What Is a Holistic Doctor? How to Choose the Right One for You
What Is a Holistic Doctor?
A holistic doctor is a licensed provider who looks at health through a whole-person lens. Instead of focusing solely on isolated symptoms or disease management, holistic doctors aim to understand the underlying causes of imbalance, whether those be physical, emotional, or spiritual.
At Nova Wellness, our approach is rooted in naturopathic medicine, a branch of holistic care that combines evidence-based science with traditional, natural therapies. Dr. Jen is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) with advanced training in functional medicine, nutrition, hormone health, and mind-body healing modalities.
Holistic doctors may use a wide range of tools to support healing, including:
Medical testing and prescription medications
Nutritional and lifestyle counseling
Herbal medicine and supplements
Functional lab testing
Detoxification protocols
Stress reduction and mindfulness techniques
Hormonal balancing
Targeted protocols to restore gut health and digestion
The goal is not just to treat illness, but to create the conditions for long-term vitality and ultimately, a more pleasurable life.
How Is Holistic Medicine Different from Conventional Care?
Conventional medicine is excellent for acute issues like broken bones, infections, or surgery. However, patients may feel frustrated when it comes to chronic symptoms that are more elusive. In conventional medicine, fatigue, bloating, hormone imbalances, anxiety, and autoimmune symptoms are often managed with medication, without exploring why these issues developed in the first place and how to create lifelong, sustained health.
Holistic medicine, by contrast, is investigative. At Nova Wellness, we don’t just ask “what’s wrong?”, we ask “why is this happening?”
Here are some key differences:
Conventional Medicine
Symptom-focused
Disease diagnosis
Standardized treatment
Pharmaceuticals first
10-15 minute visits
Authoritative
Holistic Medicine
Root-cause-focused
Whole-person assessment
Personalized care plan
Lifestyle and natural therapies first
Longer deep dive visits
Educational and empowering
This doesn't mean holistic care is anti-medication. We will prescribe medication where necessary and collaborate with specialists, therapists, and other providers to provide the best level of care. However, we believe the best results come when the body is supported in healing itself. Our goal is to help you learn the language of your body so you can respond to what it’s truly asking for.
What to Expect When Working with a Holistic Doctor
Initial Consultation: We begin every client relationship with a thorough intake 45-60 minutes. During this conversation, we learn your full health history, not just your current symptoms.
Functional Lab Testing: We use advanced lab work to get a baseline for your hormones, gut health, nutrient status, possible infections and more. We then study your detox pathways, digestion and internal system to understand the full picture of what’s happening internally.
Personalized Plans: Your treatment plan is tailored to your body and your lifestyle. You’ll also work with a health coach who will support and empower you as you navigate lifestyle, diet and environmental changes.
Community & Education: We believe the best healing happens alongside a community of people that want to heal. That’s why we offer workshops, group calls, and events for our Bay Area community to learn, grow, and heal together.
How We Practice Holistic Medicine Locally
As holistic doctors in San Francisco, we understand the unique lifestyle, stressors, and aspirations that shape the health of our community. Many of our patients are high-performing professionals, creatives, and caregivers who lead full lives, however, they may feel depleted, disconnected, or stuck in cycles of trial-and-error with conventional treatments. By the time they find us, they’ve tried restrictive diets, medications, and countless supplements without real, lasting change.
We view your health through a personalized lens, considering not just your symptoms, but how your environment, habits, relationships, and nervous system are interacting. As a holistic doctor San Francisco residents turn to for personalized care, we emphasize seasonal, locally grown foods, mind-body alignment, and movement practices that are grounded in nature and your real life.
Living in San Francisco means access to beautiful parks, farmer’s markets, hiking trails, and healing communities, and yet so many people still feel out of sync. Our goal is to help you re-establish that connection: to your body, to the land you live on, and to the rhythms that support sustainable wellness in a busy, modern world.
Is a Holistic Doctor Right for You?
If you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but you still don’t feel like yourself… if you’re tired of quick fixes and want to understand what your body is really asking for… or if you simply want a more empowered, connected approach to your health, working with a holistic doctor may be the next right step.
At Nova Wellness, we believe that health can be pleasurable. We don’t just want you to feel better, we want you to feel more alive, more connected, and more in tune with your body.
Explore what you can expect when working with a holistic doctor and schedule a discovery call to see how we can support you.