Behind the name The Alchemista stands Dr. Courtney Holmes, APRN, a visionary nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and creative force who has transformed the way beauty, wellness, and medicine intersect. With a foundation shaped at Smith College, Johns Hopkins University, and Quinnipiac University, Courtney blends scientific expertise with an artistic, almost mystical approach to care. At Milford Med Spa in Milford, CT, she is more than a provider of treatments; she is a guide through transformation, devoted to helping others unlock vitality, confidence, and self-expression. To know The Alchemista is to witness the art of turning science into soul-centered beauty.
The Alchemista’s Journey
From Philosophy to Aesthetics at Smith College
Before nursing, Courtney studied philosophy and aesthetics at Smith College. She explored the meaning of beauty, ethics, and human transformation — learning early that beauty is not superficial, but a force that can change how we live and move through the world. This foundation still shapes her approach today: every treatment at Milford Med Spa is about more than appearance . It’s about empowerment.
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner at Johns Hopkins
Courtney trained as a Nurse Practitioner at Johns Hopkins University in 2001, one of the most rigorous and respected institutions in the world. There she gained the medical expertise and clinical precision that would anchor her career.
Advancing Population Health at Quinnipiac
Later, she pursued her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Quinnipiac University, specializing in Care of Populations. This advanced training focused on prevention, wellness, and systems of care, expanding her mission to help not just individuals, but entire communities live healthier, more vibrant lives.
Clinical Experience Rooted in Care
Primary Care and Geriatrics
Courtney began her career in primary care and geriatrics, managing complex conditions for older adults and supporting families through the challenges of chronic illness, wound care, and dementia. She spent over twenty years alongside patients at some of the most vulnerable points of life, including end-of-life care, where she witnessed the toll of chronic illness and suffering. These experiences instilled in her a deep respect for dignity, comfort, and quality of life.
She also contributed to advancing the field through a grant project at the Center on Aging at UConn Health, where she spearheaded a Chronic Care Management program. This work emphasized coordinated care, prevention, and long-term wellness, values that continue to shape her practice today.
This chapter of her career taught her resilience and compassion, but also revealed the limits of reactive medicine. She learned the importance of not only treating symptoms, but preventing decline wherever possible.
Caregiving and a Career Pivot
When Courtney’s mother became seriously ill with chronic conditions and morbid obesity, eventually becoming bedbound for a year, Courtney made the decision to step away from geriatrics to become her caregiver, alongside her dad and sister. Balancing the heavy emotional and physical toll of caregiving with the intensity of primary care practice was not sustainable. This experience gave her a deeply personal understanding of how illness impacts both patient and family, strengthening her commitment to prevention, dignity, and compassionate care.
During this season, she took her first position at a medical spa, a role that allowed her to learn new skills, use her hands in a different way, and preserve the energy she needed for her mother. This pivot not only provided balance but also sparked her passion for medical aesthetics, planting the seeds for what would eventually grow into Milford Med Spa.
From Geriatrics to LGBTQ Mental Health
Later, when her own family struggled to find an affirming, inclusive medication provider for mental health, Courtney saw a gap in care. She responded by launching her new LLC focused on LGBTQ mental health care, combining her clinical expertise with her personal mission to create inclusive, compassionate support for those too often overlooked in traditional systems. This dedication to inclusivity continues at Milford Med Spa, where every client is welcomed and supported.
Filling the Gaps in Traditional Healthcare
Across these experiences, a theme emerged: traditional healthcare often leaves gaps. Insurance covers illness care, but rarely the preventive, wellness-driven, and confidence-restoring services that help people thrive and maintain function throughout their lifespan. Milford Med Spa was created to fill that space, blending medical science, aesthetics, and artistry to support both health and transformation.
Transformation Through Alchemy
Weight Loss and Personal Renewal
Courtney has walked her own journey of weight loss and self-renewal. At one time, she weighed over 200 pounds and struggled with simple movements like getting up off the floor or out of the car. Through dedication, she transformed her health, and today she’s not only comfortable in her body and clothes but also finds joy in powerlifting and crushing her fitness goals.
This lived experience gives her a unique empathy for clients who are on their own weight loss or body-confidence journeys. She knows firsthand that transformation takes courage, but also that it can bring freedom, strength, and joy.
Perimenopause Alchemy — Power in Transition
Her lived experience also includes what she calls “perimenopause alchemy,” reframing midlife hormonal shifts not as decline, but as an initiation into deeper strength and radiance. Through her own use of hormone optimization, wellness practices, and aesthetics, she reclaimed her energy and confidence.
This journey didn’t just transform her personally. It also strengthened her 25-year marriage, deepening connection and intimacy with her spouse. For Courtney, perimenopause has been not just a medical transition, but a powerful life chapter of renewal, empowerment, and stronger relationships. Today, she helps other women navigate this powerful stage of life with confidence and support.
The Alchemy of Medical Aesthetics at Milford Med Spa
At Milford Med Spa, The Alchemista and her team offer a full spectrum of services designed to fill the gaps left by traditional healthcare and empower clients with confidence and vitality.
Medical Aesthetics: Botox, Fillers, Skin Rejuvenation
At Milford Med Spa, The Alchemista offers a full suite of medical aesthetic treatments, including Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, PRF, PDO threads, and advanced skin rejuvenation. Each treatment is tailored to enhance natural beauty while preserving individuality.
Hormone Optimization & Perimenopause Care
Hormone shifts can affect energy, mood, sleep, and confidence. Milford Med Spa offers hormone optimization, including tailored support for women in perimenopause and beyond, restoring balance and vitality from within.
IV Vitamin Therapy: NAD⁺, Glutathione, and More
The Alchemy Drip Bar offers IV infusions for hydration, immunity, energy, and beauty. Popular drips include the classic Myers’ Cocktail, Glutathione Quick Drip for detox and skin brightening, and the powerful NAD⁺ infusion, which supports cellular energy, focus, and longevity.
Weight Management with Advanced Therapies
Milford Med Spa also specializes in weight management, including GLP-1 therapies like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Combined with lifestyle support, these treatments help clients reach sustainable goals and feel empowered in their bodies.
Meet The Glow Getters
A Team Dedicated to Confidence and Care
The Alchemista does not work alone. She leads a team of extraordinary providers known as The Glow Getters, nurses and aesthetic specialists who embody the spa’s mission of empowering confidence, vitality, and radiance.
Together, The Glow Getters bring skill, warmth, and artistry to every treatment. Their collective expertise ensures that every client feels cared for, supported, and transformed, not just on the surface, but in spirit.
Begin Your Transformation
Visit Milford Med Spa in Milford, CT
At Milford Med Spa, every service is more than a treatment; it’s an act of alchemy. Whether you’re seeking injectables, hormone optimization, IV vitamin therapy, or skin rejuvenation, you’ll find care that blends medical science with artistry and compassion.
📍 Visit us at Milford Med Spa, 99 Cherry Street, Suite F, Milford, CT
