We aim to make your first visit at our naturopathic medicine clinic as comfortable as possible. Before the visit, you will be emailed a link to complete our new patient intake and consent forms as well as instructions on how to prepare for your first visit . Please complete the forms before your appointment or plan to arrive 15 mins early to complete your forms before your visit.
Your initial visit will last 1.5 hours, so that your naturopathic doctor or naturopath has ample time to understand your health concerns and goals. We offer an initial phone consultation as well for those that prefer a virtual visit. During this initial consultation, your Naturopathic Doctor will:
Your treatment plan may include any combination of dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, botanical herbs, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, homeopathic remedies, or nutritional supplements, and mindset support to help you achieve your goals.
Your doctor will usually recommend a follow-up visit 4 to 8 weeks after your initial consultation, which may take up to an hour to complete. During your second visit, your doctor will complete a more thorough systems-based physical exam, discuss your test results and adjust your initial treatment plan, if required.
Subsequent visits can be booked as needed to review your progress and make appropriate changes to your wellness program. Follow-up visits are usually scheduled for 30 to 60 minutes depending on your needs. At Lakeside Natural Health Centre, we strive to create a simple and lasting health plan that works together with your personal goals and priorities.
We accept Debit, Visa, Mastercard, cash and personal cheques. Many of our services are covered under extended personal healthcare benefits. While we don’t offer direct billing through third-party insurance companies, we do provide official receipts that can be submitted for reimbursement through your insurance claims process.
If you need to cancel your appointment, please tell us 48 hours before your scheduled visit. We appreciate your cooperation. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will be charged the full-service fee.
Naturopathic Doctors are primary health care practitioners who are able to treat both acute concerns and chronic health conditions. In the event that a Naturopathic Doctor is unable to treat your condition, they will refer you appropriately.
Yes. Your Naturopathic Doctor strives to create a supportive and inclusive environment of care. We want you to feel confident that all your healthcare providers are working cooperatively to provide optimum care.
Our job is to ensure the highest level of safety with any treatment plan, taking into account all prescription medications you may be taking. It is important to let us know about all your medications during your visits so we can ensure that there are no interactions between your natural and drug prescriptions. Many patients visit a Naturopathic Doctor to try and wean off their prescription medications. Our NDs work closely with patients and their medical doctors to ensure that this is done safely and gradually.
Naturopathic Doctors are general practitioners of natural medicine, which includes Homeopathic therapy, among many others. You can choose to use homeopathy in your treatment plan.
Homeopathy is not a regulated or licensed health profession in Ontario, while Naturopathic Medicine is.
Naturopathic Doctors are the only regulated health professionals in the field of Natural Medicine in Ontario. Naturopathic Doctors are regulated in Ontario and are licensed by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO). CONO ensures that Naturopathic Doctors are properly qualified to practice Naturopathic Medicine and that they follow the appropriate standards of practice.
Naturopathic Doctors undergo comprehensive and rigorous training in an educational structure similar to that of a traditional medical program.
They must complete a 4-year, full-time program in an accredited school of Naturopathic Medicine that includes more than 4,500 hours of classroom training and 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience. All Naturopathic Doctors licensed in Ontario must pass a vigorous set of board exams.