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Functional Medicine Practitioner/Nutritional Therapist
Santa Monica, CA
My path into functional medicine began long before my clinical training. As a successful fashion model, I developed a deep passion for nutrition coaching — guiding clients toward their best health became something I loved, not just something I did. That passion led me to formal academic and clinical study in holistic health, along with graduate work in medical journalism, which gave me a unique ability to translate complex science into clear, actionable guidance for the people I work with. I now bring that same clarity and commitment to my practice as a Functional Medicine Practitioner. Using a terrain-based functional approach, I work one-on-one with clients to uncover the root causes of chronic illness and guide them toward lasting wellness. My areas of focus include gluten-related autoimmune disorders, food mapping, mineral and nutritional balancing, intestinal permeability, predictive autoimmunity, hormone health, disordered eating, bone health, and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). I offer comprehensive testing through leading U.S. laboratories — including urine, saliva, stool, tissue biopsy, and hair analysis — and tailor each care plan around careful testing, targeted supplementation, and meaningful lifestyle modification. I see clients throughout the United States mainly online, and in person for those in the Los Angeles area.
Certifications
• CGP I & II – Certified Advanced Gluten Practitioner (Dr. Tom O’Bryan) • HTMA – Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (Dr. Lawrence Wilson & Susan Cachay) • DSS – Dietary Supplement Specialist • Wahls Protocol Certified (Dr. Terry Wahls) • MCS-P – Microbiome Clinical Sciences (Kiran Krishnan) • Vibrant AHHCP – Advanced Hormone Health in Clinical Practice • Iridology (Dr. Bernard Jensen) • Herbology (Dr. Hanna Kroeger) • …and additional certifications in functional and integrative health
A Personal Note
My approach is also shaped by profound personal experience. Growing up around the world, I healed from jungle parasites and infectious disease. Later, I faced one of the greatest challenges of my life — three auto accidents that resulted in multiple surgeries and years of physical therapy, followed by a long road through allopathic medications and six autoimmune diagnoses. Rebuilding my body and my health from the ground up, through functional and holistic medicine, is what ultimately defined both my recovery and my calling. That lived experience is at the heart of everything I bring to my clients — not just clinical knowledge, but genuine understanding of what it means to fight for your health and reclaim your life.
Email: abvanhalsema@gmail.com
Website: www.vhhealth.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vh_health/
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