I am passionate about translating that information into achievable and sustainable changes in the lives of my clients, patients, and audiences in order to help them reach their health care goals.

Prior to my training at Bastyr University, I worked in Vermont with adolescents in psychiatric crisis. As a residential counselor, it became clear to me that their food choices impacted their levels of anxiety, irritability, and depression for the children and adolesents in the program. Additionally, their food choices often predicted their negative behavior within a two to three hour window. I was fascinated, and continued to study the physiology behind such observations.

As a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, I bring three filters of understanding to the body, mind and spirit. First, I was trained much like a medical doctor to use the tools of diagnosis in order to identify diseases such as anemia, hypothyroidism and diabetes, which can feel like depression, fatigue, or anxiety.  Secondly, my training as a naturopathic physician enables me to understand the individual physiology causing the symptoms of depression, anxiety, overeating, and addictive behaviors. Thirdly, in utilizing the 2000 year old tradition of Chinese Medicine, I promote the integration of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual planes in order to facilitate healing.

In addition, I have trained in the mindfulness practice of Aikido in the Shingu Lineage since 1992. I am the third generation of women teachers. As a fourth degree black belt under Kimberly Richardson Sensei, who is sixth degree black belt, it is our tradition to live an embodied life, one where we use the tools of mindfulness and practice to refine and polish what we most struggle with in our lives. The practice of aikido provides me with intimate understanding about how challenging it is to change one’s habits.  The practice of body-based mindfulness offers tools for harmonizing both external and internal conflict.

For the last decade, I have developed educational programs for national audiences. Here are some of the organizations which I have been invited to offer seminars and trainings on how to optimize brains for a number of years.  For more information please see my linked in page. 

  • PESI -provide two-day continuing education to mental health professionals on how food, sleep and exercise improves mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, addiction, ADHD, and insomnia

  • Vistage - half day presentation to 14 to 16 CEOs in a peer support meeting on "How to Optimize Brains for Better Decision Making and Preventing Burnout"

  • Court Improvement Training Academy of University of Washington - Developing integrated program to improve resilience for high stake events for child welfare courts which prevents burnout and improve outcomes .

  • Advanced Association of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners - provided education and programs to advance the use of laboratory diagnosis and nutrition for the treatment of mental health conditions.

  • Washington Superior Court Judges Annual Conference on how to optimize their brains and bodies for better decision making, improved energy and health.

 

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Buddha