Nicole received her doctorate in counseling psychology from West Virginia University. She was clinically trained in the Department of Psychiatry at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. She also has specialized training in the integration of mind-body therapies in the treatment of chronic gastrointestinal disorders and somatic disorders from the Allegheny Center for Digestive Health. Dr. Trainer has been studying integrative mental health since 2009 and has advanced training in mindfulness-based interventions, HeartMath biofeedback, and functional approaches to depression and anxiety, including nutrition, micronutrient therapy, and amino acid therapy.

Dr. Trainer has been working in private practice since 2011. She founded Native with the intention to shift the conversation in mental health care away from deficits and subjective lists of symptoms treated largely with pharmaceuticals to one focused on innate health and the integration of evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies. Further, Dr. Trainer believes that a more dynamic and holistic approach to mental health treatment would better prepare an individual for the lifelong process of understanding their emotional self and taking care of their mental health.

Dr. Trainer is also passionate about raising mental health awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding seeking help for mental health problems. She encourages a conceptualization of mental health that is more fluid and allows for occasional disruptions in emotional well-being to be embraced as a natural part of the human experience and not pathologized.

In this episode, we cover:

- how she became a pioneer in the nutritional psychology space

- how inflammation, oxidative stress, brain plasticity, and your microbiota affect your mental health

- how chronic GI disorders and mental illnesses are linked

- why symptoms are invitations to explore more about yourself and your body

... and more!

You can connect with her over on Instagram: @nativementalhealth

Or check out her website: nativeclinics.com

You can learn more about me by following on IG @imperfectlypaigewellness or by checking out my blog, freebies, and offers on my website: https://imperfectlypaigewellness.com

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