INTEGRATIVE HEALTH + NUTRITION
If you’re looking to deepen your connection with your body, resolve health concerns, and cultivate a healthier you, we encourage you to explore our functional nutrition + integrative health offerings. Begin with our Holistic Health Coach and Holistic Nutritionist in San Francisco.
Offered Virtually and In-Person at Our San Francisco Location
Benicia offers Virtual Only
The Connective offers a variety of holistic health coaching, nutritionist, and functional lab testing services where clients and practitioners work closely together to identify the underlying cause of illness, fatigue, imbalances, mood changes, and other mysterious symptoms, and take a holistic approach to restoring optimal health and wellness. Our Integrative Health Team offerings are extensive and so much more than identifying what foods to eat. Please read on to learn more about how our multidisciplinary team can support you in caring for your body, mind, and soul. Alternatively, you can schedule a call with our Client Coordinator to discuss your health goals and create an integrative wellness plan to address your specific needs.
FUNCTIONAL + INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION counseling
Our nutrition practices are firmly grounded in Functional Nutrition, which seeks to identify the root cause of an individual’s health challenges, rather than masking the symptoms. A comprehensive health, nutrition, and lifestyle assessment will guide your personalized healing protocol. Functional labs are recommended to gain a deeper understanding of how your body systems are functioning. You’ll identify healing opportunities within the hormonal, immune, digestive, and detoxification systems, among others, and use the therapeutic power of food to build the foundation of long-lasting optimal health.
Nutrition Sessions are holistic and integrative in their approach to wellness by addressing lifestyle changes and integrating a variety of therapeutic techniques that will improve overall vitality. Together you will identify any areas in your life that could be negatively impacting your overall well-being. Sessions may address stress management, managing a chronic illness, sleep, nervous system dysregulation, behavioral or other health-related goals to ultimately increase energy levels, create long-lasting behavior change, and feel more at ease in your body.
We practice body-inclusive nutrition. Research shows that weight is not solely responsible for one’s health, health is multifaceted and people of all body sizes deserve equitable care. Taking a non-diet approach that integrates intuitive eating, mindfulness and gentle nutrition practices are more effective in improving overall wellness.
specialties include…
Managing an Illness + Healing:
Digestive Problems + Gut Function
Thyroid + Adrenal Health
Lyme Disease
Mold Toxicity
High Toxic Burden
Acne + Skin Issues
Celiac Disease
Autoimmune Disease + Healing from Chronic Illness
Chronic Inflammation
Blood Sugar Balance
Food Allergies, Sensitivities, + Intolerances
Navigating a New Diagnosis
Nutrition for Mental Health:
Eating for your Mood
Emotional Eating & Disordered Eating
Nutrition for ADHD
Insomnia
Brain Health
Managing Anxiety, Stress, & Depression Mood
Mind I Body Connection
Nervous System Regulation
Nutrient deficiencies associated with mental health concerns + supplementation recommendations
Perinatal Nutrition:
Nutrition for Fertility
Women’s Health + Hormonal Balance
Nutrition for Postpartum + breastfeeding
Food introductions for baby
Behavior Change + Health Coaching:
Elimination / Reintroduction Diets + Protocols
Vegan + Vegetarian Lifestyles
Eating for Celiac + Gluten-Free
Chronic dieting
INTUITIVE EATING counseling
Our relationship with food is a direct reflection of our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. Eating is not simply about caloric input and fuel for our bodies. The act of eating is intimately intertwined with our emotions, mindset, stress, spirituality, and past experiences. In order to improve our diets and heal our relationship with food, we must go beyond the food itself and understand the “why.” Not only does this support greater freedom and enjoyment in eating, it allows for a deeper connection to yourself and your body.
Intuitive Eating can help with:
Mind-Body Connection
Emotional Eating (eating to manage our feelings)
Improving your relationship to food + your body
Yo-Yo Dieting
Mindfulness
Accepting Your Body + Body Neutrality
BARIATRIC SURGERY EVALUATIONS & post-operative coaching
If you are considering weight loss surgery, a psychological evaluation will likely be required by your insurance company and/or surgeon prior to your procedure. Executive Director and Therapist, Tara Griffith Baker, MFT has performed over 1,000 pre-operative evaluations with clients and is intimately familiar with the different surgical procedures, pre-operative requirements, and post-operative diet and lifestyle changes necessary to achieve successful weight loss.
Although bariatric surgery has been shown to be effective in the treatment of obesity, it does not address the psychological and emotional needs of those undergoing the procedure. For those struggling with post-operative social, emotional, behavioral, and/or lifestyle challenges, bariatric coaching can be incredibly helpful. Post-operative sessions typically involve examining your relationship with food, developing healthy habits, and creating strategies for lasting lifestyle change.
Lab Testing + supplementation
Functional lab testing provides invaluable information that can help fill in the gaps of your overall picture of health and shed light on root problems. Information gained through lab testing can inform interventions, modifications, and supplementation to get your body back into alignment.
Common Functional Lab Tests assess:
Hormones (Dutch Test)
Cortisol Levels
Gut Health (GI Effects)
Organic Acids
Amino Acids
Advanced Cholesterol Profile
Comprehensive Neurotransmitter Profile
Mycotoxins
Glyphosate
Heavy Metals
Exposure to Environmental Toxins
Fatty Acid Profile
Health + Nutrition Services are available both in-person and virtual. Holistic Health Coaching & Nutrition Coach San Francisco