FAQs

My approach for each client differs, as it is individualized to their specific goals and needs. In general: I’ll have you track your food intake* for one week, without making any adjustments, to see where you’re at. Based on that, I will make suggestions for additions, and in some cases, subtractions (meaning, maybe less often, or in less amount, or swapping some food out for a better-for-you alternative). Clients often continue to track their food, movement, water and other bev intake, and sometimes emotions and new habits— and we add on other mutually agreed upon changes, slowly, and thus, sustainably. 

When making suggestions, I consider your health history, your gut health, and your total well-being (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual). I look for signs and symptoms of nervous system dysregulation, hormone imbalances, and inflammation— and advise on food, movement, and lifestyle choices that may be contributing, and/or that could help alleviate those symptoms. 

*some clients have opted out of food tracking as they find it to be triggering, or some wish to work on other areas of their holistic health before working on nutrition and we add in food tracking later

I’m approaching health how I wish it had been approached for all of us, all along: seeing each person as a unique being who deserves tailored, holistic care for your body— as well as your mind and spirit. My approach is multimodality. It is root-cause analysis— getting to the why of it all and working out and up from there. I apply ten years of registered nurse experience + coaching certification + psychology and communication education background + nutrition information + habit building + investigation to meet you where you are, and help get you where you want to be, physically and mentally. 

It is 1:1, holistic, individualized attention and time that your conventional medicine provider can’t give you. It is understanding of the human body, physiology, and nutrition advice that a therapist or life coach likely can’t give you. It is help with understanding your current behaviors and creating lasting habit change that your meal or diet plans— and certainly GLP-1s— can’t give you. It is medical knowledge, lab interpretation, critical thinking, and clinical application that a standard health coach can’t give you. 

It’s a combination of skills, alongside candor, kindness, genuineness, and intuition, that are hard to find elsewhere.

My exact approach is different with every client, as each client has different, even if similar, driving factors causing their excess weight.

Here are some examples:

Client 1 eats healthfully during the day, but at night finds herself bingeing. During our session, we determine that her bingeing is related to loneliness, so one of our first steps is to address that. I troubleshoot with the client and figure out how to bring in more socialization and/or self-soothing sans food or alcohol.

Client 2 eats excess calories throughout the day, and it’s related to stress caused by a job in which he is completely burned out. We talk about stress management tactics, and we talk about what an ideal job would FEEL like. During our sessions, we make a plan for a new job, or think of ways to improve his current job experience if possible. This is when it starts to be more of life coaching-- because your life affects your health and your health affects your life! These cannot be separate entities.

Client 3 noticed weight gain “all of a sudden” and doesn’t know what happened. I put a microscope on the timing of this uptick in weight. I consider contributors, e.g. new meds, moves, traumatic events, major life changes, new exercise routines (even if exercising more!), and other symptoms. I may suggest lab values to be drawn, supplements, a change of medication, etc.

You can! Many of my clients choose to continue working with me, especially those utilizing session time for support beyond just nutrition. Check out the Offerings section for continuation options; if you don’t see one that sounds like it’ll work, I’m willing to discuss possible alternatives.

There is no diet plan. This is not a diet; this is your diet. This is about creating change through mindset shifts, mutually agreed upon food changes, movement, sustainable habit formation, and self-care.

I’m a good fit for people who haven’t been able to get the explanation for their symptoms (fatigue, migraines, brain fog, weight gain, etc.) at the doctor’s office, or the results they’ve been seeking through diets and/or exercise. I work with clients on their whole being, and don’t believe in separating organ systems, or seeing the mind + soul as separate from the body— your lifestyle, your medical history, your mental health, your beliefs about yourself all play a role in how you look and feel— so my ideal client is willing to discuss everything from bowel movements to current emotions and relationships, to childhood and adolescent events.

I am not a good fit for those looking for a quick fix, rapid weight loss, or aren’t quite truly ready to change. This is a process of trial and error, stackable small wins that lead to big change, and getting to know your behaviors, thought patterns, and emotions, all of which take time and patience.

While I educate on guidelines re: protein requirements, the benefits/dangers of certain foods, etc, and can offer general meal suggestions, I do not offer meal plans. My objective is to empower you through education during our sessions to select and prepare your own meals and snacks that best suit your needs.

I am not qualified to treat or diagnose eating disorders, e.g. anorexia nervosa, bulimia. However, I am able to help with disordered eating, such as emotional eating, restricting/bingeing on a more limited basis, eating for reasons other than hunger, and eliminating major food groups (for reasons other than food sensitivities or certain medical diagnoses). Several of my clients have been treated for diagnosed eating disorders in the past.

No. As a registered nurse, I do not have the ability to order bloodwork or prescribe. However, I am able to suggest labs to be drawn with your current medical provider (all of my clients’ providers have been amenable so far), as well as recommend more extensive testing through reputable companies, which can be obtained online without an order from a doctor. Once the lab results are back, I am qualified to interpret the values, educate, and in some cases, make supplement or follow-up suggestions accordingly.

Health coaching is currently not a billable service unless you have Medicare. For clients who have medicare, I am able to provide a superbill for potential reimbursement. HSA/FSA cards are accepted!

I offer a 15 percent discount for teachers! Discounts for paying in advance are offered to everyone.

If you’re interested, and payment is an obstacle, don’t hesitate to email me— we’ll see if we can work something out! :)