What is the difference between a nutritionist and a naturopath?

A nutritionist (CNP or NTP) focuses specifically on food, supplementation, and lifestyle as therapeutic tools. A naturopathic doctor has a broader scope including botanical medicine, physical medicine, acupuncture, and the ability to order lab work and prescribe certain natural health products. Both are available at The Healing Oak. For purely dietary concerns, a nutritionist is appropriate. For complex cases involving multiple body systems, a naturopath may be a better starting point.

Do I need a referral to see a nutritionist?

No. You can book directly with Emily Pankratz in Abbotsford or Nazee Mirshamsi in Chilliwack. No doctor referral is required.

Is nutritional therapy covered by insurance?

Many extended health plans cover nutritional therapy. Coverage varies by insurer and plan. Check under "nutritionist," "holistic nutrition," or "registered nutritional therapist." Direct billing is available for some insurers. If not available, you pay at time of appointment and submit receipts for reimbursement.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the complexity of your condition. Simple concerns (general healthy eating guidance, a few digestive symptoms) may resolve in 3-4 sessions. Complex cases (autoimmune conditions, multiple food sensitivities, hormonal imbalance) typically require 6-12 sessions over several months.

Can nutritional therapy help with autoimmune conditions?

Nutritional therapy does not cure autoimmune conditions, but it can significantly reduce symptom burden by identifying dietary triggers, reducing systemic inflammation, supporting gut health (where much of the immune system resides), and correcting nutrient deficiencies common in autoimmune presentations.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

Bring any recent blood work or lab results, a list of current medications and supplements, and if possible, a 3-day food diary. This gives the practitioner a baseline to work from.

Can I see both a nutritionist and a naturopath?

Yes. Some clients work with a nutritionist for detailed dietary planning and a naturopath for broader treatment (botanical medicine, lab requisitions, IV therapy). The practitioners can coordinate care.

Diet & Nutrition

Professional nutritional counseling for optimal health, disease prevention, and therapeutic dietary interventions.

Diet & Nutrition Practitioners at The Healing Oak

Emily Pankratz, CNP Nutrition Abbotsford, BC Specializes in: Allergies, Digestive Health, Hormonal Imbalances, Inflammation
Emily has a passion for health and wellness and firmly believes proper nutrition is essential to living a long and vibrant life. Within her practice, Emily takes a whole-body approach to health care, …
Kristina Mokhir, ND Naturopathic Medicine Chilliwack, BC
Dr. Kristina Mokhir is a licensed naturopathic physician and a CAND member (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors). Dr. Mokhir, ND, spent more than ten years in the nutritional supplements indu…
Nazee Mirshamsi, NTP Diet & Nutrition Chilliwack, BC Specializes in: Allegy, Blood sugar regulation, Weight Loss, Lifestyle Improvement for Improving Your Health
Nazee is a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner; a member of CAHN-Pro (Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professional), Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor, and a certified Life Coach. …

