I’m Thomas, the owner and sole employee here at Gut Brain Body Functional Nutrition. Here, I run the show on my own, handling everything from client interactions, administrative tasks, billing, marketing, and finances. It keeps me busy 😛

Now a bit about me…

I grew up in the rolling hills of southern Pennsylvania, surrounded by the charm of the White Clay Creek Park. My childhood was filled with adventure and creativity; exploring the woods near my home, playing games with my 2 siblings, creating art, and playing my favorite instruments guitar and piano. I was also a huge Nintendo fan 😛

As an adult the adventure never stopped – I have lived in many incredible places around the globe. Moving from the landscapes of Pennsylvania to the deserts of Arizona, to the coasts of California and then Hawaii, and to the vibrant cultures of Spain and Mexico. I would say I’ve had the privilege of seeing a lot and have certainly gained a deep appreciation for the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Today, I am happy to say that I am finally settled in San Diego California. It’s such  a great place to live and easily accommodates my healthy lifestyle. On a normal week, you’ll find me deep in my routine of working, meal prep, and gym sessions, plus the occasional dinner outings with friends. On weekends I try and  get outdoors playing pickleball, hiking scenic trails, or chilling in the park. Otherwise I enjoy exploring new recipes in the kitchen, trying new cuisines, and social outings with friends. It’s quite a nice balance I’d say!

My journey as a health professional started in the early 2000’s shortly after receiving my Associates degree and moving to Arizona, where I pursued a career in massage therapy. 

As a massage therapist I built my first thriving business, and slowly developed a niche in the field of health and wellness. 

In my mid 20’s I decided to return for a more advanced education and pursued a degree in Health Behavior Science. This educated me on the basic sciences of nutrition, exercise, and motivational interviewing. Post graduation, I took a position as a Health Educator at the Army Wellness Center in Hawaii, where I worked to educate soldiers about healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and stress reducing habits. 

While working at the AWC, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in clinical nutrition, as it seemed to be the most effective choice at advancing in the field of wellness. During such process I discovered and fell in love with the field of functional nutrition — a more advanced niche that integrates systems biology to address root causes of health issues with diet and nutrition therapy.

About half way throughmy masters degree in 2020, I decided to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).  This is a highly renowned certification requiring a Masters Degree, 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, and passing a board exam. This credential enabled me to acquire licensure in many states across the US. Hence, I am licensed in Maryland and Pennsylvania, which allows me to practice clinical nutrition at a clinical level in those states (California does not offer licensure).

Soon after licensure, I spent two years working as a nutritionist at a clinic in Maryland. This gave me a great deal of experience, but it also taught me how messed up our healthcare system can be. So I spent a year or two building my business infrastructure and taking functional medicine courses on the side. Then a few years later, I started my own practice Gut Brain Body LLC and have been happily self-employed ever since. 

My journey has been so fulfilling and the people I work with have been at times just as influential in my life as I have in theres. I aim to create a safe environment where everyone feels heard and accounted for. I am dedicated to the work I do and look forward to the work I’ve yet to accomplish at Gut Brain Body. So, I say thank you to everyone that has helped me get this far, and to everyone I am yet to encounter I look forward to working with you.

Cheers!
Thomas Prather MS, CNS, LDN