Frequently asked questions

In California, Naturopathic Doctors are not covered by insurance or Medicare/Medicaid. However, I can provide you a Superbill (an invoice with procedure and diagnosis codes) that you can submit to your insurance company for possible (full or partial) reimbursement.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) should both cover Naturopathic and Craniosacral visits. Let Dr. Marie know you’ll be using one of these accounts, and she can provide Superbills for each visit.

It depends! Individual health histories and responses to treatment will vary. Even if two people are coming in with the same concern, how they experience that concern could require different treatment.

Sometimes cases resolve after one treatment, other times connecting once a week or more for four to six weeks might be necessary. In most cases, if there is no improvement after three sessions, your concern likely requires an alternate healing modality or practitioner.

And, really, “need” can be such a strong word 😉 You might find that you just want to connect more than once. Weekly, monthly, annually on your birthday, as a thank you gift for a loved one… After you experience relief, it feels good to have a place to check-in and keep yourself on track.

Distance healing sessions are available wherever you are! However, for naturopathic care, there are limitations: I am licensed to practice in the State of California only and due to licensing regulations, I cannot practice naturopathic medicine to the full extent of my training outside of California. So, if you live elsewhere I can still work with you as a health consultant but I cannot be your doctor.

While some people see this debate as similar to politics "them vs us," I do not. I am awed and humbled by the amazing treatments conventional medicine can provide. I am also shocked and saddened by the limitations of conventional medicine.

Neither natural or conventional is "the" answer. I think we need both.

I always tell my patients, if heaven forbid, something emergent happened, you'd want an MD in a hospital using their algorithms to save your life.

However, when you go in to an MD expecting them to know the benefits and interactions of ginger and motherwort, or to take 90min to hear your story...it's a bit like going to a ballet dancer asking them to teach you breakdancing. They're in the same field of dance, but they're not the same kind of dancer.

Have compassion for your MD, they are at the mercy of the same dysfunctional medical system we all are, they are trying to make a difference in your health despite the limitations they face.

Dress Comfy

—Sessions are performed fully clothed. Wear something you might wear to yoga or a movie night.

—If you tend to get cold on the table I suggest bringing snuggly socks and/or an extra layer (shawl or sweater).

—If possible, please avoid wearing hooded sweatshirts or short skirts/dresses. (Hoodies can make it challenging to connect to the back of the neck and cranium. Short skirts/dresses can make working in the sacrum or pelvic area challenging to maintain modesty.)

Hydrate

—The human body is made of 60% water.

—Hydrate well the day before and day of so your tissues are plump, refreshed and ready to move.

—Dehydrated tissues have less movement, and less ability to eliminate toxins.

Abstain from Alcohol/Recreational Substances

—Come in with an open, receptive, unimpaired nervous system.

—If you’re working towards sobriety, come as you are. You’ll still get benefit!

Nourish

—Eat a small meal or snack before your session. So you’re not distracted by being too full or too hungry.

Plan A Reset Window

Give yourself a reset window after your appointment to rest and recalibrate. Even 10-minutes in your car or a 20-minute cat nap to anchor in the visit.

Continue pre-session suggestions

—Hydrate, eat nourishing foods, abstain from recreational substances, take time to reset.

Epsom Salt Bath

—This is a soothing nourishing way to hydrate the system and release toxins.

—Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that help us absorb nutrients and release waste.

Follow Up!

—Reach out with any comments or questions; I’m here for you.

—Make a follow up appointment to continue the momentum of your unwinding and capacity building!

Funnily enough, yes! Often I have patients tell me they feel sore either right after a session, or in the following 24-48hrs. Even though it feels like you had a facilitated nap on the table, a lot more was happening!

Just like after a work-out, you’re sore because you were breaking down and building up muscle. In CST we’re breaking down old fascial patterns, and building new ones.

Keep this in mind if you plan on working out. Pick lighter weights and/or do fewer reps. Give yourself the opportunity to gently build up your new foundation. Likewise, if you’re sexually connecting with your partner(s), consider more languid forms of intercourse, or pause that connection for a day or two.

I have always loved hummingbirds. They are ephemeral, radiant, aeronautical wonders. Their wings move in a figure-eight/infinity pattern; they can switch from a beeline to a hover, to zooming backwards with ease. Engineers study them in the hopes of designing improved aircrafts. They are fiercely territorial. They live off nectar and shimmer with iridescence. All of this packed into a body that weighs less than a nickel! Funnily enough, CST uses a gentle touch approach that applies no more than a nickel’s-worth of pressure, or as I like to say “a hummingbird’s-worth of pressure!” When I was thinking of logo ideas hummingbirds came to mind. I looked up their traditional symbolism and was sold. Hummingbirds bring love as no other medicine can; they bring joy to the observer simply be being. And figuratively, and literally, spread beauty by pollinating flowers as they sip nectar.

Hummingbirds symbolize: the enjoyment of life & lightness of being; upliftment from negativity; adaptability & resiliency; playfulness & optimism; being present; independence & sovereignty; swiftness & ability to move quickly from one place to another; sensitivity to the nuances of emotions & movements in your environment

All of this resonated with my personal mission, and my hope for my patients. Be uplifted, be resilient, enjoy life.

The symbolism information came from here & here. Thank you to the authors.

I want to empower you on your health journey. Shoot me an email if it’s a general question, or if you’re a patient, use your Patient Portal. Looking forward to connecting.

As always,

Love on your health journey.