Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions and decide
if working with me is right for you

My practice is balanced with patients from across the health spectrum and includes complex illnesses, digestive issues, hormonal health, thyroid conditions, and patients just wanting to feel their best again. I have complete trust in this approach for any ailment and am less focused on what I treat and more concerned with who I treat: I look to partner with individuals who are open minded, willing and motivated to take responsibility in both their physical and emotional health, and know they deserve more than the status quo. I especially enjoy working with individuals new to integrative or “alternative” medicine as I feel I offer a practical approach to this type of care.

Examples of concerns I work with include:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • unexplained fatigue
  • brain fog
  • autoimmune disease
  • thyroid disorders
  • GERD
  • IBS
  • IBD
  • acne
  • hair loss
  • PCOS
  • menopause/perimenopause
  • mycotoxin illness
  • tick-borne diseases

and so much more.  Many conditions often overlap with one another and involve multiple body systems highlighting why a comprehensive health approach is so valuable.

I also have a strong interest in the intersection of mental health and physical health and am trained in the Walsh Protocol utilizing targeted nutrient therapy to help support various mental health needs. Please note that I do not work with individuals under age 18.

Visits are an out-of-pocket expense; pricing information can be found here. Most of the costs in this type of care come in the initial work together due to the breadth of information covered along with any testing that may/may not be covered by insurance. Thereafter the cost is more approachable. It is helpful to look at this type of care as an investment in your health! 

In California, insurance companies are not mandated to cover naturopathic medical care (a few states, including WA and OR, provide insurance coverage for licensed NDs).  For private insurance companies (PPO), I can provide you documentation of services rendered for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.  More information can be found here.  For Medicare patients, there is unfortunately no reimbursement possible for naturopathic services at this time.  Both of these issues are actively being worked on by state and national naturopathic associations.    

In addition to standard labwork, for some patients I use specialty lab tests that offer greater insight and detail on your health. This type of testing is not recognized or utilized in conventional care yet can be invaluable to treatment and the understanding of what is going on for you on a more detailed level. Examples of this testing include:

  • Food sensitivity testing
  • DUTCH hormone test
  • GI MAP stool testing
  • Heavy metal testing
  • Mold  testing
  • Organic acids testing (OAT)
  • Tick-borne disease testing
  • Genetic SNP testing
  • Micronutrient testing

Yes! Prescription medications are often a very necessary and invaluable part of medicine and, as a licensed naturopathic doctor, I am trained in the responsible prescribing of them and will use pharmaceuticals as medically necessary. Please note that prescriptive rights vary state by state for licensed NDs and that, in California, not all of my colleagues are able to prescribe due to the limitations of current law in place.

As a licensed naturopathic doctor in California I am able to physically examine you (including pelvic, breast, and rectal exams), order lab work and diagnostic imaging, diagnose you, and treat you, just as any doctor you are familiar with can do.  

My license also helps to designate me from traditional naturopaths or other “natural medicine” providers who have not gone through the four years of post-graduate training necessary for licensure.  While likely well-intentioned, traditional naturopaths may have had minimal hours of instruction from an online program and have not had the medical education or clinical experience that enables them to diagnose and treat patients as outlined above.  

Twenty-two states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently license or regulate NDs.  In states without licensure or regulation, ‘naturopathic doctor’ is not a protected term and thus there is no clear way to designate practitioners from accredited, doctorate-level programs with clinical training versus those from online certificate programs, or no training at all.  If you are unsure of the credentials of a naturopathic practitioner, be sure to check if they have graduated from one of the seven accredited naturopathic institutions.

As a naturopathic doctor I am trained and licensed to be a primary care provider, however, I ask that you retain a separate PCP while working with me.  This also makes the most financial sense for you.  A PCP is responsible for ensuring regular screening exams and basic preventative health measures are met, and these may become an out of pocket expense when preformed by me.  Your PCP also serves as a point of contact for emergencies and emergent conditions, which my office is not set up for.  My goal in working with you is to dive deeper into the aspects of your health and I consider myself a specialist in integrative medicine in this role.  As part of my care, however, I will also check-in with you regarding the status of screening exams, and can address acute care needs such as treating a cold or infection.

Trusted resources for information about naturopathic medicine and the naturopathic education can be found through the Institute for Natural Medicine and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.