Hi! I'm Dr. Elaine Barretto.

I am fascinated by the complexity of the connections between body and mind, and especially by how our relationship to thoughts, bodily sensations, and the world around us can promote disease or healing. I believe in food as medicine, and I believe in bringing compassion to healthcare. Coaching and education are great tools for achieving that, and this is why I founded Mental Plate.

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MY STORY

I looked well on the outside...

In my personal journey, I have always been considered a healthy person by doctors. But since very young, even when most people wouldn’t notice it, I have suffered for many years from different physical and mental conditions such as fibromyalgia, TMJ disorders, hypermobility syndrome, PCOS, insomnia, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and gastrointestinal problems, which eventually all culminated in a quite severe burnout in my mid-thirties. During all this time, I sought the help of different specialists, but unfortunately, their lack of holistic view failed to solve my issues.

I finally found healing by means of lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, mindfulness, yoga, and the adoption of a healthier diet based on whole foods. And I never looked back. My personal experience and my scientific background inspired me to learn more, dive deeper into those topics, and use my knowledge to help others on achieving health and well-being.

I'm a proud geek.

I've always been curious about how everything works: nature, the universe, devices, the human body, the mind. It was really hard for me to decide which course to pick at the university - I have changed my college degree three times! I used to be bullied a lot for being a "nerd", but now I have embraced that aspect of myself and eventually even became proud of my curiosity and passion for learning.

At first, I spent my career using physics to build devices, then I learned how those interacted with the human body. Now, I not only try to understand how the different systems of our bodies interact with each other (nervous, digestive, musculoskeletal, etc.) but also how our mind interacts with them. And then I use this knowledge to build practical tools to help people that are suffering. This is my purpose and my calling. ♥

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My Priorities

Motherhood has changed me. I still have my go-getter personality, but I want to leave a legacy, something my son can be proud of. Nothing gives me more joy than watching the impact that my lifestyle changes have on him, and how he is already following my footsteps.

When I went through a burnout, I constantly resented not being able to be there for him in the way he deserved. And now I live my life focused on my priorities: being present, being of service, and being there for my loved ones, for as long as I can, and as healthy as I can be, in body and mind. What are your priorities? And how can I help you live the life you want and deserve?

I stand on the shoulder of giants.

To provide a truly whole-person approach, one must understand the connections between different parts. Experts in different fields are working hard to expand what we know about health. And I made it my mission to learn as much as possible from the very best, in order to be able to offer you evidence-based tools from multiple disciplines, while keeping a compassionate and trauma-informed approach. Here are some of the areas I have deepened my knowledge:

Mental Health
Psychological Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine
Behavioral Health / Behavioral Medicine
Nutritional Psychiatry
Gut Health
Culinary Nutrition Education
Emotional and Binge Eating Disorders
E-Learning / Instructional Design
Nervous System Regulation
Mindfulness
Yoga
Chronic Pain Therapies (Nutritional and Psychological)

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Now it's your turn

I want nothing more than to see you feeling better. I've spent a long time developing tools based on the latest science with lots of love, so you can feel supported and empowered to take your health in your own hands.