Hi, I'm Melissa
I'm a naturopathic doctor and I help ambitious people take back control of their digestive health so they can show up fully and achieve greater happiness
I've seen way too many people simple accept their gut problems as their normal because they don't have the right support. I've been there myself. I've made it my mission to provide that support.
I don't provide one-size fits all approaches, I provide strategies that are tailored to your individualized needs. We are all unique and we need medicine & support that reflects that individuality.
My story.
I have always been passionate about helping people.
The path that brought me to medicine started with my own digestive health concerns. As a teenager, I started to experience significant pain and bloating. The pain would drop me to the ground and cause me to miss school. I was having embarrassing gas and started to feel anxious around food because I was never sure what would trigger me. I went from a happy, high achieving student and athlete to self-conscious and anxious and watched my grades and performance drop.
I waited months to see a specialist and went through various tests only to be told that there was nothing wrong with me. I simply had to manage my stress better. I was diagnosed with IBS, dismissed and confused. How would this pain and gas be normal? And how on earth do you even manage your stress?
This brought me pursue my Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Western. Along the way I started to make connections between my food, my stress level, and my digestive state. Some foods caused me more issues than others and my level of stress was directly related to how sensitive my digestive system was. I was starting to put the pieces together but I still wanted a longer term solution.
I started to develop a vision. An approach to health that was collaborative and looked at a person as a whole rather than simply looking at their symptoms. An approach where the focus begins with nutrition and lifestyle so we go beyond simply feeling good in the short-term but rather we develop the tools to feel good in the long-term.
This brought me to Naturopathic Medicine. I went on to earn my Doctor of Naturopathy from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. This is where I started to learn the tools to achieve this vision and where I started to finally feel in control of my gut again. I don't want it to be this challenging for you.
Today, I am providing 1:1 naturopathic care virtually in Ontario and in-person in the Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo Area and while I am passionate about digestive health, I also treat a variety of other conditions including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Eczema, and Fertility.
Conditions I can help with:
Digestive Conditions
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Crohn's + Colitis
Heartburn + indigestion
Diarrea + Constipation
SIBO
& more
There is more we can do. By optimizing the digestive system, using targeted nutritional therapies, and repairing intestinal damage, we can get you symptom-free!
Neurological Conditions
Post-concussion syndrome
Migraines
Essential Tremor
Anxiety + Depression
Dementia + Memory
& more
Your brain & your gut are connected. Inflammation and dysfunction in one leads to dysfunction in the other. Targeted treatment of the gut and the nervous system, along with critical nutritional counselling is key to treating the brain.
Chronic Illness
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic hives + dermatitis
Autoimmune Conditions
Eczema + Psoriasis
& more
Your gut plays a large role in regulating your immune function, inflammation, and pain. With additional training in managing complex illness, I can provide comprehensive strategies to manage chronic concerns.
Ways I can help:
1:1 Personalized Care
Working together one-on-one is the best way to get support that tailor made for your goals and you as a person.
In one-on-one care, I can assess and diagnose what is happening in your body. I can run necessary lab and stool tests. We work on both short-term and long-term goals.
Our plans include nutrition guidance, lifestyle approaches, tea, movement, journaling strategies, breathwork, meditation, and supplements/herbs as needed
Online Learning
I truly believe that knowledge is the key step in becoming empowered and taking control of your health. This is why I created two courses to support your health learning. This does not provide specific treatment as I don't believe in a one size fits approach.
This course gives women with IBS the knowledge and tools to understand what’s really going on in their gut so they can live healthier, happier lives without digestive upset.
Elevate is for women who want to up-level their gut health knowledge, learn how their gut affects their overall health, and the various ways we support a happy and strong gut.