Frequently Asked Questions
If your question isn't here, ask it when you reach out. There's no such thing as a silly question about your own body.
Working with Maria
What does Maria help with?
Maria works with adults facing chronic stress, digestive trouble, food sensitivities, fatigue, low-grade inflammation and the symptoms that often come with nervous system imbalance, such as poor sleep and brain fog. She also works with people who simply want to age well and stay strong.
What is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner?
A Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) is trained through the Nutritional Therapy Association in a whole-food, foundations-based approach to nutrition, digestion, blood sugar balance and the connections between body systems. NTPs support wellness through nutrition and lifestyle. They do not diagnose or treat disease.
Is Maria a doctor or a dietitian?
No. Maria is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and a Certified GAPS Practitioner. She is not a physician or a registered dietitian. Her work complements medical care and never replaces it.
Do I need a diagnosis first?
No. Many people come to Maria without a clear diagnosis, or with one that hasn’t led to a plan that helps. She encourages everyone to keep working with their medical providers.
Will Maria work with my doctor?
Yes. With your written permission, Maria is glad to coordinate with your physicians, therapists and other practitioners so your care is aligned.
Where can I find a nutritional therapy practitioner near Portland, Oregon?
Maria Zilka is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, trained through the Nutritional Therapy Association, and she sees clients in person in Beaverton, on the west side of the Portland area. She is also a Certified GAPS Practitioner and has more than fifteen years in clinical practice. If you would rather not travel, the same sessions run by secure video.
Does Maria work on stress and gut problems at the same time?
Yes, and that is the center of her work. Maria works from the nervous system outward: food, often in great detail, alongside breath, rhythm, rest and small daily practices. In her words, “A perfect diet eaten in a constant state of alarm is not a perfect diet.”
Sessions and logistics
Do you offer in-person and online sessions?
Yes. Maria sees clients in person in Beaverton, Oregon, and by secure video, so you can work with her from anywhere.
How do I get started?
Request an appointment through Maria’s secure client portal or call (503) 929-7747. Your first step is a free conversation about what is going on and whether this work is a good fit.
Is the first conversation really free?
Yes. The first step is a short, free conversation about what is going on, what you have already tried and what you hope will change. It is also your chance to decide whether Maria is the right fit. It is simply a chance to see whether working together makes sense.
What happens in the first full session?
After you complete a detailed intake questionnaire and a three-day food and stress log, you meet for a comprehensive assessment of about ninety minutes. You leave with first steps, and a written plan follows within about two days.
How often are follow-up sessions?
Usually every three to six weeks, for forty-five or sixty minutes, with secure messaging available for quick questions in between.
Is this a one-off plan or ongoing support?
It is ongoing support. After the first ninety-minute session you get a written plan within about two days, then follow-up sessions every three to six weeks to see what is working and adjust it. Many people work with Maria for three to six months, with secure messaging for quick questions in between.
Do you take insurance?
Maria’s services are self-pay. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Food, diets and assessments
Will I have to follow a strict diet?
Usually not. When a therapeutic diet is helpful, it is used for a defined period with a clear purpose and a plan to widen your diet again. The goal is the broadest, most enjoyable way of eating your body is comfortable with.
Will I need lots of supplements?
No. Supplements are recommended only when they are genuinely needed, and Maria explains the reason for each one.
What are the Bio-Well and Assyra assessments?
They are optional, in-person wellness assessments that add another view of how your system is responding. They are not medical tests and cannot diagnose or rule out any condition.
Do you offer lab testing?
Maria may suggest functional lab testing when it would genuinely change your plan, and she is happy to review recent results you already have.