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a nutritionist and a naturopath?: A nutritionist (CNP or NTP) focuses specifically on food, supplementation, and lifestyle as therapeutic tools. A naturopathic doctor has a broader scope including botanical medicine, physical medicine, acupuncture, and the ability to order lab work and prescribe certain natural health products. Both are available at The Healing Oak. For purely dietary concerns, a nutritionist is appropriate. For complex cases involving multiple body systems, a naturopath may be a better starting point.
Do I need a referral to see a nutritionist?: No. You can book directly with Emily Pankratz in Abbotsford or Nazee Mirshamsi in Chilliwack. No doctor referral is required.
Is nutritional therapy covered by insurance?: Many extended health plans cover nutritional therapy. Coverage varies by insurer and plan. Check under "nutritionist," "holistic nutrition," or "registered nutritional therapist." Direct billing is available for some insurers. If not available, you pay at time of appointment and submit receipts for reimbursement.
What is BioEnergetic (BIE) testing?: BIE is a non-invasive assessment that evaluates your body''s energetic response to various substances to identify potential sensitivities contributing to symptoms like inflammation, digestive upset, skin conditions, fatigue, and headaches. It is available with Emily Pankratz at the Abbotsford clinic and is used alongside nutritional therapy.
How many sessions will I need?: It depends on the complexity of your condition. Simple concerns (general healthy eating guidance, a few digestive symptoms) may resolve in 3-4 sessions. Complex cases (autoimmune conditions, multiple food sensitivities, hormonal imbalance) typically require 6-12 sessions over several months.
Can nutritional therapy help with autoimmune conditions?: Nutritional therapy does not cure autoimmune conditions, but it can significantly reduce symptom burden by identifying dietary triggers, reducing systemic inflammation, supporting gut health (where much of the immune system resides), and correcting nutrient deficiencies common in autoimmune presentations.
What should I bring to my first appointment?: Bring any recent blood work or lab results, a list of current medications and supplements, and if possible, a 3-day food diary. This gives the practitioner a baseline to work from.
Can I see both a nutritionist and a naturopath?: Yes. Some clients work with a nutritionist for detailed dietary planning and a naturopath for broader treatment (botanical medicine, lab requisitions, IV therapy). The practitioners can coordinate care.

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Duration: 60 minutes (initial), 30-45 minutes (follow-up)

The Healing Oak offers nutritional therapy at both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack clinics. Emily Pankratz, CNP, practices in Abbotsford with a focus on complex digestive disorders, hormonal imbalance, oncology nutrition support, and BioEnergetic (BIE) testing. Nazee Mirshamsi, NTP, practices in Chilliwack specializing in metabolic balance coaching, weight management, blood sugar regulation, and anti-inflammatory protocols. Both practitioners take a root-cause approach, using detailed intake assessments and functional testing to understand what is actually happening in your body before making recommendations. No referral needed. Direct billing available for many extended health plans.

What Is Nutritional Therapy?

Nutritional therapy is a clinical approach to health that uses food, supplementation, and lifestyle modification to address the root causes of symptoms. It goes beyond general healthy eating advice. A nutritional therapist assesses your current health status, identifies nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, digestive dysfunction, and metabolic imbalances, and builds a targeted plan to correct them.

This is not about calorie counting or meal plans from a template. Both practitioners at The Healing Oak use detailed intake assessments and, where appropriate, functional testing to understand what is actually happening in your body before making recommendations.

Nutritional therapy is regulated in British Columbia. Emily holds a Certified Nutritional Practitioner (CNP) designation from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. Nazee is a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) and member of CAHN-Pro (Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals).

Digestive Health

Digestive issues are the most common reason people seek nutritional therapy. Symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, and abdominal pain are signals that something in the digestive process is not functioning properly. The goal is to identify where the breakdown is happening and address it.

Common digestive concerns treated:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - identifying trigger foods, restoring gut motility, and addressing the gut-brain connection
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - dietary protocols to reduce bacterial overgrowth combined with targeted supplementation
Food sensitivities and intolerances - systematic identification through elimination protocols or functional testing, not guesswork
Acid reflux and GERD - addressing the underlying cause (often low stomach acid, not excess acid) rather than suppressing symptoms
Inflammatory bowel conditions - nutritional support alongside medical management for Crohn's and ulcerative colitis
Chronic bloating and gas - often related to enzyme insufficiency, dysbiosis, or specific carbohydrate malabsorption

Emily specializes in complex digestive cases and uses functional testing within her practice to identify underlying drivers that standard blood work may miss.

Hormonal Balance and Women's Health

Hormonal imbalance affects energy, mood, weight, skin, sleep, and reproductive health. Nutritional therapy addresses the dietary and lifestyle factors that influence hormone production, metabolism, and clearance.

