10/17/2026
A little vulnerable. A little uncomfortable. And a whole lot of reflection.
Recently, I received some very harsh feedback from a patient who felt I asked too many personal questions, didn't recommend enough supplements, and ultimately wasted her time.
The feedback was shared publicly, and if I'm being honest, it devastated my heart.
When you pour so much of yourself into your work, care deeply about your patients, and genuinely want to make a difference, criticism can hit hard.
But after sitting with it, reflecting on it, and allowing myself to look beyond the sting, here's what I've taken away from the experience.
What you can expect from me as your naturopathic doctor:
I will ask personal questions.
I'll want to know about your stress, your relationships, your home life, your work, your sleep, your habits, and the things that bring you joy — or drain the life out of you.
Not because I'm nosy.
Not because I want to pry.
But because you are more than your symptoms.
Where you spend your time, who you spend it with, what you're carrying emotionally, how you nourish yourself, and whether you feel safe, supported, connected, and fulfilled can all be relevant to your health.
I cannot separate your physical health from the rest of your life and expect to understand the whole picture.
And sometimes, the questions that feel the most personal are the ones that help us uncover something important.
I also won't always send you home with a long list of supplements.
I know. A little controversial coming from a naturopathic doctor. 😉
But more supplements don't automatically mean better care.
Sometimes the answer is nutritional support. Sometimes it's further investigation, targeted testing, or collaboration with your medical doctor. Sometimes it's addressing sleep, stress, movement, or a pattern that has been overlooked for years.
And sometimes, the most valuable thing we can do is understand why your body is sending a particular message before we decide how to respond.
I believe it's a disservice to reduce healthcare to one symptom, a 10–15-minute appointment, and a quick fix that never asks why the symptom showed up in the first place.
But here's where the feedback challenged me, too.
My intention is never to make someone feel interrogated, unheard, or like their time hasn't been respected.
Connection and partnership must go both ways.
As much as I believe in asking questions and looking at the bigger picture, I also need to make sure my patients understand why I'm asking, feel comfortable sharing, and leave our time together feeling heard, supported, and clear about the plan.
Good medicine isn't just about what I know or what I believe.
It's also about how that care is experienced by the person sitting across from me.
So, I took the feedback seriously. I reflected on it. And I'll continue to do so.
Not because one person's experience defines my practice, but because every patient deserves care that is thoughtful, respectful, and purposeful.
I will always strive to be a doctor who treats the person, not just the problem.
I will ask questions. I will challenge assumptions. I will look beyond the obvious. I will explain my reasoning. And I will keep learning how to do all of that better.
Because my goal has never been to send you away with the biggest bag of supplements.
It's to help you understand your body, uncover what may be contributing to your symptoms, and build a foundation for lasting health.
That takes time. It takes trust. And it takes partnership.
That's the kind of medicine I believe in. And that's the kind of doctor I will keep working to be. 🤍
