Private Practice

· Individual Appointments
· Groups
· About the Medicine

Individual Appointments

Phase I: Assessment for physical causes of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, addictions, and sugar cravings.

Neurotransmitters are substances that allow the brain to communicate thoughts, sensations, emotions, and our sense of our self.  When deficient we can experience depression, anxiety, fatigue, lack of motivation, memory problems, and insomnia.  Modern medical “science” uses pharmaceutical medicines to recycle these substances.  Prozac, for example, is a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor.  What we know through functional MRI studies is that medication, therapy, and mindfulness, all change the structure of the brain and improve how it functions.  Dr. Allott is interested in the question, “what do we need to feed the brain in order for it to improve function on its own.”  For the brain to function optimally, a person needs to consume appropriate levels of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and other substances often found in food. Additionally, exercise has been shown to in some cases be as effective as anti-depressant medication. Dr. Allott has created a process that is designed to treat the physical causes of lack of energy and mental clarity as well as depression, anxiety, addiction, sugar cravings and other mental health concerns.  She calls herself the construction manager, making sure your brain has the correct wiring and plumbing.  Mental health professionals practice feng shui to the brain. They are specialists in helping you to enjoy living in your brain.

What the process typically looks like:

Appointment 1: Dr. Allott will review the eight-page intake form with you which will help her assess for nutrient deficiencies.  Often, she will send you home with an achievable experiment, which is designed to increase energy and mental clarity by the next appointment. She will also send you home with a questionnaire to assess what neurotransmitters your personality likes and what neurotransmitters may be deficient.  Length of appointment: 75 minutes.

Appointment 2: You and Dr. Allott will review how the experiment went and will review the neurotransmitters questionnaire.  People become deficient in neurotransmitters due to overuse, underuse, and not eating the correct foods. Together, you and Dr. Allott will create an achievable experiment to begin to correct your neurotransmitter.  Length of appointment: 75 minutes.

Appointment 3: You and Dr. Allott will review how the experiment went.  Often, Dr. Allott offers acupuncture in this appointment.  She uses acupuncture to help people feel better, today.  Acupuncture has been used for 2000 years to treat the symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and depression.  Additionally, she will typically order a blood panel to assess for any diseases that might be causing your symptoms, as well as for nutrients that are needed to synthesize neurotransmitters.  Length of appointment: 45 minutes.

Appointment 4-5: You and Dr. Allott will go through a detailed review of your blood work and create a supplement plan in order to enhance your body's ability to create neurotransmitters and to heal any physical diseases that you may struggle with.  Additionally, she may order other laboratory tests such as a stress hormone panel, an essential fatty acid panel, or a liver detoxification panel. Length of appointment: 45 minutes.

Generally, Dr. Allott will meet with you weekly, or every other week during Phase One.

Phase II: Building

Some people continue with Phase two. This is a very individualized process.  Some of the goals people have in this phase are to:

• Improve their relationship to food and develop different eating habits.
• Improve their relationship to exercise and physical activity so that they enjoy it.
• Receive support through acupuncture to lessen the symptoms they are having.
• Learn more about the physical cause of sugar cravings and addictions.
• Address obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

Generally, appointments are weekly or every other week, depending on the individual's goals and general health.

Phase III: Support

Studies show that people relapse less often with depression, anxiety and addiction when they meet monthly with an individual.  Additionally, Dr. Allott has found that changes in eating and exercise patterns are better maintained when supported regularly. These appointments are designed to keep clients on track and to problem solve.  When individuals are in the support phase, Dr. Allott will often split a 45 minute appointment between dialogue and acupuncture.

Other Information

Types of Appointment:

East -West Appointment: This appointment is 90 minutes.  An East West appointment provides a deeper integration of mind and body in one session. Approximately, 65 minutes is spent in discovery and treatment. The first half of which is naturopathic care where dialog and education can occur. The second half will often utilize acupuncture to move the body toward the health goals of the client by integrating the mind and body. Ten minutes will be spent finding the next appointment, providing payment, and writing receipts for insurance claims. By concluding your time with Dr. Allott in 75 minutes, she can then dedicate 15 minutes to consider what she has learned, plan for the next appointment, and research for new information. Fifteen minutes is more time than most doctors are allowed to spend with patients in total. Please assist Dr. Allott in managing this time frame for your benefit.

First Office Call: This appointment is approximately 75 minute. In the first appointment, you will go over the intake form with Dr. Allott. Together, the two of you will identify what you are experiencing, what your treatment goals are, and begin to design achievable treatment to help you meet your health care goals.   

