This is where most professionals would, essentially, give you a resume. But aside from the fact that I have multiple university degrees, certificates, and a clinical license (all of which are typical for therapists), I think it's more important that you learn about my philosophy.

The following will cover my overall philosophy but please know that I'm both a clinical nutritionist and a mental health therapist. I can combine the two into one service (which I call nutritional psychotherapy) but I also separate them, if desired. Read more about my services here.

What Does it Mean to be Holistic?

Unfortunately, holism has been stigmatized, especially in certain religious cultures who unknowingly teach holism themselves. For this reason, I felt it important to clarify it here. I did yoga teacher training in India. Yoga is Sanskrit which means "to yoke." In essence, yoga is about overcoming the natural man by yoking, or unifying, the body, mind, and spirit. It teaches to notice that everything is connected and to honor that.

I operate from a holistic perspective. Holistic means recognizing that everything is circumscribed into one, great whole. So instead of labeling you by your diagnosis and only treating your symptoms (a conventional approach), I strive to see you as a person and consider everything affecting your diagnos(es), including diet*, lifestyle, and environment. Everything truly is interconnected. If we compartmentalize anything, we are doing it wrong because we are missing so many variables.

Please note that holism (being holistic) is a philosophy rather than an organizational structure. You might notice that some mental health clinics are hiring dietitians because they are starting to realize the importance of nutrition in health, but a very important distinction is that by hiring another provider or referring out to another specialist, they are merely being integrative rather than holistic. Being integrative isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it's often used synonymously with being holistic, but these terms do not have the same definition. An integrative practice will still focus on addressing symptoms rather than root causes and a whole-person approach.

Mental Health Therapy in Utah

While I like to be as holistic as possible, I am conventionally trained as a therapist. For those who need it, I do EMDR, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and emotional freedom techniques (EFT or “tapping”).

I operate from a two-pillar approach. First, mental, emotional, and spiritual health (most therapists do this part). Second, the part that conventional therapy is missing, which is a natural, biochemical approach to mental health. I believe how we live our lives and what we eat affects how we feel, both physically and mentally. This is called epigenetics and it's where nutrition comes in.

I may be the only nutritional and metabolic psychotherapist in the state of Utah. That means I could be the only licensed mental health therapist in the state who also practices clinical nutrition as a standalone service (let me know if you find another one; I'd love to collaborate).

Often, things like digestive issues, blood sugar problems, food sensitivities, and nutrient deficiencies are the biochemical sources of your mental illness or physical symptoms. You can feel better with conventional therapy or medication, but if you want lasting improvement by addressing more than just symptoms, you’ll want to address the lifestyle factors as well.

In conventional circles, it's normal to assume that I specialize in eating disorders. This is because Americans are used to the Western medical model, which is about specializing and focusing only on symptoms. Under that model, we simply put food and mental illness together and conclude with eating disorders. I do not specialize in eating disorders. There’s typically a lot of trauma behind disordered eating which needs special care. However, not specializing in something does not mean that I'm unwilling to work with it. Disordered eating most likely will improve with proper nutrition, when done carefully. I am willing to see patients who have unhealthy relationships with food if they have a sincere desire to improve, but severe cases of disordered eating will probably be referred elsewhere.

Clinical Nutrition in Utah and Nutrition-friendly States and Countries

I have a food-first approach. Our bodies are part of nature, and Nature provides us with everything we need. The more we separate ourselves from nature, the more disease we have. The closer to nature, the better. Natural, organic food tends to be more nutrient-dense, purer, and more bioavailable than conventional foods. So that’s what we want for our bodies. Contrary to popular belief, food is far more than the sum of its calories. It’s not just fuel; It’s nourishment. If you feed your body with low-quality food, you can expect low-quality health. Quality matters! So while I do sell high-quality supplements for those who need the extra support, I teach that you can't out-supplement a poor diet and lifestyle.

I generally lean toward the ideal of an omnivorous diet and one that is higher in fat and lower in carbs. There are many scientific and ancestral reasons for this. But I do not provide a temporary solution, a quick-fix diet, or a band-aid approach to wellness. I am willing to work with you if you have specific needs for vegetarianism or carnivore, or need a low-fat diet for medical reasons. Our bodies are bioindividual, so I am willing to adjust to your individual needs!

If you need help with weight loss, that may be a healthy goal, but I'm looking deeper at what health problems might be causing weight problems. If we can address the root cause, your weight management will be more sustainable and it won't result in yo-yo dieting.

Whether you want help with weight management, autoimmunity, digestive issues (such as IBS), inflammation, chronic fatigue, infertility, or something else, my approach will probably help!

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Further questions? Schedule a consultation or send an email.

See you soon,

Cody M. Cox, CMHC, NTP

Utah’s Nutritional Psychotherapist

Clinical Nutritionist & Holistic Mental Health Counselor

*Some would say that it’s politically incorrect to say “diet.” The word actually comes from the ancient Greek and literally means “a manner of living.” Notice that it has nothing to do with weight loss or body image, and it is neutral. In a modern context, I consider it to be a scientific term referring simply to what we eat, whether planned or unplanned. It is not a weight-loss regimen unless you want it to be.