Meet Dr. Brooke Stuart

Holistic Doctor, Founder of Let Go & Grow®, and Co-Founder of Lead Lab

Hi, I’m Dr. Brooke Stuart, and I am a holistic doctor in private practice as well as the founder and active president of Let Go & Grow® and co-founder of Lead Lab.

My Story

As a college athlete at the University of Miami, I was always trying to improve my golf game. I spent most of my time on the putting green listening to countless audiobooks about self-help and sports psychology. It wasn’t until the end of my sophomore year that I realized I was far more interested in these books than the game of golf itself or even the business school where I was enrolled. So I decided to drop the game and switch up my studies to pursue a dual major in Anthropology and Psychology.

Even though I had always done well, I had never really been interested in anything school had to offer until I decided to switch my major. The Anthropology department was like a dream come true to me. The teachers told stories of their travels and experiences around the world. I was able to learn about the inner workings of culture and how societal beliefs influence individuals and ultimately manifest into reality. 

While in the Psychology department, I learned how individuals were impacted by their cultures and how their overall perception, thoughts, and feelings influenced their choices, physiology, and life experiences. It was the intricate interconnectedness of the individual and their environment that I found so interesting.

But it wasn’t until I took a Medical Anthropology class, where I studied medicine from around the world, that my whole life changed. I remember two pivotal moments when the light bulb blinked on so clearly.

When Perception Is The Medicine

First, my friend and I decided to write our final paper on the Ayurveda. To gain a better understanding of the topic we went around interviewing a number of Ayurvedic practitioners at schools and local clinics. The words of one practitioner have stayed with me ever since. He said, “There are four ways in which to heal, going from least invasive to most. First, you can start with lifestyle changes, things that you can do yourself, Then, if that doesn’t work, you can move into manual body work, like massage or touch therapy. If that doesn’t work, you can penetrate the physical body through herbal medicine, acupuncture, or surgical procedures. Finally, the most invasive of all methods is to penetrate the core of your being through affirmations or mantras.” 

These words have stuck with me and have shaped the way I work with my patients today. I have found that, if you first change your perspective and clear the issues that stand in your way, it is much easier to make the necessary dietary and lifestyle choices, which can free your heart and transform your entire body, mind, and life as a whole.

Rescue Remedy

Second, we had a guest lecturer come in one day, and she brought a bottle of Rescue Remedy with her – a supplement to help you handle fear and intense periods of stress. During her presentation, she said that it was free of side effects, and I thought skeptically, “Wow, how could something work if it doesn’t have side effects?” Oh yes, I had been brainwashed!

Then, she asked if any of the students would like to try it – and of course, I said yes. When it did work – my friends and I walked out of that room feeling fearless – I knew that the only thing that had changed was taking Rescue Remedy. And I also knew that I had never felt that good before.

Looking back, it seems so simple, but at the time, all I had ever known was allopathic medicine. Before that time, I had never heard of Chinese or functional medicine, not to mention medications or supplements that were free of side effects. I was so used to side effects and conventional medicine in America. I thought side effects were normal! But through my studies,  I have learned that side effects are, in fact, direct effects and not normal at all.

private practice specialization | drbrookestuart.com

The Value of Functional Medicine

Now, let me be clear: I am not at all against allopathic medicine. However, I am for integrative and functional medicine (both evidence-based and clinically proven, safe approaches to treatment). For example, if I got hit by a bus tomorrow I would go to the hospital immediately.  But to know that there are evidence-based approaches and options that have been used for thousands of years for so many situations – approaches that work strategically to activate your body’s own healing mechanisms and to balance out your systems to create optimal health and well-being – is an incredibly freeing realization for the modern American.

Needless to say, thanks to this new understanding, my life was never the same. I continued to gather, learn, and absorb information out of pure curiosity and furthermore to address my own issues that surfaced along with their underlying root causes (mentally, emotionally, and physiologically speaking). Throughout this time period, I was able to get off ADHD medication, multiple acne drugs, birth control pills, and other endocrine-disrupting agents (all very interesting stories, by the way – especially the ADHD one), leaving me drug-free and in the best health ever!

When I graduated from the University of Miami, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that incorporated this holistic approach that had become a part of me. I considered getting my PhD in Anthropology and Psychology, but every program I looked into didn’t feel right. Plus, I wanted to work with people directly and apply what I had learned. Then, my mentor suggested that I look into the Florida College of Integrative Medicine, and that felt right.

Present Day

I now spend my time working with people and teaching these principles in a variety of ways: writing, speaking, and – my favorite – working with patients, teams, and organizations around the world to help people finally experience what it feels like to have freedom and health within their bodies, minds, hearts, and lives. This shift comes from growth and true movement forward.

My specialty lies in the approach I take as a functional medicine doctor, the journey of the consultation, and the transformation my patients experience within the framework of holistic counseling and functional medicine. Although I am confident in working with a variety of people, issues, and conditions, I have extensive experience and training in helping women, teens, and professional athletes reach their health goals. To find out more about my approach and what to expect from me as your functional medicine doctor, you can go to the Work Together section of my website.

Dr. Brooke Stuart private practice
graphic dr brooke to speak | drbrookstuart.com

Education & Credentials

  • Doctor of Oriental Medicine- FL Board of Acupuncture
  • Licensed Acupuncture Physician- FL Board of Acupuncture
  • Diplomate of Oriental Medicine- NCCAOM
  • Certified Chinese Herbalist- NCCAOM
  • DACM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine)- Pacific College of Health and Science
  • MS in Oriental Medicine- Florida College of Integrative Medicine
  • BS in Health Sciences- Florida College of Integrative Medicine
  • BA in both Anthropology and Psychology- University of Miami, Coral Gables

Certifications

  • Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner- Bach Centre England
  • Mindfulness-Based Therapeutic Lifestyle Change Facilitator- TMH/ FL Hospital

Health-Related Training Intensives

  • AFMCP with the Institute For Functional Medicine
  • ADAPT Framework with the Kresser Institute For Functional & Evolutionary Medicine
  • Bach Level 1, 2 and 3 and BFRP
  • The Treatment of Infertility Full Course with Jane Lyttleton
  • Relate Therapy Training with Esther Perel and Terry Real
  • Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté Self-Study

Formal Presentations

Partnerships

  • Accounting & Financial Women’s Association (AFWA) Chattanooga
  • Seminole State College
  • California Lutheran University
  • Annunciation Catholic Academy
  • Athena International
  • Athena NextGen
  • Athena WE
  • UCF Exchange
  • Georgia State University
  • Several NCAA Division I & II Teams
  • CBS News
  • Arizona Society of CPAs (ASCPA)
  • Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA)
  • New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA)
  • Minnesota Society of CPAs (MNCPA)
  • Washington Society of CPAs (WSCPA)
  • University of Miami
  • University of Florida
  • University of Central Florida
  • Florida Hospital
  • Florida College of Integrative Medicine
  • Florida State Oriental Medical Association
  • Trilogy Orlando
  • Elite Wellness
  • FitLiving Eats
  • 4Rivers Smokehouse
  • The Center of Wellness
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Hoover’s Market
  • It’s Just Yoga
  • Lululemon Winter Park
  • Life Skills Resource Group

Television Interviews & Features

Collaborative Panels/Discussions

Published Articles & Features

Podcast Interviews