the story behind tethered.
I built Tethered because I was tired of watching people choose between medicine that medicates and wellness that mystifies. You shouldn't have to pick between a doctor who has 12 minutes for you and a practitioner who wants to sell you $400 in supplements before explaining why your gut hurts.
how i got here.
For over a year, my body was at war with itself. Persistent digestive issues despite treating what doctors found. The real culprit? A decade of daily Concerta had compromised my gut lining. After parasites were cleared, I was still sick. That's when I learned the difference between treating a symptom and understanding a system.
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Around the same time, I was taking a physiology class to prepare for medical training and my perspective dramatically changed. We studied how major drugs impact the body - how Tylenol affects the liver, how many pharmaceuticals are isolated molecules from things already abundant in nature, priced at astronomical markups. I was working in pharmaceutical research, watching the machinery up close. The science was solid. The business model felt... less so.
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So I looked to holistic health. And I found supplements that cost more than my rent, practitioners who leaned heavily into "woo" without explaining mechanisms, and a lot of expensive testing with limited descriptions. It was boutique medicine in a different package. Both sides - traditional and alternative - seemed more interested in creating lifelong patients than teaching people how to heal.
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That's the gap Tethered fills. Science-backed healing that teaches you how your body works. No mystery. No mysticism. No keeping you dependent.
our model.
Tethered exists because preventative, root-cause care shouldn't require a trust fund or a tolerance for pseudoscience. My approach is built on a few non-negotiables:​​
we phase you in so we can phase you out.
I use a Phase system - named, trackable stages that show you exactly what we're working on and why. You're not a lifelong patient. You're learning how to be your own best advocate. The goal is always independence, not dependency.
testing is a tool, not a sales pitch.
I don't order expensive functional tests until I'm confident they'll actually change your treatment plan. Most of the time, your body is already telling us what it needs through symptoms. I listen to that first
already have results from another provider? we can tack those on to your plan.
education over prescription.
Whether it's understanding why your blood sugar crashes at 3pm or how stress impacts your gut lining, I explain the mechanisms. You should know what's happening in your body and why the protocol works. That's how healing lasts.
evidence without a conversion pitch.
I have deep respect for both pharmaceutical research and holistic practices. I have a personal connection to the mystical and unknown. But I'm not interested in selling you expensive magic or pretending supplements are the answer to everything. I'm interested in what actually works, explained clearly, supported by science.
science behind the practice.
I came to functional nutrition the long way - pharmaceutical research, clinical work, and lived experience with complex health issues. I've spent nine years working as a Clinical Research Associate, monitoring multi-site clinical trials and ensuring investigational products meet FDA standards. I've seen drugs fail not because they don't work, but because the data wasn't rigorous enough. That training in precision and accountability shapes everything I do. Before that, I worked as a phlebotomist, completed EMT training, spent time in hospital clinical labs, and did genetics research focused on data mining. I have a Bachelor's in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry, and another Bachelor's in Psychology. I hold certifications in Structural Integration and as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, plus specialized training in GI-MAP, MRT, and SIBO testing through the RWS certification. I'm currently applying to PhD programs in Cell Physiology, because I'm never done asking how the body works and how we can support it better. What this means for you: You're working with someone who understands the science at a cellular level, has seen how both pharmaceutical and holistic interventions succeed and fail, and who will never stop learning. I geek out about proprioception and connective tissue remodeling the way some people geek out about reality TV. This is what I love.
what makes tethered different.
Dual expertise you can't find anywhere else.
​I've spent years in pharmaceutical research as a Clinical Research Associate and hold comprehensive functional health certifications. I understand how drugs work at a cellular level AND how the body heals naturally. You get someone who speaks both languages fluently.
Phase system that gets you out, not keeps you in.
Instead of endless protocols, I create named phases with clear goals and endpoints. You know exactly what we're working on, why it matters, and when we're moving to the next stage. The goal is always to complete treatment, so you only come back if something changes.
Testing only when it changes the plan.
I don't lead with expensive functional testing. We use comprehensive intake and symptom analysis first. If I recommend a GI-MAP or food sensitivity panel, it's because the results will directly inform your treatment. No testing just to test, unless you ask first.
Science-backed, so we don't need to sales pitch.
I strip away both the clinical coldness of traditional medicine and feeling like you're joining the cult of wellness culture. You get evidence-based protocols with clear explanations. No pretending supplements are a quick cure, no acting like your body is a mystery. Just honest, rigorous, personalized care.
Education that makes you the expert.
My job isn't to make you dependent on me forever. It's to teach you how your body works - why your symptoms happen, what supports healing, how to maintain results. You become your own best advocate, not a lifetime patient. You do know your body the best.
ready to start?
If you're tired of being told your labs are "normal" while you feel terrible, or you're exhausted by wellness practitioners who want to sell you solutions before understanding your story - let's talk.
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I work with people who have mystery symptoms that traditional medicine can't solve and wellness culture can't explain. Fibromyalgia, IBS, PCOS, chronic fatigue, hormonal chaos, relentless digestive issues - the complex stuff that requires someone willing to dig deeper.