FAQs

  • How is your approach different from a traditional doctor’s visit?

    In traditional medicine, typically the goal is to diagnose and manage symptoms through prescriptions or procedures. My approach bridges traditional and functional healthcare, using objective lab data and a systems-based lens to uncover what’s driving your symptoms. Instead of chasing one issue at a time, we look at how everything connects: gut health, hormones, stress, nutrition, and lifestyle. I view your body as a whole instead of each system separately.

    I deeply respect conventional medicine and spent decades in that space. It’s essential for acute care and certain conditions, but functional work helps fill the gap for those unresolved, lingering issues that standard labs and traditional healthcare might overlook or not be equipped to handle.

  • What types of health issues do you help with?

    Most of my clients come to me with chronic, frustrating issues that haven’t been fully resolved through traditional medical care. Symptoms such as bloating, acid reflux, constipation, fatigue, acne, eczema, unmanaged weight, mood changes, brain fog, hair loss, menstrual irregularity, infertility, perimenopause symptoms, sleep disturbances, joint pain or autoimmune issues. Others have chronic but reversible medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, anxiety or insomnia.

    Many want to know the root cause of their symptoms and seek sustainable energy, hormone balance, and digestive wellness without relying on invasive procedures or endless medications.

  • Do you diagnose, prescribe or treat diseases?

    No. Although I am a master’s prepared and Board-Certified RN, I am not a Nurse Practitioner. It is not within scope for me to prescribe or diagnose specific medical conditions. I use my skills and education to investigate underlying imbalances, provide data through labs and educate you to apply personalized whole-body protocols of health-building so your body can restore function. I am not replacing your Primary Care Provider or General Practitioner. I serve to complement your medical care. I encourage you to maintain a relationship with your medical team for diagnosis, prescriptions, and urgent or emergent issues. I empower clients by using an approach that is focused on function, not disease labels or diagnoses.

  • Do you offer lab testing?

    Yes. Lab testing is available as an optional service to help provide deeper insight into your overall health and guide your personalized wellness plan.

    Testing is highly recommended but not required, and can be repeated periodically to monitor progress or evaluate changes over time.

    I do not personally handle lab samples- they are mailed by the client to the lab or obtained directly by the lab.

    *All labs are billed separately and not included in package pricing. With our professional guidance, clients may choose which labs best fit their goals and budget.

    Please note that lab results are used for educational and wellness purposes. They are not intended to diagnose or replace care provided by your primary healthcare provider.

  • How can a non-medical practice offer lab access?

    I have access to over 700 labs via Fullscript and my Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Certification.

    This allows me to legally access functional labs with appropriate medical oversight. Clients self-test through this direct-to-consumer model.

    Results are reviewed for educational purposes, where clients can make informed and independent decisions about their health.

  • What kinds of lab tests do you use?

    I use targeted, functional labs that assess how your body is functioning, not just whether it meets disease criteria. They may be sourced from blood, stool, urine, or a combination of samples. All of the samples go from you, directly to the lab (never to me).

    Some examples of functional labs may include screening for:

    - Gut health, intestinal permeability, nutrient status, microbiome balance, food sensitivities, and digestion efficiency.

    - Hormone and cortisol rhythm mapping, immune responsiveness, metabolic function and inflammatory markers.

    - Environmental toxins, Candida, mold, Lyme, H. pylori, or other pathogens or parasites.

    Lab results provide concrete data to guide individualized nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle plans that support healing at the root level.

  • Do you offer virtual appointments?

    Yes! All consultations and follow-up sessions are conducted virtually, via a HIPAA compliant online platform. This makes it easy to work together no matter the location.

    Lab kits are shipped directly to your home, or if a blood draw is required, you can find a local phlebotomy lab close to your home. Once results are received, we review them together securely during one of your sessions.

  • Do you accept insurance?

    No. Stezzi Functional Health provides root-cause, preventive, and lifestyle-focused care—services that most insurance plans don’t cover. Staying independent from insurance allows me to spend more time with you, use functional lab testing, and create truly personalized wellness plans without restrictions.

    Clients pay for sessions in advance of their visits.

    I offer transparent, upfront pricing, and upon request, I can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement through your insurance, HSA, or FSA (coverage varies by plan).

    My priority is simple: to support your healing with the time, attention, and freedom you deserve.

  • What does the process look like with labs?

