Credentials

• Certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP)
• Certified Insulin IQ Coach
• Certified 200-hour Hatha yoga teacher
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) in Utah & Idaho
• Bachelor of Science in Sociology
• Master of Science in Counseling
• Trained in EMDR, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), metabolic health, holistic/functional nutrition, and Integrative Medicine
• Student of homeopathy

People I Help:

• Adults and some independent teenagers
• Those seeking a natural/holistic approach to mental or general health
• Those who want to avoid or reduce dependence on medication
• Those who are willing to make diet and lifestyle changes
• Those who are willing to be taught new concepts that they weren't taught in school
• Those who want help following a medical ketogenic diet for metabolic health
• Those who want to learn about mindful eating

People I don't Help:

• Children - They don't have the autonomy or understanding needed for my approach
• Those who want medication
• Those who want help with trauma around food and dieting - if this is you, seek out a trauma therapist instead, then come back to me for nutritional support.
• Those who want to learn intuitive eating - contrary to what the name implies, it's not a holistic perspective
• Those who have eating disorders - note that mild disordered eating is okay for me, if you're still willing to make dietary changes
• Those who are stuck on the idea that a low-fat diet, the Mediterranean diet, or veganism are optimal- these are only sometimes a good idea.
• Those who just want to be fixed - I'm not a mechanic

Some more things about me:

• I welcome critical thinking--a precursor to holistic thinking!
• I am homeschool-friendly.
• I support the nuclear family.
• I support true self-reliance (skills, not just money).
• I believe a lot of the world's problems would be solved if we could all grow a garden and share our excess.
• I believe birth is a sacred, natural event, not a medical procedure, so I support home births when possible.
• I believe the more we separate ourselves from nature, the more disease we have.
• For preventing and treating chronic disease, I believe in traditional medicine (as opposed to conventional medicine).
• I've coined the term "monopoly medicine" to describe conventional medicine's unholy history and dogmatic presence.
• I believe in addressing root causes of disease, not just suppressing or normalizing symptoms.
• I believe all systems and organs in the body are interconnected as a whole, not separate parts of a machine.
• I believe that using drugs for chronic conditions is medically irresponsible, in most cases.
• I believe in health freedom, not medical mandates.
• I'm LGBT-neutral, not "affirming."
• While I won't push LGBT ideals like many politically biased therapists would, I've had several LGBT clients who have given glowing feedback on my neutral approach.
• I am a Latter-Day Saint and I welcome everyone. I won't push you into, or out of, religion.
• I'm kind of a radical Latter-Day Saint because I'm holistic.
• I believe the general interpretation of the Word of Wisdom is pretty superficial and watered-down.
• I'm fully supportive of animal-assisted therapy and emotional support animals.
• I believe metabolic health is key to improving brain and body health.
• I believe mental illness is not simply caused by an imbalance of chemicals. Rather, it's an effect.
• I can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped-- I'm not a professional manipulator.
• Like most therapists, I don't have a doctorate degree, but I'm still a healthcare provider, so I can diagnose and treat.
• I've worked as a therapist at a community health clinic, a faith-based clinic, a university, and in several private practices.
• I'm always looking for the next training to do, even if it doesn't count as continuing education for my license.
• I've taught yoga in community classes and for corporate retreats.
• I see improvement in 100% of cases when clients switch to whole foods, especially low-carb diets.
• I don't like fist-bumps; handshakes are friendlier.

My Story

Everyone has a story. I'll keep mine brief, but I know this will be meaningful to some readers. 

I was one of those kids who would cry at the sight of someone else suffering. Despite gender stereotypes, I'm very empathetic and have a strong desire to do meaningful work. That is, helping to improve other people's lives. That's what drove me to becoming a therapist.

Unfortunately, being empathetic also means being susceptible to depression and anxiety. As I grew up, I didn't know how to handle it. I saw therapists and doctors, but they didn't help much. I had the worst brain fog. At one point, I was pretty hopeless.

Eventually, I found myself going to the gym six days per week, doing cardio, weight training, and yoga. I abused the protein powders and bars. I drank a lot of smoothies. I felt great. But one day at work, we had a pizza party. I ate one slice and instantly felt lethargic. That was my "aha" moment which taught me that food affects how people feel! By way of poverty in my 20's as a university student, I had no health insurance and no means to get help. So I did research. 

Ever since then, which was 20 years ago, I've studied nutrition. I've moved away from the superficial nutrition (calorie-counting, protein bars, etc.) and slowly gone toward whole-food, ancestral nutrition. I think I've always been a holistic thinker, but it wasn't until later that I figured out how to entertain that gift. I've learned that the protein bars and powders really aren't all that nourishing, and food as provided by nature is optimal. I also learned that I've been metabolically unhealthy for most of my life, hence the mental illness.

When I went to graduate school, I intended to get into nutrition as a medicine for mental health. But they didn't teach it. No, they just taught the academic bias, the clinical jargon, and a very dry, conventional understanding of how to do therapy, which 99% of therapists still operate from. But legally speaking, it was a necessary evil and I got through it (and I still have to go through that a little to keep my license active).

Now, I am proud to be Utah's Nutritional Psychotherapist (now also licensed in Idaho!). I sought clinical nutrition training after graduate school, which I didn't get continuing education credit for, but it was important enough to me that I did it anyway! The knowledge I have now is a powerful approach that I was missing as a child. Improving gut health, balancing blood sugar, and eating nutrient dense foods goes a long way. Even most doctors don't understand this because they don't study nutrition in medical school!

Philosophy

Anyone looking for a holistic healthcare provider whether in Logan, Utah, or online will be interested in my philosophy to make sure we're a good fit for each other. I've tried to make it concise.

I also offer nutrition for general health if you aren't looking for mental health treatment. Read more about my services here.

Mental Health Therapy in Utah & Idaho

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

I may be the only nutritional and metabolic psychotherapist in the states of Utah & Idaho. That means I could be the only licensed mental health therapist in these states 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.

Clinical Nutrition in Utah, Idaho and Nutrition-friendly States and Countries

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. Diet and lifestyle come first, then supplementation if needed.

Are you wondering what kind of diet I might suggest? I generally lean toward an omnivorous, ancestral philosophy and one that is low-carb, but not always so low-carb that it's ketogenic. If you want help with following a vegetarian diet or carnivore, I am willing to work with you, but I will not work with strict vegans as veganism usually leads to nutrient deficiencies. I'm not saying that veganism is unhealthy, but it requires a lot of special effort and attention to the point that most people simply don't do well.

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, mental illness, 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 (if you have a lot of questions) or send an email (if you just have something quick to ask).

See you soon,

Cody M. Cox, CMHC, FNTP

Utah’s Nutritional Psychotherapist

Functional Nutritionist & Holistic Mental Health Counselor