About Rebecca Faulkner

Mental Health Nutrition Counselor

HELLO, I'M REBECCA FAULKNER,
PMHNP-BC, RD, BC-FWP

Early in my career as a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I realized something was missing from psychiatric evaluations and routine med checks. I was prescribing various psychotropic medications, increasing the dose, cross tapering to new medications, and still no improvement.

I asked myself, what’s going on here? What am I missing?

I started asking patients about their dietary habits, and they reported regular fast-food consumption, sugar-sweetened beverages, diet sodas, minimal water, processed foods/snacks, and refined carbohydrates. Also, exercise was rarely part of their daily routines. I realized that I needed to do something different to help them improve their emotional well-being. After nearly a decade working with patients facing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, mood instability, low energy, brain fog, and poor sleep, I've found that good nutrition, optimal gut function, and stabilized blood sugar levels are three fundamental pillars for mental wellness.

In my search for a solution, I studied functional nutrition.

I learned the importance of exploring root causes and addressing “non-negotiables:” such as gut health to improve mood, vibrancy, and sleep; a reduction of environmental toxins; and the importance of stabilized blood sugar for optimal health. I was fascinated by how the gut affects the brain and how inflammation may affect mood. Then, I learned about the GI MAP test, which explores the balance of good and bad bacteria, viruses, worms, parasites, fungi that can impact physical and mental health.

As I continued to dig deeper into mental wellness and functional nutrition, I discovered the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). I had never heard of this test in my nutrition or nursing programs.

I went to the scientific literature to investigate whether environmental toxins and heavy metals can impact mental health. To my surprise, the evidence was overwhelming. For example, mercury, aluminum, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and even excess copper in the body can affect mood, behavior, and brain function. I was convinced that I had to incorporate HTMA in my mental wellness counseling.

I decided to create a nutritional psychiatry practice where I focus on identifying root causes that can affect mental health, develop personalized protocols that can improve physical and mental health, and most of all, set the foundation for healing from within.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Oakwood College (now Oakwood University), where I also completed my dietetic internship. I received a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Prior to studying nursing, I worked as a registered dietitian (RD) for many years in various clinical settings. I attended Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing. I have a Master of Science in Nursing and am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).

I completed Holistic Life Coach and Mind-Body Practitioner Certification from Mind Body Food Institute. I also completed the certified LEAP Therapist Training Course at Oxford Biological Technologies and I am a certified LEAP Therapist (CLT).  Also, I completed by board certification as a Functional Wellness Practitioner through the American Association of Wellness Practitioners (BC-FWP).

Rebecca’s Education & Training

  • Master of Science of Nursing from Vanderbilt University
  • Post Master Certificate in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Mississippi Medical Center
  • Master of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
  • Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Oakwood University
  • Dietetic Internship at Oakwood College
  • Registered Dietitian
  • Completed Oxford Biological Technologies Certified LEAP Therapist Training Course and is a Certified LEAP Therapist.
  • Holistic Life Coach and Mind Body Practitioner from Mind Body Food Institute
  • Graduate of Functional Nutritional Lab Full Body Systems
  • Graduate of Functional Nutrition Lab Digestive Intensive
  • Graduate of Certificate Course in Environmental Health
  • Instant HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) Practitioner Program
  • Completed Kendra Perry’s Expert HTMA Practitioner Training Program
  • Completed Hair Mineral Analysis Course for Health Practitioners from True Foods Nutrition
  • Certificate of Completion for Mineral Mastery Training Course
  • Certificate of Completion for Gut Health Mastery from GutPreneur Academy

Serving patients by virtual appointment only in Arizona and Oregon

Nurse practitioners (NPs) must be licensed in each state where they practice. NPs in these states can evaluate patients, diagnose, order and interpret tests, and manage treatments without restrictions.