Welcome!

First, let's make sure you're in the right place!  
If you are looking for my Health Coaching programs, click here and you should be re-routed to the right page. 
IF you Are Looking for Medical/illness care stay here.
After serving the Renton and nearby area for 28 years, I have closed my Renton office as of February 28th.  I am no longer seeing patients in person in Renton.  I am still in practice however.  I am practicing at the Heart of Wellness integrative health clinic in Tumwater, WA.  Please see their website to make an appointment with me.  If you are an established patient, I would still be willing to see you via telemedicine, though insurance will not likely cover.  Please get hold of me for cash-payment options.  

See if you agree with me:

I BELIEVE THAT:

• Natural medicine is not the right answer for everyone.  Like all medical practice, it has its limitations and I'll be forthright in telling you where I see those limitations.  However, you owe it to yourself to exhaust your natural options first and, perhaps therein, avoid the many side effects that occur with pharmaceutical drugs.  Stronger options and referrals to other health professionals are always available.
• Nature brings, and our bodies recognize, natural forces that can sustain us and heal what's broken in our lives.
• Our bodies know what they need, how to heal themselves, and when they need help.  We may not realize the obstacles we're putting in our way, or discern what we're lacking to achieve full health.
• You deserve to be given knowledge to understand your body and care for yourself, and not remain in a dependent position of doing what you're told. A collaborative relationship is the goal, rather than the typical doctor-patient power inequality.
• Our health covers the whole of our being.  We are physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social beings.  A disturbance or imbalance in any of these realms can adversely affect and involve all the others.
• You are the expert on your body, meaning you understand your situation better than anyone else possibly can.  Your input and hunches of what's happening are frequently invaluable.
• You deserve to be heard and understood, and not be "on the clock" to do it quickly.  You deserve to have access to my expertise whenever you need it without navigating a "phone gauntlet" or getting pre-screened by a gatekeeper.  
• Your time is valuable and you should not awkwardly have to mingle with strangers or be kept waiting interminably  in a waiting room or exam room.
• Simplicity is usually the best route to wellness.  The least expensive, least invasive approaches -- aimed solely at reaching your wellness goals -- are recommended to save you money and keep you from having to take a meal's worth of pills.
• You are paying me to work for you and give you feedback that will make a difference in your life.  You are the boss and caring for you is my privilege.  

If you agree with these 10 beliefs (or want to) then you are probably ready to make an appointment.  Contact information is to the right.  Here is  a 30-second video that might help you get a feel for my office.

For video click  here.

My Granddaughter's art work around echinacea flowers

What About Medical Insurance?

The majority of medical insurances cover naturopathic care.  The coverage can vary depending on your specific plan, so you should check with your plan.

I am a contracted provider with: Premera, Regence, Aetna, Cigna, First Choice, Molina, Uniform, and UnitedHealthcare.  I am also contracted with medicaid, though you may need a referral from your primary care doctor.

What if I'm on Medications?

If you're used to being in the conventional medical world, you might be used to getting a prescription or be already taking one or many more pharmaceutical drugs.

It is important that you bring a list of these with you to your appointment!

Many people come to a naturopath to "get off all these drugs."  Natural therapies can and do interact with pharmaceutical medications, so they do have to be carefully coordinated with your natural care.  Natural therapies can improve the way your body handles things, so dosages might have to be adjusted.  Natural therapies can replace some medications.  You actually might need a prescription, and I can write that for you.  The most important thing is to do this safely with sound medical knowledge, and to the best of my ability to meet your health goals.  This is something I have been doing for nearly 20 years.

Do I Have to Have Lab Tests?

Naturopaths can order any and all lab tests, from blood work to pap smears, ultrasounds, x-rays, and MRI's.

If you've had blood work done in the past 6 months, the results can be helpful -- so brings those if you have them to your appointment.

I do not order lots of lab work.  I try to order only necessary labs that are going to better define what imbalance we're working with AND only if I think that information will affect treatment options.  I work hard to treat people not numbers and anomalies!  The goal is always to listen to what your body is saying and encourage it to do it's healing work better.

In consultation with you, you might also choose some less conventional tests that are available.  Computerized regulation thermography scanning, ALCAT food allergy blood tests, and saliva tests for adrenal stress are three of the more common examples.

What's An Appointment Like?

This is the door to another way to look at health -- health from a proactive wellness side, not from a fix what's broken side.  I do work to fix what's broken, we just help your body do it right and in a complete way.

I have a one guy office.  There is no receptionist and possibly, if I'm with another patient when you arrive, nobody even to greet you.  There is a clipboard on the coffee table with a brief intake form.  You can fill that out while you wait.

The rest of appointment resembles any other medical visit encounter except that there will be plenty of time for talking and the telling of your story and getting all your questions answered.

I'll usually supply you with a number of options and explanations.  Options range from doing nothing, to making lifestyle and dietary changes, to natural supplements, to pharmaceutical drug intervention if deemed necessary.  I've been told I can overwhelm you with all the choices, so wave your arms if you feel you're drowning in info.  I invite you to choose the path that intuitively feels best to you.  You are always in charge.