Naturopathic Medicine Appointment: This appointment is a 60 minute appointment. This type of visit can facilitate an overall evaluation as well as treatment recommendations and education. Approximately, 35 minutes is spent with you considering what is occurring with you, discuss treatment, and/or providing acupuncture. Ten minutes is used for finding the next appointment, providing payment, and writing receipts for insurance claims. By concluding your time with Dr. Allott in 45 minutes, the remaining 15 minutes is used to consider your case, plan for the next appointment, and research for new information. Again please realize that managing this time frame is for your benefit.

Telephone Consultations: There is no charge if the client is calling for a brief clarification of on-going therapy; however, if more than 10 minutes of patient education is required the patient will be encouraged to make an appointment. Dr. Allott will occasionally hold consultations for current and established patients under special circumstances in lieu of an office visit. The cost is $45 for every 15-minute segment. Thus, 30 minutes is $90.

Dr. Allott is available and returns calls during general office hours. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911.

E-mail: Dr. Allott never answers specific health care questions through email. This is to protect your health care information.

Health Care Insurance: Health Care Insurance reimbursement rates assume that a physician will see on average four to six patients an hour. This does not leave a physician enough time to address the whole individual, seek cause, and do adequate education. Additionally, insurance plans often limit visits which they consider mental health services. As a consequence, Dr. Allott does not accept any insurance plans. However, Dr. Allott will be happy to provide a bill that can be submitted to your health care insurance plan. Please ask during your appointment. It will be your responsibility to seek reimbursement if your health insurance has out-of-network services.

Process of Recovery: I believe in a long-term relationship with my clients. This relationship changes overtime. Clients may move in and out of partaking of Dynamic Paths and my services and classes. I sincerely support all decisions to discontinue, for any reason. By giving me notice, we can review our work together and discuss the next personal steps.

Payment: Payment is expected at the time of service in the form of cash or check. Dr. Allott does not accept debit or credit cards. The client is fully responsible for the cost of the office visit, any dispensary items purchased, and laboratory costs. If payment is not paid in 30 days, a $10 fee will be charged for each month payment is late.

Cancellations:

Less than 48 business hours notice – $80
Less than 24 business hours notice – Full cost of the appointment

The time is determined by the time of the call or message

Groups

Medical studies show that groups help individuals to learn new information and to improve their self-care. Dynamic Path offers several type of groups throughout the year. Currently Dynamic Paths is offering two groups: SANE (Sugar Addition to Natural Eating and Exercise) and Nourish Your Body, Transform Your Life. Additionally, Dr. Allott will offer groups of at other locations, please see Small Business Programs.

Nourish Your Body, Transform Your Life:
Educational Support Group for Women

• Have you ever wondered how food affects your mood?
• Are you frustrated with how hard it is to change eating habits?
• Are you concerned that food advertising is not promoting good health?
• Tired of craving sugar and carbohydrates?
• Would you like support to prioritize your health?

This group will run throughout the year. Every four month individuals be asked to commit to monthly meetings. As people’s schedules change, new people will have an opportunity to join. Some of the future topic will be:

• Spring into Action: Understanding cravings for sugar and carbs
• The Path of Change: How to rewire your brain                         
• Transform Your Approach: Making friends with your saboteur
• Fats: Good, Bad, and Ugly
• Increasing your metabolism: Using food and movement to feel better in your body
• Improving eating fruits and veggies
• Eating around town
• What are the messages you are receiving about food and body
• Getting to 95% for health goals
• Flow psychology: mind, body, spirit from the Chinese perspective
• Keeping the Holidays Fun and Healthy: How to stay aware and not feel deprived
• Food Labels: Understanding what you are eating                      

For more information, please look at Dynamic Paths Blog or contact Dr. Allott.

SANE- Sugar Addiction to Natural Eating and Exercise

Treating obesity as an overweight eating disorder and sugar addiction, Dr. Allott seeks to establish long term health improvement through improved relationship with food, exercise and self.  Through individual appointments and groups, clients change the underlying behaviors, beliefs, and self-care routines.

If you:

• are tired of quick weight loss programs, followed by quick weight gain and more.
• feel like you're addicted to sugar, breads, and fats.
• are struggling with your food choices and weight.
• are tired of the internal voice that says your lazy or stupid.
• would like to start exercising, but it never really happens.
• want support in making achievable changes in your life.

Then, this group is for you! Studies show that women learn to make lasting changes in group environments. You will learn how food affects mood and sugar craving; strategize on how to make achievable and compassionate changes in your life — without self-criticism; and have a supportive atmosphere in which accountability is created through curiosity. The purpose of this group is to gain confidence and balance with food choices and physical activity, which will support health and long-term weight maintenance.

