What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on treating the root cause of illness rather than just symptoms. It combines modern medical knowledge with natural therapies, including nutrition, lifestyle counseling, herbal medicine, and more, to support the body’s ability to heal itself.

The 7 Pillars of Naturopathic Medicine inform our philosophy of practice. They are…

First, Do No Harm – Use the safest, least invasive treatments to support healing.

The Healing Power of Nature – The body has an innate ability to heal when given the right support.

Identify & Treat the Root Cause – Address the underlying issue, not just symptoms.

Doctor as Teacher – Educate and empower patients to take charge of their health.

Treat the Whole Person – Consider physical, mental, emotional, and environmental factors.

Prevention is Key – Focus on proactive care to maintain long-term wellness.

Optimize Health & Wellness – Go beyond disease management to help patients thrive.

A Naturopathic Doctor (ND) is a licensed healthcare provider who has completed a four-year accredited naturopathic medical program and rigorous board exams. NDs are trained in clinical diagnosis, lab testing, pharmacology, and natural therapies.

A Naturopath, on the other hand, is a general term that can refer to anyone practicing natural health, often without formal medical training or licensure. Always ensure you are working with a licensed ND for safe, evidence-based care.

Naturopathic Doctors offer a range of wellness services, including:

Comprehensive health assessments
Nutritional counseling
Herbal and botanical medicine
Lifestyle and stress management
Functional lab testing
Homeopathy
And more, depending on individual needs.

Dr. Erin works with individuals of all ages seeking a natural, integrative approach to their health.

Whether you are dealing with chronic conditions, digestive issues, hormonal challenges, fatigue, or simply want to optimize your well-being, your care is tailored to your unique needs

Nope! You can refer yourself :)

Pricing varies based on the type and length of the appointment. The pricing structure is listed below:

Initial Assessments - $180 +tx
15 minute follow-up visit - $65 +tx
30 minute follow-up visit - $95 + tx
45 minute follow-up visit - $130 +tx
75-minute extended follow-up visit - $180 +tx

While most patients tend to come in for regular 30-minute follow-up visits, this is extremely dependent on the patient and the case.

Sliding scale options are available for the uninsured / under-employed, and we offer 1 sliding scale visit per week.
Please see here for sliding scale tier information.

Please send an e-mail to hello@drerinwoolridge.com to inquire about sliding scale appointments.

Naturopathic Doctors address a wide range of concerns, including:

Digestive issues (IBS, bloating, food sensitivities)
Hormonal concerns (thyroid, menstrual, (peri)menopause support)
Fatigue and low energy
Stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances
Skin conditions (eczema, acne)
Chronic pain and inflammation

And much more!!

Yes, yes, YES!!!

Adding a Naturopathic Doctor to your care team is a great idea.

You know what they say: “The best time to plant a seed was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

Having an ND on your care team while you're feeling well means you already have a trusted provider in place if health concerns ever arise (though hopefully, they won’t!).

It also allows us to work preventatively, optimizing our health before issues develop—rather than waiting until we need care.

So yes, let’s get started!

Your first visit is a 75-minute consultation where we review your current concerns, health history, lifestyle, diet, and any other relevant information.

During this time, we will create a comprehensive treatment plan that includes nutrition + supplemental recommendations, lifestyle modifications, and other medical counseling.

This time also allows for a focused physical exam, as well as a review of recent relevant lab work.

This depends on state/province regulations.

Unfortunately, Naturopathic Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador cannot order any lab work, or make referrals within Eastern Health.

There is the option to order functional lab work, dependent on your case and necessity.

Naturopathic Doctors are not able to write any pharmacological prescriptions or make any changes to your prescription in Newfoundland and Labrador.

However, we have gone through significant pharmacologic training that can help us have an informed conversation about your medications. This includes discussing interactions, timing, adverse events, etc.

My office is located at 272 Water Street, above The Natural Vibe Wellness Mark et, in downtown St. John’s

Parking is generally available, especially for earlier appointments.

If parking is a concern, we suggest taking transit or using one of the nearby parking garages.

It is recommended to download the PayB yPhone App in advance.
Ensure you allow at least one hour and fifteen minutes from the time your appointment starts.

Patient-facing office hours are as follows:

Tuesday 12 PM - 7 PM
Wednesday 10:30 AM - 6 PM
Thursday 10:30 AM - 4 PM

Office hours are by appointment only.

Most e-mails are answered during administrative hours on Monday and Friday.

