The short answer: Functional Nutrition is a therapeutic focus on restoring the optimum function of the body, through systems and frameworks with the goal of resolving root causes, with the primary tools being diet and lifestyle factors.

The deep dive: Functional Nutrition is a revolutionary way of looking at diet and lifestyle. It truly treats you as a unique individual and works to help you improve your health through your unique needs. I work within the principles of Functional Medicine, but with a dedicated focus on diet and lifestyle modification.

Here are some of the ways that Functional Nutrition is distinct:

I work towards root-cause resolution, which means I am concerned with why you are experiencing unwanted weight, signs, or symptoms. My goal is not only to help you feel better, but to uncover the root causes so we can create more sustainable relief.

Everything in your body is connected. Yet you are so much more than a collection of tissues and organs. I have studied how each body system affects the whole. I also know other aspects of your life, including your history, your relationships, and your current environment also impact how your body is expressing itself and how you feel.

A systems-based way of looking at the body is what allows me to make connections that may be missed by others. It also helps us create a personalized plan for you to course-correct your diet and lifestyle in ways that will make positive changes for you in both the short and long run, inside and out.

I believe in reminding you of your “power as a patient”. My canvas as a Functional Nutritionist is to work with the things you have control over every day – diet, sleep, supplements, exercise, relaxation, connections, and more. Once I help you determine which of these factors need to shift, you will have more control over your life and your health than you may have ever thought possible.

I am not a doctor. I don’t diagnose or treat any specific conditions or focus on symptoms (that would leave the root causes to continue to cause issues).  Instead, I help you to identify the underlying causes of stress in your body and work with you to rebalance and restore your health.

As a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) Practitioner, I teach clients a model of self-care to relieve a variety of health complaints and improve overall well-being.

Using a holistic approach, I interpret functional lab testing to help identify imbalances in the body systems where disease and diet intersect.

Together, we then work to restore balance using tools to enhance your nutrition, movement, mindfulness, stress reduction, and natural supplementation - all to promote your body's innate healing process.

All recommendations are voluntary in application, and you are encouraged and empowered to take radical responsibility for your health and outcomes. You are always encouraged to review any changes to your health plan with your physician.

I will work in partnership with any other healthcare providers you may be seeing. Everyone benefits from strong, positive partnerships, and I believe in working together with your medical team to help you work toward your desired outcomes.

I also am able to refer you to more advanced FDN Practitioners or Functional Medicine Physicians. We will collaborate over your results to develop the best course of treatment to bring resolution to your symptoms.

Functional nutrition counseling and health coaching are not apples and apples. They are two distinct branches of service offered to those who wish to make changes in their health.

I view health coaches, as well as dietitians and doctors, as important components of the big picture. We each have a role to play as we guide people along their health journey using our unique training.

Health coaches vary widely in their training, experience, and abilities. It would not be appropriate for me to speak to how they arrive at their fees. Some will charge more than I do. Others will likely charge less.

For any providers of service, our fees are based on our education and the perceived value we offer our clients. I hold two certifications in nutrition, two master’s degrees, as well as life coach training and years of experience in the health-care field.

My session fee not only covers the one on one time we will share together, but reviewing your case prior to meeting, sending detailed notes, action steps, and resources to you after sessions, responding to questions and researching relevant material to your case between sessions, and sometimes hiring a supervisor to review your case with me to ensure I am providing you the very best care.

I’ve estimated that for each session I provide, 1-4 additional hours are invested in you case in between sessions. You can always count on me going above and beyond for you because that’s how I am wired.

I care, I commit, and I believe when you do the same for yourself - together we can achieve amazing results!

Payment Plans:

For the NLHH Rebuilding Programs we will be working together over 5-10 months. Due to the extended and comprehensive nature of these programs I offer an option for an initial down payment followed by monthly installments or a discount when paid in full at the start.

For the Monthly Membership, the fee is retained prior to booking and will be set as recurring monthly payments until cancelled. This way we can move past the transactional into the relational, where you will receive the very best value every time.

My fees and services have been thoughtfully considered to offer you the best value for the quality and quantity of service I provide. To look at fees simply as an “hourly rate” denies the innumerable hours of education, training, and preparation that have become my foundation, as well as the ‘behind the scenes’ hours after your session has ended. I write notes, complete supplement suggestions, pool resources, review food and activity journals, research for you, and individualize your plan every time we meet. All fees reflect much more than our 1:1 time together. I strive to be thorough because I’m just as excited as you are for you to feel better and experience results!