Some of the topics which the groups will cover are:

• Increasing energy and mental clarity with food
• Neurotransmitter deficiencies
• How to rewire your brain
• The skinny on fats: the good, the bad, the ugly
• How to develop a enjoyable exercise program
• How to read food labels
• Dialoging with you internal saboteur
• The wisdom of Chinese Medicine

SANE is available to women who are established patients at Dynamic Paths and have permission from Dr. Allott. Women who are attending this group will be encouraged to be meeting weekly with their mental health professional as well. Women will be encouraged to make a six month commitment to attending the group and meeting with Dr. Allott as necessary.

About the Medicine

· Acupuncture
· Naturopathic Medicine
· Naturopathic Principles
· Theraputic Order

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed from listening to the symptoms of the patient and observing the subtle energies of the body. Dr. Allott will determine how energetic imbalances are causing illness in the individual. Traditional Chinese medicine seeks to facilitate healing and prevent illness through the use of acupuncture, nutrition, physical exercise, and herb preparation. Within traditional Chinese medicine, the body, emotions, mind, and spirit are treated simultaneously.

Some people are reluctant to try acupuncture due to the use of needles. An acupuncture needle is as thin as a hair and can often be inserted without the individual noticing. Dr. Allott has worked with many individuals to help them to become comfortable with the use of acupuncture needles.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is useful in treating the following conditions:

Headaches Colds and flu Allergies Depression and anxiety Insomnia Alcohol and drug Addictions Smoking cessation

Musculoskeletal aches and pains Stress-related disorders Gynecological problems Digestive complaints Dermatological conditions Complications from HIV/AIDS and cancer Chronic fatigue/Fibromyalgia

Naturopathic Medicine combines the diagnostic tools of a primary care physician with centuries-old, natural non-toxic therapies. In the state of Washington, a naturopathic physician is recognized as a primary care physician. We are able to order all diagnostic tests that are common to medical doctors, such as laboratory test for blood and urine, X-Ray, MRI, and CT scans.

In the treatment of the individual, a naturopathic physician emphasizes whole-patient wellness. The naturopathic physician attempts to identify the underlying cause rather than focusing on symptomatic treatment. When selecting a treatment, a naturopathic physician draws upon the following therapies: clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle counseling and stress management.

Naturopathic Principles

Vis Medicatrix Naturae - The Healing Power of Nature
Nature acts powerfully through healing mechanisms in the body and mind to maintain and restore health. The naturopathic physician works to restore and support these inherent systems.

Primum Non Nocere - First Do No Harm
The naturopathic physician seeks to provide the most effective health care with least risk to the client.

Tolle Causam - Find Cause
The naturopathic physician shall strive to identify and remove the causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

Docere - Doctor as Teacher
The naturopathic physician educates the client, inspires rational hope, and encourages self-responsibility for health.

Treat the Whole Person
Health or disease comes from a complex interaction of physical, emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle, or other factors. The naturopathic physician treats the whole person, taking these factors into account.

Wellness
Wellness is a state of being healthy, characterized by positive emotion, thought, and action. Wellness is inherent in everyone. The naturopathic physician shall seek restore, maintain and optimize wellness.

Preventive Medicine
The naturopathic physician promotes health through the prevention of disease for the individual, each community, and the world.

Theraputic Order

The therapeutic order is a guideline for re-establishing and maintaining health.

1. Re-establish the basis for health. Remove obstacles to wellness, and establish a healthy regimen.

2. Simulate the healing power of nature. The body inherently seeks to be in balance. By utilizing botanical medicine, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition, and psychological and spiritual healing, the body is assisted in returning to its healthy processes.

3. Tonify weakened systems. Multiple systems support our health. Supporting metabolic and physiological systems, strengthening our energetic bodies, and developing our personal support systems of family and community, we create systems that allow us to function optimally. At times, we need to re-assess and cultivate systems that support our well-being.

4. Correct structural integrity. Physical and emotional structural systems gives us the support to successfully move through the world. The structural integrity of the body is maintained and corrected through the use of physical activity, therapeutic exercise, spinal manipulation, massage, and cranial-sacral treatment.

5. Prescribe specific natural substances for pathology. Use vitamins, minerals, and herbs to alter metabolic pathways to relieve symptoms, but not necessarily to bring the body into sustained independent balance.

6. Prescribe pharmacological substances for pathology. Use pharmaceutical drugs to alter metabolic pathways in order to relieve symptoms, but not necessarily to bring the body into sustained independent balance.

7. Prescribe surgery, suppressive drugs, radiation, and chemotherapy: At times, aggressive therapies are needed to preserve life.