Our Process

Program Overview

Because each person's situation is unique, the NutriEssentials program is customized based on your individual needs. Typically, you will need a minimum of two sessions to assess, plan and implement your personal program. Here's an overview of the types of sessions available. Fees and further information are outlined in greater detail below.

· Initial Session- We assess your health, medical history, health habits, nutritional needs. Begin the educational process.

· Lab Work- You take lab materials to a local lab, have your blood drawn for analysis.

· Second Session- Review the findings, receive your personalized program binder, discuss next steps.

· Follow-Up Sessions- Review and discuss questions and issues regarding how you're doing implementing your program. The first follow-up session is recommended two weeks after your second session, with additional sessions based on your unique situation and ongoing needs.

· Supplement Review and Re-Testing- Optional follow-up sessions depending on your needs and goals.

Explanation of Sessions and Fees

The NutriEssentials program is designed to help you achieve a state of balance or optimal health. It does not diagnose or treat disease or illness. Rather, the focus is on promoting health; on educating you about specific choices you can make everyday to provide your body with the essential nutrients and experiences it needs to be as healthy as it can be. The goal is for you to feel energetic, clear headed and alive–to optimize your state of health and stave off preventable degenerative diseases.

Determining your body’s own specific needs is easier said than done. The strength of the NutriEssentials program is that it goes well beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to health, using your body chemistry to determine your personal metabolic environment and needs.

Your current and future health is a result of choices you make today, plus your own genetic predisposition, your medical history, your stress level, and any environ-mental exposures. For example, if you live in a polluted environment or if you have a mouth full of mercury silver amalgams or work around a lot of chemicals, this can certainly affect your health.

How Does the Program Work?

Getting started involves around 3 hours of consultation time (face-to-face or telephone is fine) in two separate appointments. It also includes at least 60-90 minutes “behind the scenes” work on your program to research and prepare your written report.

Once you decide to do the NutriEssentials program, you will receive health history forms to fill out via email or regular mail. Please fill them completely and bring them with you to our appointment, or fax / email them in the event of a phone appointment.

Initial visit: 90 minutes ($185)

Here we will review the forms in detail. You will learn a lot about physiology and food, how it affects your health, your chemistry and your energy. Come prepared to focus and to learn. We will determine which labs would yield the most productive or important findings based upon your health goals and plan for your visit to the lab. Initial recommendations will also be made at this time.

Lab Tests

Everyone’s need for lab testing is unique. Tests may include blood, saliva, urine or stool testing and depends upon your personal health issues. Blood tests are usually drawn using a lab kit through a local lab or hospital near you, depending where you live. They may charge a fee for drawing blood. You will be given all the information and materials you need.

Second Visit: 90 Minutes ($250)

Once your lab results are received, your program will be developed and a 35-50 page report of findings prepared. The report is loaded with specific information about you and your health based upon your lab findings. This will be reviewed in its entirety. Roll up your sleeves and come prepared to work.

Your program is a detailed plan that includes specific dietary and nutritional recommendations along with specific lifestyle suggestions (for example, lymphatic scrubs or detoxification therapy or increased aerobic activity) to meet your goals.

60-90 minutes of “behind the scenes” time is included in the preparation of your program and built into the cost of your appointments. For people with more complex health issues requiring additional research and planning beyond 90 minutes, you will be billed an hourly rate of $135.

Often the first program has a strong emphasis on rebalancing, cleansing and / or reduction of inflammation. If you are interested in nutritional supplements, recommendations will be included as well. This alleviates the guesswork involved in trying to figure out which vitamins, minerals or food concentrates are best for you at any given time.

People often leave this visit with so much information that it them takes several days to review and process the findings. Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed at first. Change takes time. The first step to learning any new thing is often confusion. All the information you need is in your program in great detail.

Follow-Up: 30 - 60 Minutes ($65 / $135)

Once you embark on the recommendations in your program, your energy and experience of your health experience will begin to change. You can expect questions and challenges to arise, as changing years of lifelong habits can be an intense process. If you are taking supplements, you may feel these changes more quickly.

A two- three week follow-up appointment provides an opportunity to review the program, be sure you understand the correct balance of acid and alkaline producing foods, that you are taking your supplements correctly and that any detoxification program is coming along. Write down your questions and bring them with you to this appointment!

If you are taking nutritional supplements, they will begin to run out in approximately 6 weeks. Whether or not you are taking supplements, please schedule an appointment around this time to review how you are doing and plan your next cycle. It takes consistent messages in the form of healthy nutritional input to re-educate your body and meet your health goals. If change was easy, we’d all do it, effortlessly! Please stay on track by keeping your follow-up appointments and supplements organized. Don’t let the supplements just run out if you can help it. Additional follow-up is individual and based upon your own program, goals and needs.

Re-Testing

In 4-6 months, you may wish to repeat your lab work to assess your progress and to determine any changes in priorities. You may retest sooner in certain circumstances requiring more specific monitoring. Next steps, additional testing and future follow-up will depend upon your personal program goals and progress.

Phone and Email

I am always available to you by phone or email, and often email responses can be quicker. 15 minutes of phone or email follow up is included in your program. Beyond that, I will charge you my hourly rate of $135. Much of what I do for you is “behind the scenes," and I heavily discount labs and supplements to make the process more affordable for my clients. Please understand I must bill for my time, and I ask you to help me make that as easy as possible.

Payment

We accept cash, check and credit cards for payment at the time of service. Please contact me to discuss any specific concerns or needs you may have.

If you request that I order nutritional supplements for you, which I can often do at a discount below market prices, you must place your credit card information on file with NutriEssentials.

NutriEssentials services and lab testing usually qualify for coverage through Health Savings Account (HSA) funds. Services and labs may also be reimbursable by health insurance if you become a patient of our Petaluma office. Please ask about this, as it will change the fee structure of the program.

Thank you again for your interest in the NutriEssentials program. I hope this has answered your questions. You are invited to a free consultation to help you decide whether a nutrition-consulting program is right for you.