I started to research nutrition and was overwhelmed with the conflicting information: are fats good or bad? Is there really a difference between eating 1800 calories or 2000?  I decided I wanted to become an expert in nutrition.  I wanted to be able to decipher the myths and facts. 

 

The Internet was just getting popular; I used it to discover holistic nutrition and psychoneuroimmunology.  I sent letters (snail mail!) to nutritionists around the country asking them where they got their education.  I received a few responses and the majority suggested Bastyr University as the leader in naturopathy and holistic nutrition. 

 

Bastyr was exactly the type of education and excellence I wanted.  The philosophy of eating whole foods was a complete paradigm shift! After graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor’s in Science, majoring in Nutrition, I was offered a job with the Quinault Indian Reservation, via a diabetes education grant.  I spent 3 years working closely with the tribe.  I quickly realized helping people get healthy required more than apples, whole grains and exercise.  One day, a woman was in my office for a nutrition session, but she was in tears talking about a family tragedy.  I knew I didn’t have the tools to support her professionally and emotionally.   I then returned to Bastyr to complete two masters degrees:  Clinical Nutrition and Clinical Health Psychology.   In addition, I began my dear mentorship with Char Sundust, a Native American medicine woman.  All of this intellectual and spiritual learning has provided a rock solid foundation of holistic care: body, mind and spirit.

 

After graduation I worked for several years at The Moore Center for Eating Disorders, a partial hospitalization clinic.  It was constant crisis intervention, high needs, long hours.  I am eternally grateful for the experience I gained there. 

 

I moved into private practice in 2011.  I relished the freedom to treat clients based on their unique needs.  One of the tenets of traditional eating disorder treatment is “all foods fit.”  I disagree.  While I do support the 80/20 rule (nothing in absolutes) I guarantee quality food makes a true difference in your peace of mind and biochemistry.   I consider myself primarily a therapist.  75% of the work I do is about the mind, heart and behaviors.  25% is about metabolism and food choices. 

 

I am always learning professionally and personally.  I have 2 professional supervisors and a spiritual mentor that I meet with regularly. 

 

If you have read this far and still have questions, I welcome them.