Curious about working with Dr Kristen Mark ND?

Have you considered seeing a Naturopath, but aren’t sure what to expect?

Are you frustrated with your current state of health, or hoping to take a proactive approach to prevent illness? Perhaps you’ve heard naturopathy may be helpful, but you’re not sure exactly what to expect. If you’re curious about working with me, Dr. Kristen Mark, ND, in this post you’ll get in depth answers. You’ll learn more about the services I offer, pricing, accessibility and what you can expect about the process of seeking naturopathic care.

About Naturopathy

Are naturopathic doctors certified?

Yes. The Doctor of Naturopathy is a 4 year post-graduate degree. License to practice is only granted after board certification exams are successfully completed.

To maintain a license to practice, NDs must operate under the supervision of CONO (College of Naturopaths of Ontario) which is overseen by the Ministry of Health in Ontario. Ethical standards, adherence to standards of practice and annual reporting are all part of the maintenance of one’s Naturopathic license.

Continuing Education is mandatory to maintain current standards of practice. NDs must also be actively seeing patients in order to maintain their license to practice.

What is a “healing modality”?

Healing modalities are the different methods ND’s use to treat patients. They are the tools I have available to support your healing. For example, hydrotherapy, treatments such as acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, botanical medicine, as well as counseling and nutrition.

Several healing modalities might be available to treat your particular illness, but we’ll choose the ones that are suited for you based on your personal history, current conditions, and any other preferences or concerns you might have.

Can I see a naturopath if I have a diagnosis from another doctor?

Yes! I take into account your diagnosis, but also your experience. What is it like to be you? What are your pain points? By considering the context of your life and your physiology, we can figure out what factors we can impact to change how you feel in your body.

For example, maybe your doctor recommended that you treat high blood pressure with a prescription medication. That’s helpful, but it isn’t the end of the story. Addressing a variety of lifestyle factors and coming up with clear and specific naturopathic approaches to improve your blood pressure may be able to:

enhance the impact of your medications
reduce the need for increased dosages over time
reduce the increased risk of adverse side effects that come along with medication increases.

What services do you offer?

I offer

one on one naturopathic consulting
acupuncture
facial rejuvenation acupuncture
community acupuncture (reduced cost to increase accessibility to services, private room).

I also provide health education in the form of

wellness talks and workshops for workplaces and community groups.
online wellness courses

Learn more here

What happens at my initial appointment?

Your first visit will last 90 minutes. I’ll aim to get a clear picture of your overall health and to understand your goals. We’ll review recent blood work or other lab results that you have. From there, we’ll work together to develop a treatment plan that supports your needs.

Completing the initial intake form before our visit will help to establish a thorough health history, and allow us to best use our time at your appointment. Set aside about 30min to do that at least 24hrs before your visit.

My goal is for you to leave your first appointment with a treatment plan that includes actionable steps toward your next visit. After every visit I type up the plan and share it with you through a secure online portal. I can also provide it on paper for people who are less comfortable with digital portals.

What happens at my follow-up appointments?

Your second visit will last 60 minutes. We’ll check in on how the initial treatment plan is going, and review the results of any labs or assessments that were recommended at the first visit. We’ll go over any details that we may not have covered yet, and further refine your treatment plan based on that information.

Further follow up appointments are 45 or 30 minutes in length. Here we’ll focus on maintenance and any acute presentations that come up. We’ll collect feedback related to your treatment plan, continuing education related to your care, and plan next steps.

What factors do you consider in my health assessment?

In order to thoroughly assess your health, first we’ll talk about your primary concerns and your goals. Then we’ll take into account your:

Health history (this includes diagnoses, hospitalizations, major illness, and your experience with health and wellness more broadly)
Social, physical and environmental context
Sleep patterns
Life stressors
Nutritional intake
Physical activity
Experience of oppression or privilege

We’ll weave these various considerations together to form a holistic understanding of what’s going on in your body. I’ll use that understanding to guide your treatment plan.

Do you send people for labs before their initial appointment?

No, I wait till after your first appointment to send you for labs. Lab testing is recommended case by case, and I only recommend testing that will impact how we treat or monitor your condition. So, sending you for a panel of everything is not an efficient (or cost effective) way to start.

However, when possible, sharing previous lab work can help give me a sense of your baseline and your health history.

Accessibility & Pricing

Are your services covered under insurance?

Services are covered by insurance plans that include Naturopathic coverage. All acupuncture treatments are also categorized as Naturopathic treatments. All naturopathic services are tax exempt.

How much does one appointment cost?

Initial appointments cost $265.
Follow up appointments are $115 – $195.
A full breakdown of my services and fees can be found here <link to services>
Sliding scale is available on request.

How do I access a sliding scale rate?

Sliding scale is available upon request. I’ll never ask for proof of income.

Simply let me know during our first meeting, or by using the notes function when you’re booking an appointment. We can come to a mutual understanding regarding the price.