FAQs

The following are questions you may have if you are new to nutrition counseling. Please reach out with any other questions.

What conditions may benefit from nutrition therapy?

In addition to preventive measures, nutrition therapy can help individuals to better manage disease symptoms and may often lessen the dependence on long term pharmaceutical use. Some examples of conditions that may benefit from nutrition therapy/counseling are:

  • Obesity

  • Type II Diabetes

  • Heart Disease

  • Autoimmunity (including IBD, Hashimoto’s, RA, etc)

  • Hormone Issues

  • Gut Health Issues

  • Post-cancer

    ...and more

How can someone with IBD benefit from nutrition therapy?

Nutrition is a huge part of symptom management when it comes to Crohn’s and Colitis. What we eat, as well as how we handle stress, how we sleep, how much movement we engage in, and how we supplement all play a huge role our body’s inflammatory response. Nutrition therapy, along with lifestyle modifications, can impact this response and can help improve an individual’s response to needed pharmaceuticals.

What is a Certified Nutrition Specialist®?

The Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®) designation, is an advanced credential requiring a masters degree or higher in clinical nutrition, the completion of 1000 supervised clinical hours in nutrition assessment, intervention, education, counseling, management, monitoring and evaluating as well as the successful completion of the BCNS administered exam. The CNS® approach to care involves practicing from a functional approach where every aspect of one's health is considered; diet, overall lifestyle, medications, toxins, and illnesses. This allows the development of a personalized nutrition strategy to support optimal health.

What is nutrigenomics?

Nutrigenomics is defined as the science of the effect of genetic variation on dietary response and the role of nutrients and bioactive food compounds in gene expression. In other words, how our genes impact our health and how our health impacts our genes! Having the knowledge of what we refer to as SNPs, or gene variations, can help in guiding clients to making personalized food, supplement and lifestyle choices that reflect their specific needs, hence truly making nutrition personalized. This often allows for better management of symptoms that may have a genetic component and can help clients optimize health.


Do I need genetic testing?

You do not need to undergo genetic testing to work with a nutritionist. However, it can be beneficial, particularly for those who have made many positive changes and are still struggling. If you have had any testing done by 23andMe® or Ancestry®, the raw data from your test results can be further analyzed and recommendations can be made based on your genetic SNPs. If you have not had testing done and are interested there are several companies that I recommend, which we can discuss during your consultation.


What is functional testing?

After our initial consult, I may suggest exploring some functional lab testing options in order to get a better picture of your health and be able to give more specific guidance. Functional lab work involves testing blood, urine and/or stool samples to evaluate biochemical, nutrient, microbial, and hormonal imbalances and may help to answer the question of “why” a particular health issue may exist. By using these tests to help correct an underlying imbalance, we can restore this balance and work toward achieving optimal health. This may help current treatments work more effectively or eliminate the need for further medical treatment (as decided by your doctor). These tests are used in conjunction with conventional lab tests to provide a comprehensive look at how your body is functioning and what systems may need the most attention.


How many sessions will I need?

The amount of sessions required differs for everyone. The health issue at hand, how dedicated the client is to change, and how comfortable the client feels continuing to progress without the guidance of a nutritionist are all factors that determine how many sessions may be warranted. I understand that finances also come into play and this is always taken into consideration when devising a plan to move forward. During your initial follow we will discuss how many sessions we anticipate you will need to reach the goals we establish together. I do offer a 6 session package that most clients take advantage of as that tends to be the minimal amount of time to see truly beneficial changes.


Do I need a referral?

If you do not wish to seek reimbursement from your insurance company, you do NOT need a referral from your doctor to see a nutritionist. If you have ConnectiCare or Anthem BCBS of CT insurance (which I participate with) you should contact them to ensure nutrition services are covered and find out if a referral is needed. If you have insurance with another company or are outside of CT, you should contact your insurance company and ask if services will be covered. A referral will most likely be required, which will allow me to prepare proper documentation for you to submit to your insurance company.


How does virtual/remote counseling work?

Telehealth is an effective, convenient and secure way in which to receive one-on-one or group health services that eliminates travel and inflexible appointment times. Thanks to Covid, most of us are now pretty familiar with how telehealth works! However, if you have never video conferenced with someone online, trust me, it’s quite simple.

The day prior to your scheduled appointment, you will receive a reminder email containing a link that will take you to our virtual meeting. A web cam (which most computers have built in) and a microphone are all that are required for you to have.

What can I expect for my first appointment?

Once you have made the first step and booked an appointment you can expect the following:

  • You will receive several emails from Practice Better®, a HIPAA compliant site designed for practitioner/client interaction, where you can set up your client portal, complete forms, and communicate with me all in one place.

  • I ask all new clients to complete a 3 day food diary and gather any lab work done in the past year.

  • You will receive a reminder email the day before your appointment with a link to join me in my virtual office at your scheduled time.

  • At our 60 minute initial consult we will discuss your current health concerns, review recent lab work, and establish realistic and attainable goals.

  • We will then schedule a 45 minute follow up where we will review your personalized nutrition plan. This may involve dietary, lifestyle and supplement changes as well as any functional testing or further medical referrals necessary.  

  • We can then decide if more sessions are warranted.