Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Shelia T.. Payton.
Hi Dr Shelia T.., thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my career more than two decades ago as a Chirooractic Physcian and anatomy and physiology professor, always fascinated by how the body adapts, heals, and communicates when something is out of balance. For many years, I worked with women who came in for pain, fatigue, weight changes, sleep issues, or brain fog yet were often told their labs were “normal” or that what they were experiencing was just a part of getting older.
Everything became more personal as I watched my own mother navigate midlife and aging with limited support, fragmented care, and very little conversation around hormones, inflammation, or prevention. Seeing how overlooked hormonal health can quietly open the door to chronic disease changed how I practiced and, honestly, how I saw my purpose.
That’s when my work began to shift. I leaned deeper into functional medicine, non-hormonal strategies, and lifestyle based interventions to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and longevitynot as an afterthought, but as a critical chapter of life. Today, through my practice and programs, I focus on helping women understand what their bodies are asking for, reclaim their energy, protect their joints, brains, and metabolism, and move into midlife feeling informed rather than dismissed.
What I do now is rooted in education, empowerment, and small, intentional changes that create long term impact. This work is both professional and personal and it’s driven by the belief that women deserve better conversations, better care, and better outcomes as they age.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been working within a healthcare system that often minimizes or normalizes women’s symptoms especially during perimenopause and menopause. I’ve had to push against the idea that fatigue, pain, brain fog, or weight changes are “just aging,” even when women know something deeper is happening in their bodies.
Another challenge was allowing myself to evolve professionally. Shifting from traditional models of care into a more integrative, education driven approach required unlearning, continued training, and sometimes standing alone before the conversation caught up. Choosing to focus on non hormonal, functional, and lifestyle based strategies also meant navigating skepticism while staying grounded in both science and patient outcomes.
On a personal level, losing my mother was a profound turning point. Grief has a way of slowing everything down while also sharpening your purpose. There were moments when balancing loss, leadership, and responsibility felt heavy, but that experience ultimately deepened my resolve to do this work with more intention and compassion.
The challenges have taught me patience, clarity, and the importance of trusting my voice. Each obstacle reinforced why this work matters and why women deserve care that listens, adapts, and evolves with them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wellspring Health & Wellness?
Wellspring Health & Wellness is a women centered health practice focused on perimenopause, menopause, and longevity. I specialize in helping women who feel dismissed or confused by their symptoms finally understand what their bodies are communicating whether that shows up as joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, sleep disruption, metabolic changes, or persistent inflammation.
What sets my work apart is that I bridge clinical care with education. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, I help women connect the dots between hormones, the nervous system, inflammation, and lifestyle. My approach is integrative and rooted in functional medicine, with an emphasis on
non hormonal options. I help women improve energy, sleep, mood, and pain through nutrition, gut and metabolic support, targeted supplements, nervous system regulation, and realistic lifestyle adjustments that restore balance over time.
I’m particularly known for reframing midlife health conversations.
Many women are told that discomfort, decline, or loss of vitality is “just part of aging.” I challenge that narrative by giving women language, clarity, and tools to move through this transition with strength and confidence rather than frustration or fear.
Brand wise, I’m most proud of creating a space where women feel heard, educated, and empowered. Whether through in office care, structured programs, writing, or speaking to audiences, my goal is to normalize conversations around midlife health and help women age with intention not resignation.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that surprises many people is that I was the first African American woman to practice Chiropractic in the UK, and that I’m also a competitive bikini bodybuilder. Both experiences shaped how I see the body, aging, and resilience. Living abroad taught me adaptability and leadership, while competitive training taught me how the body responds to stress, recovery, and change over time. Together, they reinforce my belief that strength, health, and vitality are possible at every stage of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SmallChangeswithdrShelia.com
- Instagram: @doctorshelia
- Facebook: @drshelia
- LinkedIn: Dr.Shelja T Payton