Insurance: Like many functional medicine practices, New Leaf Holistic Health services are an out-of-pocket expense. Your health and wellness are my priority, and I will provide you with access to the most current nutrition and lifestyle care that I am able to provide. I would not want to limit your care to what is covered by health insurance policies.

I’m unable to provide insurance billing codes or NPI numbers, which is outside of my scope of practice as FDN Practitioner, but I am happy to partner with any other practitioners on your team. I have had clients who submit their New Leaf Holistic Health paid invoices directly to their insurance for coverage consideration, or work with their health savings account to receive some compensation. You are encouraged to explore these options.

The time it takes to lose weight or get well depends on many factors. As you can imagine, there are personalized answers to this very personalized service.

However, you have my commitment that I am working toward equipping and empowering you to live a health-centered life on your own.

My goal is to teach you the tools to build upon our work together when you are ready to continue without me. And when seasons change or other health issues arise, we can often pick up where we left off, without restarting.

My approach to your health is best seen through the lens of two foundational truths.

The first, is that you are unique. Your symptoms are presenting the way they are because of the culmination of factors that are unique to you. I will never see you as a statistic or diagnosis. You are a precious person with a particular history, body, and lifestyle. I also incorporate your goals and dreams as we work with all these factors to create a custom plan for unique to you.

The second foundational truth is there are many root causes of your conditions. Your symptoms are telling a story. Like a tree has many roots, there are many factors that are contributing to your situation, and they all need to be addressed. While a conventional medicine approach is to prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms, this rarely treats the root problems. The unique approach I’ve learned through the science of Functional Nutrition allows me to uncover the sources of dysfunction and create a customized nutrition and lifestyle solution for you.

Since cost is often a concern, I encourage you to invest in the most comprehensive package you can afford. When all is said and done, it will be less costly than leaving hidden stressors unresolved and the havoc that can wreak. You will also receive additional benefits with the more comprehensive programs, which are additional tools to help you more effectively progress toward your goals.

I do offer a selection of supplements that have been handpicked for purity and personalized for you. You will be able to easily order supplements through my online store at Fullscript. This is a wonderful win-win option. You will receive a discount as an active client for using this service, and I additionally receive a modest commission. This helps compensate me for the vast amount of time that goes into building a robust dispensary that I have complete confidence in sharing with my clients.

Supplements are not required but can be extremely beneficial to fill the gap in nutritional deficiencies, especially if you have had a poor diet for a long time. You are not obligated to purchase recommended supplements from me. I provide the option for your ease and for the very real concern about the storage methods, in which supplements are kept before they arrive in your home.

A note about medications: As a nutrition and lifestyle professional, it is outside of my scope of practice to diagnose conditions or prescribe medication. However, I will work with your physician to bring my perspective, when appropriate.

Weight Inclusive: Many people seek nutritional counseling services for weight loss after spending years and shedding many tears on programs that haven’t worked for them. They end up feeling, not like the “diet” failed them, but like they are a failure. I help people of all sizes by first taking a thorough assessment (many roots) and making a personalized plan to address the root causes that are often interacting with and sabotaging your efforts. I also apply an empathic and gentle approach, leaving room for you to heal and recover from weight-related traumas and learn to nourish and nurture your body at any size.

Trauma Informed Care: Your biology (body) is inseparably interrelated to your biography (your history/your story), and your hopes and dreams. I seek to have utmost sensitivity and honesty to provide a safe place for you to learn new and empowering skills. You will be listened to and validated. We will form a therapeutic partnership and your input into your care will help us develop a plan and move at a pace that prevents stress and promotes healing.

Body + Mind Approach: You have an important life to live. Feeling your best should not be optional or unpredictable. Many people have “nutrition dissonance,” meaning they have separated what they are thinking from what they are eating. Sometimes they know “something is off,” but they have no idea what to do about it, so they plod along the path toward more and more dis-ease. The truth is your health really is in your hands. I will help you reconnect your body’s needs with sound nutrition and leverage lifestyle habits to help bring clarity and peace of mind.