SUPPORTING THE BODY THROUGH WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION
About Nutritional Therapy
Building CASCADE has been a dream of mine, to create the place where one can go to find the root cause of their symptoms and not another supplement to help disguise the condition. Dysfunction doesn’t happen without reason. The goal is to find and fix the root cause in steps that will allow the body to heal and gain strength. I have worked in this field for over 8 years, learning from one of the top practitioners in the Portland area. Using a skill called manual muscle testing, I am able to find weaknesses in the energetic body that compound to create dysfunction. My protocols involve supplements and diet changes to help foster proper function.
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.
-Thomas Edison
Amber Swanson, FNTP
After earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Physiology at the University of Florida, I came to Portland seeking a different kind of medical community. I was working toward applying to medical school when I started as a receptionist in a wellness clinic. Kevin Misenheimer, founder of Northwest Vitality Center, changed my mind about healthcare. He taught me that looking at the body as a whole and not just a set of symptoms can provide profound results. Searching for the root cause of the condition allows for faster and long-term healing. After seeing so many miracles coming out of NW Vitality, I decided to find a new way to help people.
While looking for the best program to fit my ideals about nutrition, health, and wellness, I continued to grow from receptionist to Office Manager, and then Director of Client Care. For six years, I studied under Kevin, learning his supplement and nutritional protocols. Working so closely with clients with a wide variety of conditions had given me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of nutritional healing for a wide range of chronic health conditions.
In October 2013, I completed the Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) program, certified by the Nutritional Therapy Association. My guiding philosophy is that a nutrient dense, whole food diet and individualized supplementation can greatly support the body, allowing for long-term healing and strength. I am grateful for everything I was taught by Kevin and am excited to be continuing my career in holistic nutrition while building my own practice, Cascade Nutritional Therapy.
I opened Cascade Nutritional Therapy in 2016. Since then, I have continued to stay up to date on the latest in functional nutrition protocols while refining my skills in my specialty- manual muscle testing. I believe that wellness depends on not just our physical health, but also our emotional health. So I sought out a program that would allow me to evaluate and help support the health of our energetic body. I graduated from the clairvoyant program with the School of Intuitive Living in Portland in 2019 and have introduced Intuitive and Energetic Healing into my protocols for many of my clients with emotional layers to their physical issues. I have found that opening up the energetic pathways both physically and emotionally allows for much deeper healing.
Outside of my practice, I spend my time enjoying my love of the outdoors- almost always with my husband, Josh, and my dog, Nakita, by my side. Backpacking, rock climbing, snowboarding, stand-up paddleboarding- I love everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer!
