Holistic Doctor in NYC (Whole-Person Care That’s Practical)
What “holistic doctor” means (and what it doesn’t)
A holistic doctor looks at the whole person, not just individual symptoms. This means considering how sleep, stress, nutrition, digestion, relationships, and the environment all connect to influence overall health. Holistic care is practical and personalized, focused on creating clear, achievable steps that fit your lifestyle. It’s not anti-medicine or a replacement for conventional care, rather, it complements your existing care team by helping you address patterns, strengthen foundational health, and support your body’s natural healing and resilience.
Functional vs Holistic vs Naturopathic — what’s the difference?
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but each describes a different aspect of care. Understanding the distinction can help you choose the approach that fits your needs.
Holistic (how we look at you)
Holistic care focuses on the whole person. This means considering sleep, stress, nutrition, digestion, relationships, and the broader environment. All the factors that influence your overall well-being.
Functional medicine (how we organize complexity)
Functional medicine is a method for identifying patterns and underlying drivers behind symptoms. It uses systems thinking, timelines, and targeted testing to understand how different factors interact over time. Not all functional practitioners are licensed doctors, so it’s important to review credentials and training when choosing a provider.
Naturopathic
Naturopathic medicine is a licensed system of care emphasizing prevention, foundational health, and natural therapeutics. In addition to nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements, naturopathic care utilizes botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, and physical therapies. The distinction with naturopathic medicine is why therapeutics are chosen; the aim is to support the body’s innate healing processes, rather than suppress, force, or override them.
Dr. Sue is a naturopathic doctor (ND) and her team provides holistic care in NYC and virtually across the country.
Start your healing journey with us…
When people look for a holistic doctor in NYC
People often seek holistic care when they:
- Feel overwhelmed by stress and want tools to support resilience and balance
- Struggle to maintain health routines, meals, or sleep with a busy schedule
- Experience mood swings, low energy, or difficulty managing everyday stressors
- Need help connecting symptoms across systems (e.g. digestion, hormones, and mental health)
- Seek a collaborative, whole person approach where you feel heard and understood
- Prefer supporting their health with natural therapies that create health, rather than suppress symptoms.
Susan’s method (simple pillars)
Foundations: prioritizing sleep, stress management, and a healthy daily routine
Food & nutrition strategy: personalized dietary guidance to support overall wellness
Gut/immune/inflammation support: addressing key systems that influence energy, digestion, and immune function
Targeted supports + re-testing/adjustments when appropriate: additional therapies, labs, or adjustments as needed to track progress and refine your plan
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments: follow-up visits help track progress, reassess labs when needed, and refine the plan over time; visit frequency is typically every 4–6 weeks at the start, then spaced out as symptoms improve
What an appointment looks like
Step 1 — Deep intake + health timeline
Our patients will fill out a thorough intake form before our visit so that our doctors can prepare for the patient.
This intake form will ask them to list their symptoms, diagnoses/medical history, family history, along with questions about their past environmental exposure, dental health, hormone history, trauma/mental health history, and more.
The patient will upload any past labs they have had to our secure medical portal. They will also list their current medications and dosages, as well as any supplements.
Step 2 — Identify patterns + decide what to test (if needed)
The doctor will review the existing labs and make connections with the patient’s clinical history and symptoms. Based on this review, they may recommend additional targeted testing to gather further information and clarify potential contributors to current health concerns. Testing is used thoughtfully and strategically, with the goal of informing care decisions, rather than ordering labs unnecessarily.
Step 3 — Your plan + follow-ups
After reviewing your history, symptoms, and relevant labs, the doctor creates a personalized, pillar-based plan. This plan typically focuses on:
Foundations: sleep, stress management, lifestyle habits, and reducing toxin exposure
Nutrition and targeted supports: dietary strategies, supplements, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, or other therapies. Therapeutic dosages, drug-herb-medication interactions, and bioavailability are all carefully considered.
Gut, immune, and inflammation support as needed
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments: follow-up visits allow the doctor to track progress, assess for a healing response, reassess labs, and refine the plan overtime. The frequency of follow-ups depends on the complexity and acuity of the case, but is typically every 4-6 weeks at the start of your healing process. Some patients may see us even more frequently for accountability as they make necessary lifestyle changes. As symptoms improve, visits are spaced out, with the long-term goal of 1-2 follow-ups per year for maintenance and continued support.
Holistic care for NYC life
Life in NYC can be fast-paced, stressful, and unpredictable, and that often makes it hard to prioritize your health. Holistic care recognizes these realities and focuses on practical, achievable changes that fit your schedule, environment, and resources.
We understand the level of burnout many professionals feel and meet the patient where they are at. Rather than asking for drastic overhauls, our doctors work with you to identify small but meaningful adjustments. The goal is progress that fits your life, compounds over time, and supports lasting balance.
FAQs
Are you an MD?
No. Naturopathic Doctors are not MDs. Dr. Susan holds the title of ND (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine). NDs complete a 4-year naturopathic medical program and board exams, then apply for state licensure where available.
Do you offer virtual visits?
Yes. We offer telehealth for most patients, which can work very well for busy schedules and allows you to meet from home. Whether virtual or in-person is best depends on your needs.
Do you take insurance?
We do not take insurance for appointments. Depending on your location, insurance may cover some lab work. You may also be able to use HSA/FSA funds for visits, labs, specialty testing, and supplements.
Will you coordinate with my doctor?
Yes. We’re happy to collaborate with your current doctor and support a team approach to your care.
What symptoms do you commonly help with?
Common concerns include chronic fatigue, burnout, hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, mood concerns, acne/skin issues, hair loss, autoimmunity, Lyme disease, mold illness, metabolic health concerns, weight management, and more.
How do you personalize the plan?
We start with a comprehensive 60–90 minute intake to understand your history and current symptoms. From there, we recommend an approach and any labs that fit your unique presentation. Your plan is tailored to your concerns, history, and goals.
Next step
If you’re navigating stress, fatigue, or complex symptoms and want a whole-person approach that fits your life, the doctors at Naturally Sue can help you connect the dots and build a personalized plan. New patients are welcome to schedule a consultation online. Take the first step towards practical, sustainable wellness today.
