By: Sarah Walters
Jennifer Wren Tolo, a former Critical Care Nurse turned Transformational Resiliency Coach, is no stranger to crisis. After experiencing life-threatening medical challenges with 2 of her four children, followed by her health crisis, Jennifer changed the trajectory of her life forever. Their collective healing journeys awakened her to her purpose—bridging significant gaps in healthcare, particularly mental well-being and self-care.
Today, Jennifer, known as “The Soul Connector,” is an award-winning health and wellness educator, renowned speaker, and transformational life coach. She empowers multitasking, success-minded women to reclaim their happiness, health, and personal power. Combining personal experience with professional expertise, Jennifer integrates reality-based strategies to help women find inner calm and resilience. Over the past 18 years, she has helped clients transition from surviving to thriving through her signature method, the “ABCs of Stress Management.”
Many women live in survival mode without even realizing it. They are accustomed to operating on autopilot—doing, achieving, and keeping everything afloat—and don’t stop questioning why they feel exhausted, unfulfilled, or disconnected.
When burnout takes hold, questions like, “Why am I having trouble sleeping?” or “Why am I not happy when I have everything I thought I wanted?” often surface.
Jennifer understands this firsthand. As a woman, nurse, and mother, she wants to do everything “right” and succeed. She believes that she can keep her family safe and healthy with enough effort and control. But despite her efforts, life took an unexpected turn.
Her son suffered a massive stroke at birth, and years later, another son was diagnosed with high-risk leukemia. Science and logic didn’t have all the answers. Instead, intuition, deep breaths, and self-trust became her guiding forces through uncertainty and fear.
The breaking point came during what Jennifer calls her “911 Moment.” She was reading to her two youngest children when exhaustion overwhelmed her. The words on the page blurred, her speech faltered, and her arm and tongue soon went numb. When her husband urged her to call 911, fearing she might be having a stroke, she resisted.
“I can’t call 911! I don’t have time—who will watch the kids?” she recalls saying. It was an atypical migraine, but the episode was a wake-up call.
She realized that stress and neglecting her self-care were at the root of her health struggles.
Jennifer began bridging the gaps in healthcare first for her children and herself, then for other women and families. She discovered that the difference between illness and wellness is prioritizing self-care and managing stress effectively.
“I am passionate about helping women reclaim their health and happiness by learning the power of the pause and viewing their well-being as a priority,” she says. “After all, we can’t help anyone else if we are on our sickbed or worse.”
In 2005, Jennifer founded Butterfly Family Wellness to help women address the root causes of stress-related mental and physical imbalances. Research suggests that stress may influence a significant number of chronic health issues, including physical, nutritional, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual factors. Calming the nervous system and reframing perceptions of stress can alleviate or even prevent these issues.
Jennifer’s “ABCs of Stress Management” has helped hundreds of women regain control over their health, happiness, and sense of personal power.
Like the traditional healthcare model, many people struggling with mental and physical health challenges seek a quick fix and look to others for help and healing. However, Jennifer believes true healing requires active participation.
“People need to remember that they are co-creators of their health and happiness,” she explains. “I recognized that I cannot do the work for people or fast pass their healing. They must trust their intuition and connection to self to guide their journey.”
As her healing evolved, Jennifer’s business naturally transitioned from holistic health coaching to transformational life coaching. She recognized that lasting health and happiness extend beyond diet and exercise.
By setting boundaries, recognizing what she could and could not control, and being intentional with her energy and time, Jennifer found balance, clarity, and confidence in her purpose.
Her unique blend of personal experience, professional knowledge, and intuitive connection sets Jennifer apart from other health and wellness coaches. She meets people where they are and helps them take soul-aligned steps toward where they want to be.
Author, motivational speaker, and physician Dr. Bernie Siegel states, “Jen is full of practical wisdom and soulfulness. She brings out the best in her clients and guests when she interviews and interacts with them. Like the butterfly, she helps us transform our lives by freeing ourselves from the cocoon of expectations.”
Tolo helps people understand the subtle messages of the mind, body, and soul, acting as a translator to help women understand their inner wisdom and what they need to be their selves. She believes women already know, deep down, what they need. However, they often seek external validation or follow others’ advice due to self-doubt or fear. Jennifer’s mission is to help women quiet the overthinking, fear-driven ego mind so they can listen to their soul’s guidance.
Her client, Megara, describes her experience: “After working with Jen, I finally feel free—like I’ve let go of a huge, heavy anchor. I feel incredible calmness and openness to whatever happens.”
Another client, Shirley, shares, “Before working with Jen, I didn’t know who I was or what I needed. Now, I feel the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever been. I know and understand myself, allowing me to connect more deeply with my kids, work, and life.”
In March 2025, Jennifer will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Butterfly Family Wellness. She recently launched her signature coaching program, Reclaim Your Power, incorporating her 6 S’s System (Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Setting Boundaries, Self-Care, Self-Trust, and Self-Reflection). This system helps independent, multitasking women shift from autopilot to actively driving an empowered life.
Jennifer is also working on her second book, chronicling her healing journey with her children and life lessons. Her first book, Family Fuel: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Healthy Living, was highly popular on Amazon. Jennifer has been featured on FOX News, ABC News, and BRAINZ Magazine and hosts the Simple Awakenings Podcast.
She continues teaching her “Holistic and Complementary Approaches to Health and Healing” course at Endicott College’s School of Nursing. Despite her busy professional life, she prioritizes quality time with her husband, four sons, and two dogs. She enjoys playing tennis, hiking, biking, dancing, and traveling on family adventures.
Jennifer’s journey inspires us to remember that while life’s challenges may be beyond our control, how we respond to them is within our power. Her work empowers women to shift from mere survival to thriving by tuning into their inner wisdom, setting boundaries, and embracing self-care as a non-negotiable foundation for a healthy, fulfilling life.
For more information on Jennifer Wren Tolo, visit www.jenniferwrentolo.com or connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook.
Published by Anne C.
