About

New Approach Health

Our Story

New Approach Health was founded by Emahlea Wilcher, MPH, MS, RD, LD after years of watching people cycle through traditional wellness advice without lasting change.

She saw clients dealing with burnout, disordered eating, and chronic stress, but the tools available to them never addressed the root. Something deeper was driving the patterns and nutrition alone wasn't enough to touch it.

So she built a framework for it. Psychonutrition is the clinical practice of addressing the psychological, neurological, and behavioral factors that shape a client's relationship with food. Emahlea developed The Psychonutrition House™ to bring this framework into a structured, scope-safe model that her entire team is trained in from day one.

Today, New Approach Health is a team of psychonutrition-trained dietitians serving clients through insurance covered care, premium sessions, and immersive experiences. We help people reclaim their relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves.

The

New Approach Method

The New Approach Method is the clinical framework that sits at the foundation of everything we do at New Approach Health. Every dietitian on our team is trained in it before they see their first client.

It integrates nervous system science, trauma-informed care, and psychonutrition into a single, structured model for understanding why people eat the way they do and what actually moves the needle when the meal plan alone isn't working.

This approach works for burnout recovery, disordered eating, chronic stress, and rebuilding trust with your body. Every session at New Approach Health is guided by this method.

Psychonutrition is the clinical practice of assessing and intervening on the psychological, neurological, and behavioral factors that shape a client's relationship with food, using tools and language that remain within the Registered Dietitian's scope of practice.

Emahlea Wilcher coined the term and built the Psychonutrition House™ to give this practice a named framework, a structured curriculum, and a defensible clinical home. When your client knows what to eat but still cannot do it, psychonutrition is where the answer lives.

Psychonutrition

Meet Our Dietitians

Every dietitian at New Approach Health is trained in The New Approach Method.

Abbie Alder
Abbie Alder MS, RDN, CDN Trauma-informed care for disordered eating and nervous system regulation.
Savannah McIntosh
Savannah McIntosh MS, RDN, LDN Dermatology-focused nutrition for eczema, acne, and skin health.
Sarah Dahlman-Smith
Sarah Dahlman-Smith MS, RDN Whole-person care for disordered eating and perimenopause.
Jamee Calisa
Jamee Calisa MS, RDN Culturally sensitive, trauma-informed nutrition therapy.
Wyatt Todd
Wyatt Todd MS, RDN Gut health, women's health, blood sugar regulation, and culinary nutrition.
Madeline Barker
Madeline Barker MS, RDN Metabolic health, gut health, and hormone balance.
Staci O'Connor
Staci O'Connor MS, RDN Weight management, GLP-1 support, and cardiovascular nutrition.
Evan Coveney
Evan Coveney MS, RDN Body image, food freedom, and sustainable behavior change.
María José Rodríguez
María José Rodríguez MS, RDN Sports nutrition, nutrigenetics, and bilingual care in English and Spanish.
Julia Lehle
Julia Lehle MBA, RDN Disordered eating, body image, and LGBTQ+ affirming nutrition care.
Tami Rowh
Tami Rowh RDN Personalized nutrition support for lasting health, grounded in science and compassionate care.

Ready to Work With Us?

Whether you're looking for insurance covered care or premium personalized support, we're here to help you heal.