The initial consultation – what to expect
Prior to your first visit, you will be asked to fill out a Patient Intake Form. Please make sure to arrive 15 minutes early to fill in the relevant information. Alternatively, you may download the form, fill it out and bring it with you. There is also an Informed Consent Form which needs to be filled out and signed prior to treatment. This form is generally signed here in the office after the basic homeopathic principles and process have been explained to you and all of your questions have been answered satisfactorily.
In classical homeopathy, the homeopath examines the totality of signs and symptoms, observing in particular the unusual or characteristic symptoms. These are key to determining that single, individualized remedy – your remedy.
Your initial consultation will consist of a comprehensive interview, examination and assessment according to the guidelines and principles of Classical Homeopathic Medicine by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. You can expect this first visit to take about three hours. In this holistic approach, the discussion will include not only questions about your physical symptoms, but also about your family history, your views and beliefs, and your emotions. No aspect is overlooked in the constitutional consultation.
Once all of the information has been documented, your homeopath undertakes to verify every single symptom that has come up during the consultation. Thus, out of more than 4,000 natural remedies to choose from, only a handful remain that qualify as the most fitting, individualized medicines. The remedy that covers the totality of the patient’s symptoms at the time of consultation – your remedy – is then prescribed.
You will generally be asked to return in the following week to pick up your constitutional prescription. At this appointment, you will have the opportunity ask questions or provide additional information which was not mentioned before, and your homeopath may inquire about symptoms that verify the prescription given on that day.
Confidentiality
To start, rest assured that all information you provide is kept in strict confidence. This includes any medical diagnoses, lab reports or other documentation you bring in from other health care providers or others, as well as information which is disclosed during the course of the homeopathic consultation.
For example, your homeopath will take and write down your complete symptom picture, including acute and chronic physical symptoms, mental and emotional indications, aspects of personality, body type, and lifestyle. The only other person having access to the records is the receptionist.
Of course, maintaining confidentiality is necessary in order to build a relationship of trust between the practitioner and patient. Your information is not shared with other healthcare practitioners or anyone else without your explicit prior consent. However, there are instances in which your homeopath may be mandated by law to disclose confidential information without your consent. Such circumstances include verbal, physical, psychological, emotional or sexual abuse of a patient. By adhering to this mandatory reporting obligation, the College of Homeopaths fulfills its role to protect the public’s interest and to maintain the public’s trust in the homeopathic profession.
The patient’s role
First and foremost, it is important that you relax and be as open as possible. We have a professional, serene atmosphere in the office to allow you to unwind. Just be yourself and don’t worry about the demands of the day while you are here. This will enable you to speak spontaneously and remember important symptoms better. The more detailed you can be about your symptoms, the better the case will be. Remember, the information that you provide is of utmost importance for your homeopath to determine your remedy!
Do bring in copies of medical test results and previous diagnoses, if available, as this information will further help your homeopath to get your total symptom picture.
After you have taken your remedy, it is also important to be observant of the changes taking place in your system. To that end, you might want to keep a journal or notes on any noticeable changes or shifts in your systems of health. Dreams are also important to note while on a remedy, as remedies often stimulate our dreams.
The homeopath’s role
Your homeopath will always first consider the well-being of the patient and above all, do no harm. He or she has the challenging task of choosing precisely the correct remedy at each stage in a patient’s treatment. In classical homeopathy, the homeopath examines the totality of signs and symptoms, observing in particular the unusual or characteristic symptoms. These are key to determining that single, individualized remedy – your remedy.
In doing so, your homeopath applies the principles of homeopathy within a philosophy of care. As well, he or she strictly abides by a code of ethics as mandated by the College of Homeopaths.
Treatment Expectations
Homeopathic medicines start working immediately after they are taken. They work differently for each patient and therefore each course of treatment is unique. Depending on the condition of the individual, cure may be achieved quickly or may take more time. For example, a flu may be tackled within days but a diabetic condition may take months to cure.
Acute treatment:
Acute conditions generally have a rapid onset with severe symptoms that last for a short durations, such as a cold, the flue, a toothache, malaria or an acute renal infection. You can expect to notice the remedy acting fairly soon.
A brief intensification of the presenting symptoms and/or a temporary return of old symptoms may be experienced in some cases, as the vital force is stimulated to heal. This is a good sign.
Side Effects
Highly diluted homeopathic remedies, taken under the supervision of trained professionals, are generally safe and unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions. However, remedies which are not highly diluted, that is, potencies below 12 CH, can contain amounts of active ingredients and may cause side effects or drug interactions. Your homeopath will take this into consideration and advise you accordingly.
Regardless of the potency prescribed, if the remedy resonates well with you, there is a possibility that you will experience a homeopathic aggravation, that is, a temporary worsening of existing symptoms. As well, you could experience a temporary return of old symptoms. This means that your vital force is stimulated to heal. In addition, taking too much of the remedy could have the opposite effect as it may overwhelm your vital force and you may end up feeling worse for some time.
There is also a possibility that you could develop proving symptoms, that is, symptoms of the remedy, if you are taking repeated doses of the same remedy when it is not or no longer indicated.
The rule of thumb in homeopathy is always: Less is more! Remember that remedies are there to stimulate your vital force so that the body can heal itself. Be sure to follow your homeopath’s instructions in order to avoid any negative side effects.
If there is anything that you are concerned about while in our care, please do not hesitate to contact us. In the case of an emergency, please go to the nearest hospital!
Fee Schedule
All prices are to be understood HST extra.
| Homeopathic Treatment | Cost | |||||||||
| Information Session (15 min) | N/C | |||||||||
| Constitutional Consultation
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$ 264.00 $396.00 |
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| Follow-up Visit
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$84.00 $120.00 |
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| Acute Consultation (30 min) | $ 84.00 | |||||||||
| Short Consultation (10 min) | $36.00 | |||||||||
| Remedies | ||||||||||
| Homeopathic Remedy Prescription | Regular remedy | $ 10.00 | ||||||||
| Rare remedy | $ 17.00 | |||||||||
| Nutritional Analysis | $ 120.00 | |||||||||
| Bach Flower Consultation (30 min) |
$ 84.00 | |||||||||
| Personal Bach flower formula Individually composed | $ 20.00 | |||||||||
| Other Services | Please refer to our website or clinic brochure for a complete listing of services offered. | |||||||||
| Products | We carry a variety of supplements and products to complement your homeopathic treatment. | |||||||||
| Gift Certificates | Available for all services.Must be redeemed within 1 year of purchase. | |||||||||
| Special Offers | Please check our website periodically to take advantage of special offers. | |||||||||
| For your convenience we accept payment by cash, cheque, debit, VISA or Mastercard. |   |
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Cancellation Policy
We ask that you please respect our cancellation policy as we book long appointment slots to accommodate you and your health concerns. 48 hours’ notice is required for cancelling or rescheduling of appointments. Otherwise, a cancellation fee of half of the amount of the session will apply.
Forms
Please download, print, fill out and bring the following forms to your initial consultation. Alternatively, please come in 15 minutes prior to your appointment and fill out the forms here.
