Audrey Gould is a Registered Dietitian and a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with over twenty years of experience working with individual’s health and fitness needs. She overcame fifteen years of fatigue, anxiety, weight fluctuations, and pain by implementing a whole food, grain free, and sugar free diet and adding adjunct holistic therapies. This transformation has increased her empathy to those who are suffering and has given her a better sense of relatability to her clients’ journey towards better health. With a passion to change the nutrition paradigm and unite RDs and NTP/NTCs, Audrey has joined forces with Annette Vivian, NTP and has founded their website, thenutricoaches.com. Soon, thenutricoaches.com will not only be a space to sign up for dietary counseling, workshops, classes, and webinars but also a place where we hope nutrition professionals with different backgrounds can unite.

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

I went from a thriving, vivacious person when I started college to a fatigued, sickly person, who was fifteen pounds heavier, while studying nutrition and biological science. I remember following the food guide pyramid way of eating that entire time with the goal of being extra healthy, bringing my fat grams to zero on my good days. When I entered my didactic program, a radio celebrity friend of mine had just interviewed Dr. Barry Sears, MD., who was promoting his new book, The Zone. My friend thought the information in the book might help me find answers to my fatigue and weight gain. I read the book, and decided to implement a bit more protein and “healthy” monounsaturated fats. With only these two small adjustments, some of my pain and fatigue symptoms started to show slight improvement. This slight change in my health propelled me into years of self-study and investigation. Many years later, I was introduced to a holistic, functional practitioner who completely changed my health and life. She would say things like, “Your body is doing everything it can to get you well; you just need to give it the give it the nutrients that it’s missing.” This concept was so new to me, and it was what started my quest for answers and my journey to the NTA program.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN NTP?

While teaching a fitness class at a local gym, I overheard one of the members talking about her nutrition practice to another member. I asked her where she studied nutrition, and she replied by saying she had several nutrition certifications. Honestly, after spending years in college studying nutrition, I was confused at the term “nutrition certification.” Out of curiosity, I asked if I could shadow her for a couple of sessions. She was gracious enough to let me observe her with her client several times. I was dumbfounded and excited about her knowledge base and saw she was light years ahead of me in the knowledge and explanation of topics like cortisol, DHEA, and the pregnenolone steal. She wasn’t an NTP, but she mentioned Weston Price, nutrition certification, and other key words that I later went home and googled. You know what came up? The NTA program did so I signed up the next week.

WHAT’S THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING AN NTP AND AN RD AT THE SAME TIME?

I have not found it hard to be both an NTP and RD. However, I do find it uncomfortable when those with certifications refer to RDs with less than choice words or when RDs are unwilling to be open to the idea of unlicensed practitioners teaching nutrition and working with clients. Regardless, both programs have evolved me into the woman that I am today. I am very proud to be an RD. Through the process of becoming an RD, I have learned so many things that have become very applicable to practice and real life. When I graduated from my didactic internship, I decided to specialize in renal disease, becoming a Renal Dietitian. Everything I learned in college and in my internship, was applicable in that clinical environment, not to mention that I LOVED my job. However, I knew my second love–consulting–was deficient in so many ways. Yes, I could help someone lose a few pounds, but I had no idea how to help balance the body. I am also very proud to be an NTP. I have been taught how to apply nutritional therapy into practice, which has significantly changed the outcome of my clients. I now watch people’s health transform beyond just weight loss!

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?

I haven’t had any challenges because there is so much accessible scientific research to support nutritional therapy and the nutrition foundations, which is the heart of the NTA program. I am also a part of a very progressive and intelligent Whole Food RD group that references scientific research when faced with challenges.

HOW DO YOU USE BOTH YOUR NTP CERTIFICATION AND RD LICENSE IN PRACTICE?

They have merged together perfectly. I take my scientific background, along with many clinical tools and experiences from my RD license, and blend it with the science and nutrition based curriculum, especially the FOUNDATIONS, from NTA into my private practice. Also, to bridge the gap between the two, I have shut down my current webpage and branding and have joined forces with Annette Vivian, NTP, CGP with one of the goals of uniting all of us working towards better outcomes for our clients.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO AN RD WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING THE NTP OR NTC PROGRAM?

Becoming an NTP/NTC is not taking a step down from your schooling and license, just because it’s a nine-month certification program. It can enhance your current practice significantly. The two programs blend quite beautifully. If you want a results oriented practice and you are tired of figuring out the processes on your own, the NTA program is where to look next! The NTA program will expand your toolbox of resources, community, education, and business practices. Plus, this is the most supportive group of practitioners with the heartbeat to effectively change lives.

WHAT IS SOME ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE AN NTP OR NTC AND AN RD?

Don’t isolate yourself! Instead, stay connected to like-minded practitioners whether NTP/NTCs, RDs, or other holistic practitioners. What helps me feel connected is when I volunteer as a Group Leader or stay connected through FB groups to both RDs and NTP/NTCs. Also, the desire for collaboration and connection was the catalysis to my partnership with another NTP.  Together, we can bridge the gap between the NTA paradigm and the mainstream medical world.