing patterns in our coaching community. Women physicians were responding to stress in different — but predictable — ways. Some isolated, some pushed harder, some froze in analysis paralysis.
I kept thinking: What if we named these? What if we gave people a map — and tools — for their unique stress signature?
That question became a mission.
The Evolution of Our Stress Framework
It started with an assessment tool to identify distress subtypes — the six primary ways women doctors experience and respond to stress.
Then I developed a full curriculum to teach each stress type and offer personalized, effective coping mechanisms.
From there, I dove deeper into the relational dynamics — how each subtype interacts with the others in both regulated and dysregulated states.
And now, we’re exploring how stress shows up in the body, behavior, and emotions, and how each subtype is impacted.
We're currently running a study inside our Transform® physician coaching program, and I’m thrilled to share that early data is coming soon. What we’re learning is already changing how I practice.
Why Emotional Regulation Comes First
I no longer start a weight loss plan by handing someone their macros.
Because here’s the truth:
Why do we eat poorly? → Stress is part of it
Why do we skip exercise? → Stress is part of it
Why do our relationships or jobs suffer? → Stress is part of it
So... what if we fixed it at the core first — then layered on the tools?
That’s exactly what we’re doing.
What’s Coming in January: Transform® 10
Our upcoming Transform® 10 program (starting this January!) is rooted in this philosophy. It’s a revolutionary approach to healing burnout, optimizing health, and building sustainable change — by starting with emotional regulation, not willpower.
We believe that understanding your stress subtype and learning to regulate from within can change everything: your body, your brain, your relationships, your work. And ultimately, your life.
I’m more inspired than ever about what this means — not just for individuals, but for systems.
Want to Learn More?
If this resonates, check out our blog post on the six stress subtypes:
Understanding Stress Through Six Distress Subtypes: A Guide for Women Physicians
Stay tuned — there’s so much more to come.
With love and transformation,
Ali