What is the Functional Approach?
A Functional Approach addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented evidence-based approach and engaging both client and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st-century by shifting the traditional disease-centred focus of medical practice to a more client-centred approach. This Functional Approach addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional practitioners spend time with their clients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, the Functional Approach supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.