    I offer clients a free Discovery Call to discuss concerns, explain how I work, and decide if we are a good fit for working together. Over the next several sessions I would complete a comprehensive intake and history, we discuss the use of a targeted functional lab screening, and based on those results, I create a personalized protocol to promote healing. Protocols focus on diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction, and supplementation (D.R.E.S.S.). Clients are provided with guided implementation, support and re-evaluation if they choose. The goal is to remove as many contributors to dysfunction as possible while promoting healing and normal function.

  • Do you only work with women?

    While I have experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology, I now work with adults and children of all gender identities who are ready to take a proactive, investigative approach to their wellness. Many of my clients are professionals or caregivers who’ve been putting themselves last and are now ready to feel like themselves again.

  • What credentials do you hold?

    I’m a Registered Nurse (RN) with a Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN Ed.) and national board certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC). I’m also a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDNP).

    My background spans almost two decades, including Labor & Delivery, Ob/Gyn, and Nursing Education. This includes over 10 years in management and nursing leadership, and 4 years in clinical education across 12 outpatient centers in the Boston area.

    I’m a proud member of the American Nurses Association, the Association for Nursing Professional Development, the Northeastern Organization for Nurse Educators and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

  • Can I work with you if I’m already seeing a doctor?

    Absolutely! I encourage it.

    My work complements your primary or specialist care team. There are things they can offer that I cannot, and things I can offer that they cannot. Since I don’t diagnose or treat disease, I help identify and address underlying imbalances that may be contributing to how you feel. The goal is to give you data, clarity, and tools so YOU can take an active role in improving and maintaining your health, while continuing open communication with your healthcare team.

    Given my experience in both inpatient and ambulatory care medicine, I can be a helpful resource for you to communicate with your primary care team or navigate the traditional medical model.

  • What is Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN)?

    Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) is a science-based approach that looks at the root causes of health challenges rather than just symptoms. Through specialized lab testing, FDN practitioners identify hidden imbalances in systems like digestion, hormones, detoxification, metabolism, and inflammation. From there, we create personalized, lifestyle-based protocols that help the body restore balance naturally, without guesswork or quick fixes.

  • Are supplements required?

    Not necessarily. Supplements can play an integral role in filling nutrient gaps or providing additional immune support while the body heals.

    Any recommendations for supplements are based on your lab results and goals, while protocols are mainly focused on foundations of individualized diet, rest, exercise, and stress reduction.

    I use Fullscript, a professional supplement dispensary, so you can get the exact products, doses, and brands I recommend, which are often third-party tested. They ship fast and safely, with competitive and transparent pricing. This helps us avoid counterfeits, expired or compromised stock, and guesswork. You’ll see my recommended plan in your portal, get refill reminders (only if you want them), and you’ll always control what you buy. While I may recommend a minimum (or maximum) amount of time to take a supplement, ultimately the duration is up to you! Your body, your choice.

    I may earn a small commission from purchases through Fullscript, and I will also offer you a discount. I only recommend brands that I would or have already taken myself. No single brand is required, and you are welcome to obtain supplements from any dispensary of your choosing. My goal isn’t to sell you pills; it’s to make your wellness plan simple, safe, and consistent.

  • How soon will I feel better?

    Timelines vary person to person. Some see improvement in weeks, while others may take months. Because we’re addressing patterns across multiple systems and building habits through a personalized protocol, most clients progress through relief, corrective, and maintenance phases with improvements accumulating over time.

    We continue to check-in regularly and make adjustments according to how you feel, so that progress is made in a time frame that aligns with your lab findings.

  • Do you work with children or pregnant clients?

    Yes. I am comfortable working with both children and individuals who are pregnant, always in collaboration with their obstetrical provider or pediatric care team.

    As a registered nurse with a decade of Ob/Gyn experience and functional health practitioner, and as a parent of three myself, I understand the importance of safety, clear communication, and individualized support during these sensitive and formative stages.

    All recommendations are tailored thoughtfully and conservatively, with the client’s broader care team in mind.

  • Why don’t you use social media to market your practice?

    At SFH, I’ve intentionally chosen not to use social media as a primary marketing tool.

    This practice is built on meaningful relationships, thoughtful education, and individualized care; not constant content creation or online performance. While social media can be useful for some businesses, it often requires daily posting and ongoing visibility that doesn’t align with how I want to show up as a practitioner or as a person.

    Instead, this practice grows through referrals, professional relationships, and trust. If you’re here, it’s likely because someone you trust shared their experience, and that’s exactly how this practice is designed to grow.

    I choose to keep my personal social media spaces reserved for close friends and family, allowing me to stay grounded and fully present for my clients.

The information from this website is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.