Conditions commonly addressed:

Irregular or painful menstrual cycles
PMS and PMDD
Perimenopause and menopause symptoms (hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood changes)
Thyroid dysfunction (hypo and hyperthyroid)
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
Adrenal fatigue and HPA axis dysfunction
Estrogen dominance
Fertility support

Nutritional interventions for hormonal health focus on blood sugar stability (which directly affects cortisol and insulin, which affect every other hormone), liver support for hormone clearance, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and targeted supplementation where testing indicates deficiency.

Weight Management and Metabolic Health

Nazee is a certified Metabolic Balance Coach and specializes in sustainable weight management through metabolic optimization. This approach is not about restriction or willpower. It focuses on understanding why your metabolism is not functioning efficiently and correcting the underlying factors.

Blood sugar dysregulation - the primary driver of weight gain, energy crashes, and cravings for most people. Stabilizing blood sugar through meal timing, macronutrient balance, and specific food choices is foundational.
Insulin resistance - when cells stop responding normally to insulin, the body stores more fat and has difficulty accessing it for energy. Nutritional strategies can improve insulin sensitivity.
Inflammation - chronic low-grade inflammation disrupts metabolic signaling and promotes fat storage. Identifying and removing inflammatory triggers is a core part of the approach.
Thyroid and adrenal function - underactive thyroid and chronic stress both slow metabolism. These need to be addressed alongside dietary changes for results to hold.

The goal is sustainable metabolic change, not short-term weight loss that rebounds. Nazee uses personalized nutrition protocols based on individual metabolic profiles.

BioEnergetic (BIE) Testing

Emily is a certified BioEnergetic practitioner. BIE is a non-invasive modality that uses a device to assess the body's energetic response to various substances (foods, environmental factors, chemicals, nutrients). The assessment helps identify which substances the body is reacting to and may be contributing to symptoms like inflammation, digestive upset, skin conditions, fatigue, and headaches.

Based on the BIE assessment, Emily develops a targeted protocol to address the identified sensitivities. This approach is used alongside traditional nutritional therapy as an additional diagnostic and treatment tool. BIE is available at the Abbotsford clinic with Emily Pankratz.

Insurance and Coverage

Nutritional therapy is covered under many extended health benefit plans in BC. Coverage typically falls under "nutritionist," "holistic nutrition," or "registered nutritional therapist" depending on your insurer.

Coverage amounts and annual limits vary by plan. Check your benefits booklet or contact your insurer to confirm whether your plan covers CNP or NTP practitioners. Direct billing is available for some insurers. If not available for your plan, you pay at the time of appointment and submit receipts for reimbursement.

What to Expect

First visit (60-75 minutes): A comprehensive intake that covers your health history, current symptoms, dietary habits, sleep, stress, digestion, energy patterns, medications, and supplements. Both practitioners review this information to identify patterns and potential root causes. Depending on your presentation, functional testing may be recommended.

Follow-up visits (30-45 minutes): Review progress, adjust protocols, interpret any test results, and refine the nutrition plan. Frequency depends on the complexity of your case. Initial phases typically involve visits every 2-4 weeks, tapering to monthly or quarterly as symptoms resolve.

Between visits: You will receive a written plan with specific dietary recommendations, supplement protocols (if applicable), and lifestyle modifications. This is not a generic handout - it is built around your specific assessment findings.

Related Services

Nutritional therapy at The Healing Oak works alongside other modalities for conditions that benefit from a combined approach:

Naturopathic Medicine - for clients who need both nutritional and broader naturopathic care (botanical medicine, IV therapy, lab requisitions)
Registered Clinical Counselling - for emotional eating, disordered eating patterns, and the psychological component of chronic health conditions
Acupuncture - for digestive support, stress reduction, and hormonal regulation alongside dietary changes
Holistic Skincare - for skin conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea) that have nutritional root causes

No referral needed. Emily Pankratz practices in Abbotsford, Nazee Mirshamsi practices in Chilliwack. Book directly online or by phone.

Offered at The Healing Oak - Multidisciplinary Health & Wellness Clinic in Chilliwack & Abbotsford, BC. No referral required. Direct billing available.