DEGREES

• Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine – Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine
• Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Neuroscience – University of Alberta

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Pharmaceutical Prescribing Rights and Certification – (British Columbia only, not within scope in Alberta)
• Biopuncture injection therapy
• Certified in Acupuncture
• Bowen Health Therapist – Bowen College

LICENSURE 

• • Dr. O’Brien is licensed with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta as a practicing doctor in good standing.

 

Naturopathic medicine is a form of evidence-based primary medical care. It combines the latest medical research with natural therapies that support the bodies own healing abilities. Naturopathic medicine embodies a proactive approach to healthcare and aims to identify and correct concerns before they lead to illness.

One of the primary goals of Naturopathic Medicine is to address the fundamental causes of disease rather than merely masking symptoms. Patients are empowered to adopt dietary and lifestyle changes while receiving evidence based treatments and guidance from their naturopathic doctor. This approach helps patients to achieve dramatic improvements in their health, and to be able to focus their energy on their favorite things in life.

Naturopathic doctors have a minimum of 8 years of advanced education and training, consisting of a four-year undergraduate degree and four years of intensive naturopathic medical training.

Dr. O’Brien obtained her “Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine” from the “Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine” in British Columbia. It is one of only seven accredited schools in North America to offer this intensive program and doctoral certification.

The scope of practice for naturopathic doctors in Alberta includes the capacity to perform physical exams, requisition diagnostic medical testing, administer injections, and more.

Naturopathic doctors spend a total of 6000 hours in training during the four-year post-graduate program; Over 4500 hours are spent in the classroom in addition to 1500 hours dedicated to clinical experience and direct patient care. Rigorous, standardized licensing examinations (NPLEX) must be successfully completed after both second and fourth year of training to become licensed to practice naturopathic medicine.

The core medical training of a naturopathic doctor is very similar to that of a conventional medical doctor, consisting of:

• Medical science
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Diagnostics
• Conventional medical treatments
• Minor surgery
• Emergency medical protocols

Additionally, naturopathic doctors are thoroughly trained in:

• Clinical nutrition
• Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture
• Homeopathy
• Botanical medicine
• Physical medicine
• Counseling and mind-body therapies

Naturopathic medicine embodies several core principles, which differentiate it from other types of medicine. The principles include the following:

1. First do no harm
Whenever possible my approach is to utilize treatments with the lowest possible risk of harmful side effects and to avoid diagnostics or treatments that are overly intrusive or unnecessary. I prefer to choose the gentlest, yet most effective, method to both diagnose and treat your health concerns.

2. Respect the healing power of nature
The body has a tremendous ability to heal and naturally strives to be well. The treatments that I prescribe work to restore and strengthen this innate healing ability, promoting a deeper and more sustainable state of health and helping you to heal naturally.

3. Identify and treat the cause of illness
My goal is to find the deeper reason as to why you are not feeling your best. The symptoms that you experience are your body’s way of whispering (or screaming) out to you that something is imbalanced within your life. By treating the underlying cause of illness and resolving imbalances, you can truly achieve wellness.

4. Treat the whole person
As I evaluate your health I am assessing your whole being and I am mindful of your unique concerns and struggles. Physical health cannot be isolated from your mental, emotional and spiritual turmoil or successes. My treatment approach encompass the entire “you” and I help to bring clarity to the links between the energetic and physical components of your health.

5. Doctor as Teacher
My role is to be open with you and to teach you the tools required to take responsibility and ownership of your own health. This also means that I keep my own health and wellbeing as a top priority. I encompass the principles that I teach into my own life and believe in practicing what I preach.

6. Prevention
My ultimate goal is to help you to function at your prime and to avoid illness whenever possible. My intention is for you to be able to experience freedom in your life and to avoid the stress that a health crisis can elicit. Therefore, my job does not begin only once you have fallen ill or are experiencing an imbalance in your life. In the best-case scenario we meet much sooner so that we can establish the habits and practices that your body will thank you for down the road. In Benjamin Franklin’s words: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Naturopathic medicine is an exceptional practice to incorporate into your current regime of self-care.

When looking for a naturopathic provider it is important to look for a properly trained, licensed and certified professional before beginning care. Other names such as “naturopath”, “homeopath” or “doctor of natural medicine” are often used incorrectly when referring to a naturopathic doctor (ND). While the names are very similar, naturopathic doctors have a very different educational background and training than these other providers. In North America be sure to look for the designation of “naturopathic physician”, “naturopathic doctor” or “naturopathic medical doctor” as other terms do not imply the same intensive medical training and knowledge. Verify that your naturopathic doctor/physician is certified through an official provincial (Canada) or state (U.S.A) regulating body.

Dr. O’Brien is registered with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta as a practicing doctor in good standing. 

Other provincial and state regulating bodies can be found respectively at:

Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

A simple blood test can provide us with a wealth of information in regards to the status of your overall health.  Common tests include:

• Comprehensive Thyroid Panel (TSH, T4, T3, Thyroid antibodies)
• Fasting insulin and blood sugar 
• Inflammatory markers, including hsCRP and homocysteine
• Nutrient levels, including vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, and magnesium
• Liver and pancreatic enzymes
• Autoimmune markers
• Cholesterol panel
• Sex and stress hormones
• Celiac testing

Hormone testing can be immensely helpful in pinpointing the root cause of conditions including menstrual concerns, insomnia, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.  The DUTCH Complete hormone test is a urine-based hormone test that provides a wealth of information in regards to your sex hormones, stress hormones, and neurotransmitter levels.

Click here to view a sample report. 

Comprehensive digestive stool analysis helps us to pinpoint the underlying cause of bowel irregularity, bloating, skin concerns, autoimmune conditions, and more, by providing us with a detailed assessment of your gut microbiome and gastrointestinal health. This test evaluates key markers of digestion, absorption, and inflammation, in addition to assessing for beneficial bacteria flora, bacterial imbalances, yeast overgrowth, and parasites.  

Click here to view a sample report.

Food sensitivity testing is a blood test that enables you to identify delayed immune reactions to foods that you may be eating as part of your everyday diet.  Food sensitivities are different than food allergies, and food sensitivity testing assesses for the elevated levels of IgG antibodies that are associated with this specific type of immune response. 

For additional information on food sensitivity testing please read this article on my Healthy Life Redesign blog, which describes this test in more detail.   

Testing for toxic and essential elements can be completed simply through the collection of a small sample of head or body hair.  This is a simple, non-invasive way to screen for heavy metal toxicity, and to identify nutrient excesses or deficiencies.

Click here to view a sample report.