What happens at my first Naturopathic consultation?
Naturopaths offer a different model of health care than what you might be used to. During your initial consultation we will discuss in detail your presenting complaint (your reason for coming to see me). We will also discuss your relevant medical history including any existing conditions, past diagnoses, medications past & present, family history, as well as other factors that might be contributing to your state of health. This might include your environment, occupation, relationships, diet, and lifestyle.
The Naturopathic process involves gathering as much information to determine the underlying cause of disease. Health issues are often complex involving a number of different body systems and I may ask questions that seem irrelevant or unrelated but this is because in Naturopathy we look at how the different body systems are interacting and affecting each other to get the bigger picture.
As a general rule, I don't prescribe any herbs or supplements during this first consultation unless absolutely necessary, as the focus here is on getting information about you and your situation.
Do I need to do anything before the appointment?
When you receive your booking email you will find a link to 3 forms, a client intake form, a consent & confidentiality agreement. You a pre-consultation health questionnaire. Please also click on each link and fill out all 3 forms and sign both the client intake form and the consent & confidentiality agreement these are automatically sent back to me. It is important that all 3 forms are filled out at least 24 hours before your consultation, this ensures I have time to go through them beforehand and you get the most out of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything with me to the consultation?
If you have copies of any test results or documentation that may be relevant please bring them along alternatively at the bottom of the client intake form there is a section where you can upload any files you think may be relevant.
What happens next?
After your first appointment, I will take all the information gathered and prepare a treatment plan for you. During the second appointment, we will discuss your treatment plan and how long treatment may be expected to continue. Generally, there is an acute treatment phase that involves frequent consultations, usually every 2-4 weeks followed by a maintenance phase involving appointments every 6 - 12 weeks. The length of each phase of treatment depends on a variety of factors including the severity of your condition, response to treatment, and patient compliance.