It covers your main concerns, health history, current medications and supplements, and whether bloodwork makes sense. The initial consultation and any follow-up sessions are quoted before anything is booked or ordered, and any treatment or lab test is quoted separately.
This guide walks through what the initial consultation covers, what to bring, how fees and receipts work, what happens at follow-up sessions, and how your family physician fits 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 up to 60 minutes to talk through your goals and history and agree on a sensible next step.
The visit is a conversation and an assessment, not a procedure. Nothing is injected or infused at the first appointment, and you leave with a clear idea of what, if anything, comes next.
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.
What does the initial consultation cover?
The initial consultation is time to understand your situation properly: your concerns, your history, what you already take, and what would genuinely help decide the next step.
A typical initial consultation covers:
- Why you came in. The concerns that matter most to you right now, and what you would like to be different.
- Health history. Relevant conditions, past procedures, allergies, family history 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.
- Lifestyle context. Sleep, diet, activity, work and stress, where they relate to your concern.
- Lab results you bring. Recent bloodwork is reviewed so the same test is not repeated without reason.
- Whether bloodwork is needed. Sometimes recent results are enough; sometimes a test would genuinely change the plan; sometimes no test is needed at all.
- Screening for a specific service. If you are asking about a particular treatment, it can be assessed in this consultation, including the questions that decide whether it may suit you, or may not. You can also book these services directly; the same screening then happens at the start of that visit.
- What happens next. A treatment visit, a follow-up session, a referral back to your family physician, or simply no further visits.
Will one consultation cover everything?
For many people, up to an hour is enough to review the main concerns and agree on a plan. If your history is complex or you have several unrelated issues, some of it may continue at a follow-up session, and the naturopathic doctor will tell you what that next session would cover.
A few things are deliberately not done at the initial consultation:
- Procedures. Any treatment is a separate appointment. You can book it directly, and your practitioner reviews your health history at the start to confirm it suits you before it is given.
- Ordering tests without a reason. Each test is explained first: what question it answers and how the result might change the plan.
- Selling a package. You are not asked to commit to a series of visits.
Individual needs vary, and so does the number of visits people find useful. Some people get the answer they were looking for in one consultation.
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 questions. Preparing these lets you use the consultation time on the things that matter to you.
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 claim the visit on an extended health plan, know your plan's naturopathic benefit before you come.
- Your family physician's name and clinic, if you would like results or notes shared with them.
What does a naturopathic visit cost at Skin Art MD?
The initial consultation (up to 60 minutes) and each follow-up session (30 minutes) are quoted separately; treatment and lab test fees are provided after the consultation, and you decide whether to go ahead.
Cost surprises are a 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 priced separately from the consultation, and each one starts with a check that it suits you.
- 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.
You can ask for an itemized breakdown at any point, and the naturopathic doctor can explain the reason for each recommended test or treatment, what question it would answer, and what can wait.
Can I claim the visit on my extended health plan?
Often, yes, but you submit the claim yourself. Many extended health plans include a naturopathic benefit. Skin Art MD does not bill insurers directly: after your visit we give you an official receipt, and you submit it to your insurer.
Before your first appointment, check your plan's coverage: whether naturopathic medicine is included, the annual maximum, any per-visit limit, and what the receipt needs to show. Receipts list the naturopathic doctor's registration number, which insurers generally ask for. MSP does not pay for routine naturopathic visits, although people approved for MSP Supplementary Benefits may receive a set payment toward a limited number of visits per year; check with Health Insurance BC. For details on receipts and plan 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.
What happens at follow-up sessions?
Follow-up sessions are 30 minutes and are booked one at a time when there is a clear reason. The timing depends on what you and the naturopathic doctor agreed at the previous visit.
Common reasons for a follow-up session include:
- Reviewing bloodwork once results are back, and what it means for the plan
- Continuing the assessment if part of a complex history was left for a second session
- Checking progress on a plan after a few weeks
- Adjusting or stopping something that is not working for you
- Planning a treatment visit, for example PRP for thinning hair, which is booked and quoted separately
Your practitioner performs procedures personally, so the person who assessed you is the same person who carries out any treatment. Some people find that the initial consultation 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 and receipts. 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?
Up to 60 minutes. It is an initial consultation to understand your concerns and history and agree on a next step.
How much do the consultation and follow-ups cost?
Treatments and lab tests are quoted separately after the consultation.
Does Skin Art MD bill my insurance directly?
No. We provide an official receipt after your visit, and you submit it to your insurer. Many extended health plans include naturopathic benefits, so check your coverage first.
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.
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
Bring your medication and supplement list, recent bloodwork, your questions and your extended health plan details.
