During the last 31+ years, AFPA has certified over 130,000 health, nutrition, and fitness professionals. We regularly feature distinguished and new graduates who are using what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.
Meet one of our featured graduates, Dr. Nikki LeToya White. Dr. Nikki has earned her Holistic Nutrition Coach Certification, Health and Wellness Coach Certification, and Weight Management Specialist Certification (now our Coaching for Weight Loss Certificate) from AFPA.
Meet AFPA Graduate Dr. Nikki LeToya White, M.S.Ed-TL, Ph.D., RHN
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Dr. Nikki LeToya White, and I wear many hats—trucker wife, proud mom of four, and a devoted advocate for women in recovery.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Health Service Administration, a Master’s in Education (Teaching and Learning), and a Doctorate in Christian Counseling.
As a Trauma-Informed Nutritionist, Herbalist, and Recovery Coach, I specialize in helping high-achieving women navigate the complex intersection of emotional trauma, addiction recovery, and wellness.
Through my private practice, Spiced Life Conversation Art Wellness Studio and Botanica in Conyers, Georgia, we offer a safe and nurturing space for women seeking deep recovery, emotional wellness, and practical tools to heal.
My team and I provide personalized support that addresses addiction triggers, builds sustainable coping mechanisms, and empowers women to reclaim their lives after years of navigating unresolved emotional wounds like abandonment and childhood neglect.
My approach is both holistic and trauma-informed, blending evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and somatic therapy to guide women through their healing journeys.
How did you first become interested in health and wellness?
My journey into health and wellness began during one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life. As a new trucker wife and mother, I felt lost and overwhelmed, struggling with mom-shaming, isolation, and debilitating panic attacks. Five visits to the ER later, I took the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study and discovered that my separation anxiety had triggered an old abandonment wound from childhood—a wound caused by my mother leaving me to be raised by my great-grandmother while she pursued her career. The physician’s words were life-changing: unresolved childhood trauma was fueling my current anxiety and binge eating disorder.
Unfortunately, my first therapy experience wasn’t successful, leaving me to navigate this overwhelming emotional terrain alone. I started blogging about my struggles as a trucker wife, which led to coaching other women in similar situations and writing The Loner Wife Diaries series.
My healing took a transformative turn when I was introduced to a life coach and Hoodoo practitioner with decades of sobriety experience. Her wisdom and guidance taught me how to lay the foundation for my recovery. But healing is rarely linear, and life brought new challenges—a relapse in my binge eating disorder, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances stemming from low estrogen levels after my third and fourth cesareans. Diagnosed with vaginal atrophy at just 28 years old, I faced surgeries and chronic pain that left me saying, “Enough is enough.”
I decided to educate myself, stumbled upon the AFPA Holistic Nutritionist Program, and enrolled to learn how to use food as medicine. The knowledge I gained was life-changing. I healed my digestive issues, managed my hormonal imbalances, reversed my binge eating relapse, and even lost thirty pounds unintentionally.
Which AFPA certification have you earned, and why did you choose that certification program?
I actively use my certifications in Holistic Nutrition, Health Coaching, and CEUs such as The Herbal Apothecary and Natural Strategies for Menopause to serve women in recovery.
I’m currently preparing to take the AFPA Gut Health Nutrition Specialist Certificate to deepen my expertise in healing the gut-brain connection—a critical aspect of emotional and physical recovery for my clients, this will put me on track on becoming a Master Nutrition Coach.
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Tell us about your business and how you serve people.
My passion is taking everything I learned and sharing it with women who seek to make their self care and sobritey a top piority. The most profound lesson I learned is that health and lifestyle are deeply interconnected—you cannot separate mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
My studies gave me a holistic perspective on the body and its relationship with trauma, addiction, and nutrition. I learned that unresolved emotional pain—especially from abandonment and childhood neglect—often manifests as addictions like binge eating, sugar dependency, or substance abuse.
These behaviors not only impact emotional health but can also lead to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and inflammation. This understanding has shaped my work, allowing me to bridge the wellness, mental health, and substance abuse industries. With the right education and personal experience, I’ve been able to guide women toward healing on all levels—body, mind, and spirit.
Many of my clients struggle with emotional eating, sugar addiction, anxiety, and women’s health concerns, all stemming from deep emotional wounds. By combining nutrition, herbal wellness, and emotional support, I empower my clients to break free from harmful coping mechanisms and build sustainable lives in recovery. This approach has not only helped me celebrate 8 years of full remission but also enabled my clients to thrive as they heal.
How has becoming certified with AFPA impacted your life?
As mentioned earlier, the knowledge I gained was life-changing. I healed my digestive issues, managed my hormonal imbalances, reversed my binge eating relapse, and even lost thirty pounds unintentionally. What started as a personal pursuit turned into a calling as others began reaching out to me for advice. I realized that rebranding my private practice to focus on women in recovery aligned perfectly with my purpose. Today, I continue to navigate my own sobriety while empowering women to do the same. None of this would have been possible without the education and tools I gained through my holistic nutrition studies.
What advice would you give others considering getting certified through AFPA?
If you’re thinking about becoming certified with AFPA, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the leap. AFPA’s programs are not just about gaining knowledge; they’re about transforming your own life while equipping you to help others do the same. My journey began with a desire to heal myself from binge eating, anxiety, and unresolved trauma.
Through AFPA, I gained a deeper understanding of holistic wellness, nutrition, and the mind-body connection. The courses are comprehensive, easy to follow, and rooted in practical tools that allow you to create real change—for yourself and your clients. The most rewarding part is being able to combine your passion for health with a purposeful career. Whether you want to improve your own well-being or help others navigate their healing journeys, AFPA gives you the foundation to make a meaningful impact. Trust the process, invest in yourself, and let this certification change your life.
How can we find you online?
Read more AFPA graduate success stories
AFPA Graduate of the Month: Sarah Salain of Simply Sarah Healing, Holistic Nutritionist and Health and Wellness Coach: Sarah quit her job as a nurse to grow her online health coaching and nutrition business.
AFPA Graduate of the Month: Darleene Peters, Certified Health and Wellness Coach: Darleene is the CEO and founder of Deep Wellness NOLA.
AFPA Graduate of the Month: Meral Jibouri, Holistic Nutritionist: Meral offers plant-based nutrition coaching and content creation.
