“Get well, stay well” is nutritionist Kathy Harrington’s primary goal for her clients and the motto by which she lives. This affirmation is backed with sound knowledge and a personal testimony that prove how proper nutrients can be the foundation for a healthier, happier life.

“With the right nutritional building blocks, the body’s capacity to heal is amazing,” she says, speaking from personal experience. The same, non-invasive methods she now employs in her practice at Bethlehem Nutrition & Wellness once helped her to rebound from a frightening breakdown of health. Harrington was already working in an alternative health setting as a licensed physical therapist’s assistant and counseling patients through detoxification programs, but it was not until her own personal challenge that the vital importance of whole foods came into clearer focus. She realized that all avenues to better health fall short without a solid foundation of vital nutrition.

After her own profound recovery through working with a nutritionist, Harrington had a strong desire to help others. This calling resulted in her receiving a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science and a master’s degree in human nutrition and functional medicine from University of Western States in Portland Oregon. “My work focuses on whole, nutrition-dense foods and correcting imbalances in the body, as well as inflammation, the root of many illnesses,” she says.

In her practice, she uses Nutritional Response Testing, a form of muscle kinesiology that enables the practitioner to determine which diet changes and supplements the body needs. She also incorporates the Autonomic Response Testing, founded by Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt. Both methods reveal imbalances in the human body by gathering information directly from the nervous system in order to present a clearer picture of what’s going on behind the scenes of many problematic health conditions. When and if necessary, a variety of biomedical and functional medicine tests can be utilized to further assess a client’s state of health. These tests include analysis of the blood, saliva, amino acids, hormones and stool. Gentle, custom-guided detoxification programs are also part of Harrington’s approach. “Most importantly, I not only tailor my clients’ programs around individual metabolic needs, but also how much time a person has, their lifestyle and preferences.”

The functional medicine model not only treats the whole person, but also tells Harrington how to treat the whole person. During the initial consultation, information is gathered, including a leave-no-stone-unturned assessment of current and past health history, as well as Nutrition Response and Autonomic Response Testing. The follow-up visit includes an in-depth report on her findings and initial recommendations for diet and supplementation. “It’s important to meet people exactly where they are and work with them at a pace that is beneficial, not daunting” she says. “I offer lifestyle tips, even recipes tailored to their time and needs. What happens is that people feel excited to continue once they begin to feel better. It’s the best motivation in the world.”

Harrington treats people of all ages, including children with allergies, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and autism.

One of her exceptionally inspiring clients came through her door on crutches due to a variety of health issues, including severe fibromyalgia. Today, that same client is doing extremely well after addressing her diet and adding some supplementation regimens and stands out as a prime example of how the right nutrients can change a life for the better. Her clients are Harrington’s greatest inspiration, and she maintains balance in her own life by simply practicing what she preaches.

Bethlehem Nutrition and Wellness Center is located at 3005 Brodhead Rd., Suite 150, Bethlehem. For more information, call 610-419-3909 or visit BethlehemNutrition.com.

Connect with author Marlaina Donato at MarlainaDonato.com.