Functional Medicine
Modern functional medicine for health optimization, through the 5 M Method™
Functional medicine for health optimization
I’m a Functional Medicine Practitioner focused on health optimization. I work through the 5 M Method™, the modern functional medicine approach I developed. It’s a wide lens view of your health. Instead of chasing one symptom at a time, we look at your whole story across five connected areas and optimize your health as a whole.
Does this sound like you?
- Tired all the time, or crashing by mid-afternoon
- Cravings and weight that will not shift
- Bloating, or a gut that just feels off
- Brain fog or trouble focusing
- Hormone changes, including perimenopause and menopause
- Your labs seem normal, but you still don’t feel well
- You know what to do, but you can’t stick with it
You are not broken. Your body is giving you information. My job is to help you read it.
The 5 M Method™
All five M’s are interconnected. When one shifts, the others follow. Your values and health story shape how full each piece is today. We find the gaps and fill them together.
- Metabolism (insulin resistance, the foundation)Metabolism comes first because the other four M’s depend on it. When your blood sugar and insulin are steady, your energy, gut, strength and mind all have a stronger base to work from.Many people are told their labs are normal, yet they still feel tired, inflamed, foggy or stuck. I look at your metabolism at a deeper level, spotting early patterns in your bloodwork, lifestyle and body before they become disease.What we look at: fasting insulin and glucose, HbA1C trends, triglyceride to HDL ratio, liver enzymes, thyroid patterns beyond basic ranges, and signs like skin tags.How we support it: food-first blood sugar balance, meal timing, fibre and polyphenols, and calming your stress response.
- Mitochondria (energy)Your get-up-and-go and cellular optimization. Mitochondria are the power plants inside every cell. When they struggle, you feel it as low energy, slow recovery and brain fog. We support them with sleep, sunlight, breathing, movement and the right nutrients, so your energy lasts from morning to night.
- Microbiome (gut health)Your digestion, immunity and inflammation. Higher blood sugar feeds the wrong bacteria, so your gut and your metabolism move together. I can use genomic and gut testing to see how well your body is doing, and your food, mood and poop journal shows what your gut needs day to day.
- Movement (strength)Muscle is one of your best tools for steady blood sugar. Strength training and mobility make your metabolism more efficient and keep you moving well as you age. Movement also lifts your mood, so we build a plan you will enjoy.
- MindBody (hypnosis and NLP, the key)Most people know what to do. The subconscious decides whether they do it. Hypnosis and NLP clear old patterns, help you decide without looping, and release unconscious loyalties, so every other change can stick. Mind and body are linked and cannot be separated.Learn about Hypnosis and NLP sessions
Lifestyle surrounds all five
Lifestyle is vital. It is the wider lens that surrounds and holds all five M’s.
Whole foods nutrition comes first. Using your food journal, I look for anything inflammatory affecting any of your 5 M’s.
- Whole foods nutrition
- Sleep
- Social connection
- Sunlight exposure
- Breathing
- Stress management
- Timeline Goals
- Purpose and meaning
- Environment
Nutrition and lifestyle keep your 5 M’s optimized.
Optional genomic and gut testing
Testing is never required. When it will help your plan, many of my clients choose these through my trusted partner, Stride Genomics:
- Nutrigenomics
Shows how your genes affect the nutrients your cells need, so we can find the ones you may be missing for healthy cellular function. - Methylation
Looks at your detox capacity: your body’s ability to clear metabolic waste products and environmental toxins. - Biome
Shows how your good gut bacteria are doing compared with the bad, or dysbiotic, bacteria. After we optimize your diet, you can retest to see how far you have come, alongside how you feel.
How a consult works
Your whole storyI look at your health journey from birth to today, and everything that influences how you feel.
Map your 5 M’sWe see how full each piece is right now, and where the gaps are.
Connect the dotsWe see how the five areas affect each other, and where small changes make the biggest difference.
Your clear action planA step-by-step plan built around your values and goals, and I’m by your side as you go.
Your food, mood and poop journalAfter your first consult, you track what you eat, how you feel and your bowel movements. This journal is common in functional medicine assessments, and it shows how your body responds to food.
Your follow-up sessionWe review your journal to see how well your nutrition is being metabolized, along with your bloodwork and your genomic results, if you tested.
Modern Functional Medicine
60 minutes, plus 5% GST. Online from anywhere, or in person on Vancouver Island. Works alongside your medical care, not in place of it.
Book a Functional Medicine ConsultFollow-up Session
60 minutes, plus 5% GST. Includes your bloodwork review, your food, mood and poop journal review, and your genomic review, if you tested.
Book a Follow-up SessionHypnosis and NLP Changework
Want to break an old habit, calm worry, or reach a new level? My hypnosis and NLP sessions are their own service, with their own page.
Explore Hypnosis and NLPGetting started: book by completing my Functional Medicine Intake Form. I will be in touch within 2 business days to confirm your time. Payment is due before your session begins. Have a quick question first? Use my contact form.
Questions
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly.
Is this online or in person?
Both. I work with clients worldwide online, and in person on Vancouver Island.
Will you work with my doctor?
Yes. I am happy to work alongside your physician or health care team.
Do I have to do testing?
No. Testing is only recommended when it will change your plan.