Q&A with Dr. Bethany Waller

Bethany Waller is a naturopathic doctor who focuses on primary care family medicine and integrative mental health. She received her doctorate from Bastyr University in 2019 with extra training in pediatric and adolescent health, women’s health, counseling, biofeedback, environmental medicine, and intuitive eating and homeopathy.    

Dr. Waller’s background in botanical and ecological research inspired her to pursue naturopathic medicine as a way to connect her love for the planet with her love of caring for people. She finds that often in healing ourselves we can heal our communities and environment. She also believes that each person’s journey to optimum health is unique, so the therapies used to support each person along the way should be as well.

With that, let’s jump to our interview!

In a few sentences, explain to us what your practice focuses on.

As a current resident in family medicine and pediatrics,  I am fortunate to get to see a wide variety of both chronic and acute issues.  I provide regular primary care like annual wellness and gynecological exams. I also work with patients on a wide variety of hormonal health-related symptoms pertaining to PCOS and endometriosis. I have a special interest in mental health and enjoy exploring the connection between hormonal dysregulation and mood. I also enjoy helping women with their fertility whether that be contraception, preconception or postpartum support. It is really fun to be to care for the whole family including partners and children as well. I feel like I am better able to fully support each patient holistically with their family and relationships in mind.

When did you decide you wanted to become a ND?

I decided to become an ND while studying ecology and botany during undergrad. At that time, I worked with a naturopath (who used herbal medicine) to address some chronic immune issues. It was then that I decided naturopathic medicine was the perfect way to merge my passions for caring for people and  caring for the environment.

I believe environmental toxicity has a large role in human health issues, and while I try to keep this in mind as a potential cause to explore while seeing patients, it takes time to identify toxicity as a root cause of health issues. As a naturopathic doctor, I am privileged to spend more time with my patients, allowing me to  dive deeper into peoples’ stories  in hopes of  inspiring sustainable changes for a healthy lifestyle. My goal is not just to help reduce my patient’s  symptoms but to get them reconnected with their passions and communities which in turn creates a more healthy community for us all.

Is naturopathic medicine something you grew up with, or did you have more of a conventional healthcare upbringing?

Naturopathic medicine was definitely not something I grew up with . My family was fairly conventional care oriented, which worked-to a point. I think this is because we simply did not know it was an option, especially for primary care. I found access and quality of  mental health care  in particular exceedingly frustrating after seeing members of my family try to navigate it.  I  wanted to find a system of medicine that was not only holistic for the individual, but more conscious of the social inequities that are key foundations of health, but also barriers to treatment for many, especially for those who have mental health issues within their family history.

In what instances should a patient consider seeing a ND? What would you recommend those who want to dip their toes in more holistic healthcare do to get more comfortable with naturopathic medicine principles?

Naturopathic medicine can really shine as primary care, which makes it great for everyone! I focus on prevention and finding the cause and connections between disease processes. There are now a number of states in which NDs can act as primary care and bill insurance, and I think more states are soon to follow. For those who are already working with a primary care provider, or live in a state where naturopathic medicine is more additive care,  NDs are wonderful resources for evidence-based nutritional and lifestyle counseling in addition to nutritive and herbal therapies. These,  when used in conjunction with regular primary care, can have really astounding benefits. Naturopaths can be a great ally to navigate the medical world and help to make sure you have a solid baseline for health. A naturopathic doctor can troubleshoot any symptoms that remain after treatment, or are not addressed with conventional treatment.

How did you decide to focus on women’s health specifically? What sub-areas do you focus on?

For me, women’s health was a natural interest in the context of primary care. I feel it is important for women to take care of eachother and be represented in health care. Women are often the pillars of their families and communities, and I want to support and empower that role. I have been shaped by the generations of women who encouraged me to follow my dreams and lead by example and want to continue that myself.

Other clinical interests of mine include environmental medicine, mental health, gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disorders, immune dysfunction, and infectious diseases. I am also interested in the social and spiritual aspects of health and using working in these areas to facilitate healing.

What can one of your patients expect in their first few visits?

New or prospective patients are welcome to  schedule a free 30 minute, in-person consultation. I find this is helpful to get to know me as a physician. Prospective patients have the opportunity to ask questions about what type of treatments are typical for what they’re experiencing. From there,  the first office visit is an hour and follow up visits are 30-45 minutes. For chronic issues, expect to work together for 3-6 months. This allows us time to really get  foundational lifestyle changes established. After initial hormone imbalances or other more chronic issues are resolved, I am available as either  primary care, or adjunct naturopathic care provider for any ongoing or new issues.

What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for managing a hormonal imbalance?

One thing I would recommend to all women is to track their cycle and symptoms! I know this can be difficult with irregular cycles, but it is extremely helpful when you do start working with a provider proficient in hormone imbalance. From there, I’d say try to get mindful, as much as possible. What do your symptoms feel like for you? Can you distinguish any specific triggers? Is there anything you noticed that makes your symptoms better? Each individual is the sole expert in their body and these insights really help doctors, as investigators, determine cause and treatment.

How do you like to communicate with your patients?

My practice is currently set up to be in-person. After your initial visit I am able to stay in contact with patients through an online portal, or by phone. Eventually I will offer online consultations, but as a primary care provider I prefer to see my patients annually for blood work and other labs.

What are the challenge areas in today’s health system for women trying to manage their hormonal health? Are there any “hacks” in the system patients should be aware of to maximize their access to quality hormonal health experts?

I think that the current medical system makes it difficult for women, especially those experiencing hormone-related symptoms. For so long conventional medicine has focused on masking symptoms with oral contraceptives or hormone replacement, both of which are incredible tools and can be very necessary. The difference in naturopathic medicine is the wide variety of tools that I can use to support your body’s innate ability to produce and regulate its own hormones. The initial cost for a lot of naturopathic treatment can be a burden, as it is often not covered by insurance.  Working with a provider that can help you understand the cause as well as how each treatment works can be empowering and allows women to take back the control over their health mostly outside of the insurance coverage and prescription drug realm.

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