What is naturopathy?

Naturopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that combines evidence-based medicine with traditional herbal therapeutics to promote well-being. Naturopaths consider the entire individual and seek to identify the underlying causes of health concerns rather than merely alleviating symptoms. For instance, instead of solely addressing a headache with painkillers, naturopaths delve into potential triggers like dietary habits, stress, or sleep patterns.

Central to naturopathy is the belief that each individual is unique, with no one-size-fits-all approach to health, and when provided with the right individual support, the body has an innate ability to restore balance.

The foundations of naturopathy are based on the importance of a nourishing diet, sunlight, movement, and sleep. Utilising a range of modalities, including herbal medicine, nutritional guidance, functional testing, and dietary counseling, naturopaths develop personalised treatment plans that cater to individual needs and health goals.

Naturopathy aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to look after their own health to prevent future illness.

The Consultation Process

If you’ve never seen a naturopath before, the process is a little different from your usual visit to other medical practitioners and focuses on sustainable changes for long-term well-being. Here’s what you can expect with each appointment:

  • This is a free 10 minute appointment where we can get to know each other and see if naturopathy is the right fit for your current situation.

    You will have a chance to tell me what is going on for you and your child, and I can let you know if naturopathy is the right approach for you.

    We can discuss the consultation process, timeline, and book an initial appointment.

  • An initial consultation is a chance to dive deep into everything going on for your child! We will look at your main concerns but also discuss medical history, current medications, diet & lifestyle.

    I will also review all key body systems to gain a holistic understanding of how the current issues are impacting overall health and function and get right down to the cause of any symptoms.

    Following an initial consult, I will put together an appropriate treatment plan and recommendations to support your current goals.

  • This appointment is where we go over the treatment plan that I have put together for your child to address current symptoms and ongoing health.

    I will discuss my understanding of how your child can benefit from support, and what factors (e.g. diet, nutritional deficiencies) are contributing, and - most importantly - a plan for how we can address these things moving forward.

    I will prescribe any herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, or dietary changes that I think will be supportive, as well as recommend any functional pathology that will be appropriate.

  • Follow up consultations are important to monitor any progress in your child. It will give us a chance to check in with how the treatment plan is going, any improvements you have seen and if there have been any changes you have struggled with.

    We can also consider any further testing that will be helpful, discuss any pathology tests you have already completed, and adjust treatments as needed.

Commonly asked FAQ’s:

Never seen a naturopath, or just want to know more about how Kate likes to approach each consultation? Read on for answers to the most commonly asked questions.

  • Great question. Firstly, yes, it’s mouthful of a word that most people fumble the pronunciation of: na-troh-pah-thee. Secondly, it’s not all crystals, incense and essential oils (but sure, those things are nice if that’s your vibe!).

    In Australia, standards for practising naturopaths are high, with a minimum requirement of study being a Bachelor Degree in Health Science, and continued education to maintain association registration. It is several years of study in anatomy and physiology, pathology, pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, nutrition, counselling, research, functional testing and biochemistry.

    A professional naturopath is someone who has registered with a professional association such as Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) and is insured appropriately. These associations have set standards of practice and code of conduct that naturopaths must adhere to.

  • Naturopathy is a complementary therapy that focuses on a holistic approach to health care. A naturopath will work 1:1 with clients to assess current symptoms and determine how current lifestyle and diet habits are contributing. They will use a range of modalities such as nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, dietary adjustments and iridology to support the body and restore balance. At its core, the key naturopathic principles that make it so powerful are:

    • a focus on finding the cause of disease and illness, and then treating that, rather than suppressing or masking symptoms

    • treating the whole person: mental, physical, emotional and environmental

    If you want to dive deeper on naturopathy meaning and principles, you can read more here.

  • Naturopathy can help with a range of health conditions and is suitable for anyone at any age: from newborns to elderly. It is helpful in supporting people with acute conditions such as the common cold, or chronic conditions such as Hashimoto’s, psoriasis, insomnia, mental health support, premenstrual symptoms, digestive complaints, irritable bowel disease, allergies… the list goes on!

    Kate’s focus in particular is mental health and brain care and she is dedicated to helping individuals struggling with conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and PANS & PANDAS, as well as recovery from neurological events such as concussion.

  • A consultation with Kate may look a little different than consultations you have had with other medical practitioners. Firstly, the initial consultation will be much longer than you might be use to (approximately 1 hour), which allows time to get a deep understanding of your issues and needs.

    It will look like Kate asking many questions so she can get to know all about you and your health concerns. To get a full picture of your health and what may be contributing to your current symptoms, Kate will look at everything from your diet to your stress to your bowel motions. She will also review any recent blood tests you may have had, recommend any appropriate testing, and put together a treatment plan that address your health goals.

    But most importantly, a consultation is a collaborative process that involves working together. Kate is passionate about simplifying health for you, so that understand the connection between your symptoms and why it is happening, so you walk away feeling empowered to make changes and take control over your wellbeing.