Nicole's Philosophy
At YLN, Nicole enjoys working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. For her, it is important to collaborate with like-minded dietitians who seek to understand the root causes of each patient’s challenges. She also says that she’s relentlessly curious and that this trait informs her approach to working with her clients.
That curiosity led her to become a GAPS (Gut & Psychology Systems) Practitioner after a friend asked her to research the GAPS diet for her daughter, who was diagnosed with a processing disorder. Nicole shares, “I'm very client-lead in my career development. I often find myself inspired by a client or a group of clients or a disease state. And then I just learn everything I can and incorporate my learnings into my practice.” The field of dietetics is constantly evolving and expanding, which provides Nicole with a constant stream of inspiration.
Like her colleagues at YLN, she also believes in approaching her work with each client holistically. Nicole completed over 1,500 hours of training with Chris Kesser, an acupuncturist and functional medicine practitioner in the Bay Area who founded the Kesser Institute. Her training was instrumental in growing her understanding of the connection between the brain and gut health. She’s also willing to go on a deep dive for her patients and will order labs that their physician might have overlooked.
She says, “If a client wants a deeper understanding of their situation, say if they have a complex autoimmune condition, my knowledge of functional medicine is a tool in my toolbox that I can use to help them understand the underlying factors impacting their health.”
Nicole also leads with empathy. In her work with neuro-divergent patients, for example, Nicole views the connection between nutrition and wellness through a uniquely personal lens – she was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at 14 and has experienced first-hand how diet can positively impact one’s life. She shares, “I understand it from a clinical perspective, but also because I have boots on the ground. I have ADHD, and I have a child who has ADHD. So I understand the difficulties of meal prep and the creativity needed to make it work.”
Nicole also believes that to succeed, the client/dietitian relationship must function as a partnership. She says, “I don't see myself as being in the driver's seat. Sometimes, clients only expect me to tell them what they need to eat. They want me to drive the bus, so to speak, and I’m like, ‘No, you're gonna drive the bus. I'm gonna sit next to you with the map. And we're going to figure it out together.’ Ultimately, the client is in charge of their life and choices. And I'm here as this sherpa, riding shotgun, helping them to figure it out. Because I believe that is the approach that empowers them to create lasting change.”