A first naturopathic visit at Skin Art MD in Burnaby (Metrotown) is a 15-minute consultation or screening with a registered naturopathic doctor. In that time you cover your main concern, health history, current medications and supplements, and whether bloodwork makes sense. It is a starting point, not a full workup: any treatment visits, tests or follow-ups are explained, with their costs, before anything is booked or ordered.
This guide walks through what happens in those 15 minutes, what to bring, how costs are explained, and how follow-ups and your family physician fit in. Information is current as of October 2026.
What happens at a first naturopathic visit in Burnaby?
You meet the naturopathic doctor one-to-one for about 15 minutes to talk through your goals and history and agree on a sensible next step. At Skin Art MD, that practitioner is Dr. Ekaterina Krantsevich Riehl, BSc, ND, a naturopathic physician registered in BC.
A typical first consultation covers:
- Why you came in. The one or two concerns that matter most to you right now.
- Health history. Relevant conditions, past procedures, allergies and anything your family physician is already managing.
- Medications and supplements. What you take, how much and how often, so interactions and duplications can be spotted early.
- Whether bloodwork is needed. Sometimes recent results are enough; sometimes a test would genuinely change the plan; sometimes no test is needed at all.
- What happens next. A treatment visit, a follow-up, a referral back to your family physician, or simply no further visits.
In BC, "naturopathic doctor" and "naturopathic physician" are protected titles for people registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHP BC). A naturopathic doctor is not a medical doctor; if you want the details on training, lab tests and referrals, see our guide to naturopathic doctors vs family doctors in BC.
Is 15 minutes long enough?
Fifteen minutes is enough to understand your main concern and decide on a next step, but not enough for a full assessment of several issues at once. We would rather say that plainly than book a long visit that feels rushed anyway.
One of the most common frustrations people describe with naturopathic care is a visit that feels shorter or thinner than expected. Being clear about the length up front helps avoid that.
What usually fits into 15 minutes:
- Discussing one main concern and your goals for it
- Reviewing your medication and supplement list
- Looking at recent lab results you bring
- Screening for whether a particular service may suit you, or may not
- Agreeing on the next step and what it involves
What usually does not fit:
- A detailed review of several unrelated health concerns
- Interpreting a large stack of past test results line by line
- Starting a procedure in the same appointment
- Building a long-term plan for multiple goals
If your situation needs more time, the naturopathic doctor will say so and explain what a further visit would cover. Skin Art MD does not currently offer a long initial intake appointment, so a complex history may be spread across a first consultation and a follow-up.
What should I bring to my first naturopath appointment?
Bring a written list of your medications and supplements, any lab results from the past few months, and your top two or three questions. Preparing these makes the 15 minutes go much further.
A simple checklist:
- Medications and supplements. Name, dose and how often. A phone photo of each label works well. Include over-the-counter products, herbal products and anything prescribed by another practitioner.
- Recent bloodwork. If your family physician ordered tests in the past three to six months, ask for a copy or check your results in your provincial health record. Recent results may mean you don't need to repeat a test.
- Relevant reports. Imaging reports, specialist letters or discharge summaries that relate to your concern.
- Your questions, written down. Put the most important one first.
- Insurance details. If you plan to submit receipts to an extended health plan, have your plan information handy.
- Your family physician's name and clinic, if you would like results or notes shared with them.
How are costs explained before anything is ordered?
Before any test, treatment visit or product is ordered, the cost is explained to you, and you decide whether to go ahead. You can ask for an itemized breakdown at any point.
Cost surprises are another frequent complaint about private health care. They usually come from items that are billed separately from the consultation itself:
- Lab tests. MSP generally does not pay for tests ordered by a naturopathic doctor, so they are usually paid privately. Some extended health plans or spending accounts reimburse them; many do not.
- Treatment visits. Procedures are booked and billed separately from the first consultation.
- Prescription medications. If a prescription is involved, the pharmacy bills it through your drug plan or PharmaCare, separately from the clinic.
- Supplements. Only if you choose to buy them, and never as a condition of care.
We do not publish fees online because what each person needs differs. The front desk can tell you the current fee for the first consultation before you book, and the naturopathic doctor can explain the reason for each recommended test or treatment, what question it would answer, and what can wait. For details on receipts and insurance limits, see our guide to using extended health benefits for a naturopath in BC.
Do I have to buy supplements or a package?
No. You do not have to buy supplements, packages or memberships to see the naturopathic doctor, and recommendations come with an explanation you can take or leave.
If a supplement is suggested, it is reasonable to ask:
- What is it for, and what would tell us whether it is helping?
- How long should I take it before reassessing?
- Is it likely to interact with anything I already take?
- Can I buy it elsewhere, or use a product I already have?
You are welcome to take a written recommendation and decide later. Follow-up visits are booked one at a time based on how you are doing, not as a pre-paid bundle.
How are follow-ups booked?
Follow-ups are booked one at a time when there is a clear reason, such as reviewing a lab result, checking how a plan is going, or planning a treatment visit. The timing depends on what you and the naturopathic doctor agreed at the previous visit.
Common reasons for a follow-up include:
- Reviewing bloodwork once results are back
- A planned treatment visit, for example PRP for thinning hair, booked only after the consultation has screened whether it may suit you
- Checking progress on a plan after a few weeks
- Adjusting or stopping something that is not working for you
Dr. Krantsevich Riehl performs procedures herself, so the person who assessed you is the same person who carries out any treatment. Some people find that one visit answers their question and no follow-up is needed. That is a perfectly good outcome. Individual results vary for any treatment.
How does a naturopath work with my family doctor?
A naturopathic doctor works alongside your family physician, not in place of them. With your consent, results and notes can be shared so everyone is working from the same information.
In BC, naturopathic doctors generally cannot refer you directly to a specialist or order MSP-covered imaging such as MRI or CT; those usually go through a family physician or nurse practitioner. If something in your history needs medical follow-up, you will be told to see your family physician, a walk-in clinic or, for urgent symptoms, emergency care.
If you do not currently have a family physician, the Province of BC's Health Connect Registry (gov.bc.ca) is where you can register to be matched with one. HealthLink BC (8-1-1) can also give health advice and help you decide where to go.
Can I see the naturopath in Chinese?
Our front desk can help you in English or Chinese, including booking and questions about fees. The naturopathic consultation itself is conducted in English. If you would be more comfortable with a family member or friend helping to interpret, you are welcome to bring them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a first naturopathic visit at Skin Art MD?
About 15 minutes. It is a consultation or screening to understand your main concern and agree on a next step, not a full intake.
Do I need a referral to see a naturopathic doctor in BC?
No referral is needed. You can book directly online or through the front desk.
Is a naturopathic visit covered by MSP?
Routine visits are not. People approved for MSP Supplementary Benefits may receive a set payment toward a limited number of visits per year; check with Health Insurance BC. Many extended health plans include naturopathic coverage, so check your plan.
Can I bring blood test results from my family doctor?
Yes. Recent results are helpful and may mean a test does not need to be repeated.
Will I be asked to start treatment at the first visit?
No. The first visit is for assessment and planning. Any treatment visit is booked separately, after its process and cost have been explained.
How do I check that a naturopath is registered?
Search the public registry on the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC website (cchpbc.ca).
Booking
To book a 15-minute naturopathic consultation or screening at Skin Art MD in Burnaby, use our naturopathic booking page. Bring your medication and supplement list, recent bloodwork and your questions. You can learn more about the services offered on our naturopathic medicine page.
