There are many theories of counseling which, by themselves, can make therapists disagree on what’s best for someone. Similarly, there are different theories of nutrition! There’s conventional, holistic/functional, vegetarianism, veganism, carnivore, keto, paleo, and so many more ideals. But which is right? It just depends. So here’s how I generally see things and how these seemingly separate disciplines (mental health and nutrition) converge.

I operate from a holistic perspective. Before you run away (I used to be afraid of that word, too), holistic just means that everything is connected 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. The more I study health, the more I realize that everything truly is interconnected. If we compartmentalize anything, we are doing it wrong because we are missing so many variables.

With that said, my approach to mental health is this: How we live our lives and what we eat affects how we feel. This is called epigenetics. I use nutrition to support proper healing of the mind because nutrition is the biology of mental health. Often, something like digestive issues, blood sugar problems, food sensitivities, and nutrient deficiencies are the biological source of your mental illness. Sure, you can feel better with conventional therapy or medication, but if you want lasting improvement, you’ll want to address the lifestyle factors as well. Heal your body to heal your mind; they are connected.

You might notice that many mental health clinics in the area are hiring dietitians. I think therapists are starting to realize that mental health is not just about psychology, but the problem with hiring dietitians is that you (the patient) are seeing multiple clinicians and paying multiple fees, and your dietitian and therapist aren’t ever on the same page. Dietitians have a lot of training, so I don’t want to discount them, but I believe it’s better, for you, that the clinician has both the psychology and nutrition training.

Here’s where conventional dietitians may disagree with me. My philosophy of nutrition is that fresh, whole foods are better than any commercial product you can buy. 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. Food is far more than the sum of its calories. It’s not just fuel; It’s nourishment. So quality matters!

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. However, 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!

You might ask, what about eating disorders? In my professional opinion, eating disorders are part of addictions counseling. There’s typically a lot of trauma behind disordered eating which needs special care. However, disordered eating most likely will improve with proper nutrition, when done carefully.

Lastly, I want to point out that nutrition isn’t the only thing I do. I am conventionally trained as a therapist, too. For those who need it, I do EMDR, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and emotional freedom techniques (EFT or “tapping”). So don’t think that seeing me will be the same as seeing a dietitian or general nutritionist; my work is about doing psychotherapy in a clinical setting.

After all that, I know some may still be thinking I’m a “quack” just because I used the word holistic. I don’t want to have to convince you, so if you are still thinking my services aren’t your thing, that’s okay! There are many, many therapists who will sit with you and do talk therapy or other conventional things. But for those who recognize that mental health and physical health are intimately connected and nutrition supports both, and if you’re willing to learn and try new things, I may be your therapist.

Schedule a free consultation or book a session with me.

See you soon,

Cody M. Cox, CMHC

Nutritional Psychotherapist 

*Gasp! I used the word diet! Isn’t that politically incorrect now? Diet 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.