I am always accepting new patients! :)
You can book an appointment H ERE

If appointments look sparse - don’t worry! The schedule is released in 8-week blocks. Life can be pretty unpredictable, so this helps us all stay accountable to appointments :)

You can add yourself to the waitlist to be notified of any cancellations. Those on the waitlist get priority booking before the schedule goes live to the public.

Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most insurance programs.
I recommend checking with your provider to ensure that you are eligible for Naturopathic coverage.

I do not offer direct billing at this time; however, some options can be discussed if the upfront cost is a barrier.

We understand that access to in-person Naturopathic care is limited across Newfoundland and Labrador, and virtual care can help bridge that gap.

However, virtual visits limit the ability to perform physical assessments, which may impact diagnosis and treatment planning, and as such, it is required that we have a Discovery Call before booking your virtual appointment.

Please send an e-mail to hello@drerinwoolridge.com to see if you are a good candidate for virtual care.

Absolutely!

Discovery calls are an opportunity for us to have a brief (15-minute) chat to see if we are a good fit to work together.

They are available one per new patient.
No treatment information is provided during these calls.

Discovery calls are bookable by e-mail only. Please send an e-mail to hello@drerinwoolridge.com to inquire.

Great! I can’t wait to meet you :) These notes will help you prepare.

- You will have received an e-mail confirming your booking - please read the entire e-mail, as it contains important information about your appointment.

- Credit card information is required to secure your appointment, to protect against our no-show policy. This is standard practice across all providers in this industry and is non-negotiable to hold your appointment.

- We can’t see your credit card information at all - just that it is there. Jane is a HIPPA-compliant electronic medical record and booking system, which protects all of your information - personal, medical, and financial. For more information, see here

- We require 24-hour notice for all cancellations and appointment rescheduling. While we do our best to balance business and compassion, this ensures that we have ample time to fill the space. As we often have a 4-6 week waitlist, this ensures that all folks on the waitlist get seen in a timely fashion.

- Intake forms + consent forms are required 48 hours before your appointment start time. This is in part to protect the above no-show policy, as we will not charge those who have not consented.

- That said, to make sure that this policy benefits us both, we require that these forms be filled out 2 days before. You will receive many automated reminder e-mails if you have not filled out your forms within the week leading up to your appointment.

- If you have any recent lab work (within the last 12 months) or other medical reports relevant to your case, you can bring them along, or scan and e-mail them to me before your appointment for review.

- Labs are not required for an initial appointment - Though they are helpful, we can use our conversation to guide what lab work would be appropriate for you.

- If you don’t have a regular medical provider, we can discuss options to obtain the recommended medical referrals.

To cancel or reschedule, please use the online booking system HERE.

At least 24 hours' notice is required for all appointment cancellations or reschedules. This allows enough time to offer the spot to another patient who may be waiting for care.

You’ll receive automated email reminders before your appointment, and you can change your communication & reminder preferences on your patient profile.

Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice may be subject to a cancellation fee.

- The first last-minute cancellation will be subject to a $20 fee.
- The second cancellation will be charged 50% of the appointment fee.
- The third last minute cancellation will be charged 100% of the booking fee.
- After four last minute cancellations, we will discuss if it is appropriate to continue to book appointments.

Missed (no-show) appointments will be charged the full appointment fee, no questions asked.

My goal is to provide accessible, high-quality care. Last-minute cancellations make it difficult to accommodate other patients who need an appointment. This policy ensures fairness and allows me to support as many people as possible, while still allowing the business to run seamlessly.

I completely understand that life happens!
If an emergency prevents you from attending your appointment, please reach out as soon as possible at hello@drerinwoolridge.com, and we’ll discuss options.

If it is less than 24 hours before your appointment start time, then please send an e-mail.

Cancellation fees are not claimable by insurance.
Sliding scale no-shows will be charged the full appointment fee without discount.

That’s entirely likely!

I prioritize patient privacy and clear communication, which is why I do not use social media for patient interactions, including appointment inquiries, cancellations, or medical discussions.

Additionally, I do not follow patients on social media to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.

Because of this, any messages sent through social media may be automatically filtered into spam and are unlikely to be seen.

Social media platforms are not secure spaces for sharing personal health information, and direct messages can easily be missed. To ensure timely and confidential communication, all patient-related inquiries must be sent via email at hello@drerinwoolridge.com.

If you’ve sent a DM and haven’t received a response, please email instead.

Please note that due to this policy on patient communications, cancellations made via social media will not be accepted.

Thank you for your understanding! 😊

Frequently Asked Questions: