Spark Vibrant Health
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About

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My work with clients is customized and unique to meet your needs. My clients love working with me because I am knowledgeable, personable, practical, and offer a personalized approach to health. 

What is Therapeutic Nutrition?

Therapeutic nutrition is an investigative approach to health and wellness. It's about uncovering the root causes behind your symptoms, and then using dietary, supplemental and lifestyle change as therapeutic tools for real resolution and healing. It's built using the principles of functional medicine which include the importance of biochemical individuality, the interconnections between every aspect of physiology, and a patient-centered, rather than disease-centered approach. The goal is vigorous, vibrant, vivacious health, not just the absence of disease!

My Philosophy

Address the Cause

The symptoms you are experiencing are important clues that tell us more about what's going on inside your body. I like to illustrate my philosophy with a simple example: Imagine you are on a beautiful hike and start to experience an intense sharp pain in the bottom of your foot because you have been walking this whole time with a rock in your shoe. You have a choice here. You can keep walking with the rock in your shoe and eventually have a more serious issue on your hands, you can take some Ibuprofen to manage the pain, OR you can do the sensible thing and sit down, take off your shoe and remove the source of the pain-the rock! I liken this to the work that we do together. We figure out what's causing your symptoms in the first place and address those underlying causes, rather than simply managing it. We take out the rock! This investigative, root cause approach sets me apart from other health care practitioners. 
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Connect the Dots

Let's make sense of your symptoms, and unravel the mystery of why you aren't feeling your best. Often when we don't feel well and we don't know why, we can feel confused, frustrated and betrayed by our own bodies. I believe that our bodies are always working in our best interest, even if that means a pounding headache or an upset stomach. The symptoms you are experiencing are clues and perhaps even cries for help. It's our job to translate those signals and dig deep for the cause of your discomfort.

Honor the Individual

There are no set programs or plans to follow when you work with me. Everything is customized to meet your unique needs and life circumstances.  Many of my clients have been there and done that. They have tried everything, but are still struggling.  That is why they come to me. I offer a personalized and comprehensive approach to wellness. 

Educate & Empower

Education is empowering! The learning that takes place during our work together will serve you for the rest of your life! No one will ever value your health more than you do, including me. I'm here as your advocate, your teacher and your ally. I'm here to encourage, care, inspire, and find answers, but ultimately you are the decision maker, the implementer and the one who must care the most. The more you understand about how your body works and why sometimes it doesn't, the more empowered you become to make choices that support your health goals. You have the power to rewrite your story and change the way you feel! 
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How It Works

When you are ready to learn more, book a free 20 minute phone call so we can get a chance to get to know one another and make sure we are a good fit. After that you can choose from a 3 month, 6 month or 8 month consultation package that includes one Initial Assessment and anywhere from 3-12 follow up sessions. During our time together we will do a lot of investigative work, and layer changes at a pace that feels good and sustainable for you. 
Initial Assessment (90 minutes)
The initial assessment is our first appointment and takes place after all the paperwork has been filled out and the information is in. This is when you get to tell your story, elaborate on your health goals, determine any potential barriers or road blocks, and set a clear path for the road ahead. 
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Follow-Up Sessions (60 minutes)
This is where the real magic happens! Consistent and regular consultations allow us to make the most out of working together.  It creates a space for the investigative process, which is the key to discovering why you aren't feeling your best. It also creates space for us to build up your health, and put all the missing puzzle pieces back in place. This is the best way to address long-standing health challenges and perplexing health concerns. 

Supplementation
I use safe, effective supplemental therapies, using only the best therapeutic professional grade supplements tested for purity and effectiveness. Supplementation is completely optional and is considered on a case by case basis.
My guidelines for supplementation use
  • supplements must address the root cause, not just symptoms
  • supplements are supportive and restorative, they can never take the place of a good diet
  • they are safe and effective, only the highest quality
  • I won't ask you take anything that I don't believe is a game changer
  • supplementation is always optional and is never a substitute for dietary change
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Lifestyle Change
There are other important aspects of health that contribute to your well being. Work, relationships, stress management, sleep, mindset, these all play such a vital role and cannot be ignored or swept under the rug. Clients who open up to making change in these important areas of their life will see the greatest improvements.

About Me

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My personal long-standing struggle with complex, chronic and debilitating health problems is now what fuels my passion, empathy, and resolve to help others who are suffering from poor health. The food you eat (and don't eat) and the way you live your life are some of the most powerful tools you have to reverse the trend of degeneration that is plaguing so many of us today. Food is powerful information to the human body. It has the power to change your physiology and how your body functions on a very real, cellular level. Dietary and lifestyle change have the power to set your health and your whole life on a new course. In order to live your fullest and most authentic life, you will need to be performing and feeling your best. I can help you get there. My education, experience and expertise along with my unquenchable curiosity have helped others just like you restore vibrancy, vitality and vigor back into your life. Call for a free consultation with me to learn more.
  • Master's Degree in Human Nutrition & Functional Medicine: University of Bridgeport, 2016-present 
  • Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Certified by Nutritional Therapy Association, 2014
  • Gardening & Nutrition Teacher: Willow Creek Academy Charter School, 2014-2016
  • Digestive Intensive Graduate: Holistic Nutrition Lab, 2015
  • Kresser Institute: SIBO Course, 2016​
  • Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science: Brigham Young University, 2008
  • Associate of Science in Community Health: Utah Valley University, 2005​

My Story

sI once struggled with debilitating digestive problems that began in my teens, only to find myself in my early 20's as a new mom riddled with extreme fatigue, chronic joint pain, chronic sinus infections, acne, rashes, agonizing constipation, constant headaches and one illness after another. I went from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist without any relief or hope of figuring out what in the world was going on or why was I falling apart. They poked and prodded, but came up empty handed without explanation or answers. 

A light bulb came on for me when I read the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. It changed everything I had ever learned about food and health, and I realized that the food I ate could have a profound impact on the way I felt. I slowly started changing the way my family ate, the water we drank, the products we used in our home, etc. To my utter disappointment I did't get any better or miraculously heal like so many others had, but I did manage to slow my rapid decline. That wasn't good enough, but it was the spark that ignited my curiosity and determination.

It was many years, many books, many podcasts, many courses, and eventually going back to school for a Master's in Nutrition and Functional Medicine that I was finally able to recover my health, restore my energy and vitality and come back to life. It was the most agonizing, frustrating and utterly exhilarating roller coaster ride of my life (thus far). I learned that I had more power and control over my own health than I ever imagined and I developed an appreciation and reverence for my magnificent body that could be gained in no other way. The real changes in my health finally came when I learned to look deeper than the symptoms and find the root causes, the common denominators, and address those rather than the symptoms. It changed everything for me and so many seemingly unrelated symptoms finally started to resolve.


My passion for this work is rooted in a deep knowing that health is possible, illness is optional. I'd love to help guide you on your journey back to outstanding health and well being.
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