Philosophy

My practice is grounded in my nutritional education and guided by my own beliefs and approaches to health and nutrition. My philosophy includes:

Nutrition Is Foundational

Without adequate nutrition the body cannot heal itself, remove toxins and wastes, or create energy. When a person is not getting the proper nutrition for their body they will feel tired and moody, be more susceptible to injury and illness, and often struggle with sleep and relaxation.

Addressing Causal Factors

Working with people to help them achieve better health is not just about managing symptoms. One of my goals is to help identify possible underlying mechanisms that are causing the symptoms and to make recommendations to resolve them.

The Elusive Perfect Diet

I do not believe there is a perfect diet that suits all people at all times. My strategy includes helping people connect with what their own body is telling them about the food they are eating. I do recommend certain dietary guidelines such as eating foods which are whole, high quality, and properly prepared.

Eating Should Be Joyous

We live in a society where cravings are considered personal failings and people are led to feel bad (guilty, embarrassed, ashamed) about what they eat. I believe that dietary choices should not be attached to character judgments and that many food and substance cravings are actually an attempt by the body to obtain beneficial nutrients. Thus when the underlying deficiency or dysfunction is corrected, the cravings will also dissipate.

Context and Balance

I approach each individual with the intent of discovering imbalances and understanding the broader context of their health. Just as there is no one perfect diet, there is also no set of health recommendations that will suit everyone. Therapy is more effective when tailored to the individual and designed to restore balance.

Listening To The Expert

I believe that each person is the foremost expert on their own body and experiences. While I bring a knowledge base and analytical skills to the nutritional therapy process, my approach is rooted in listening to each individual person and using their information to guide the composition of recommendations.

The Right Things

Many people have the expectation or experience that the path to better health requires a comprehensive change in lifestyle. In my practice I find this is seldom necessary, though it may be beneficial if done gradually. Health can be improved by identifying and removing specific barriers to healing. To improve health a person does not need to do everything right; they just need to do the right things right.