About Sarah Goulding
FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM A HEALTH EDUCATOR.
Sarah clydeIn my clinical practice I teach one-on-one helping each individual fully understand their body and their health. This approach enables my patients to become more empowered and to make educated decisions about their wellness. I also teach to broader communities in corporate settings, community centres, via online literature, magazines, and blogs. Teaching people about how to take control of their health is very powerful and brings great joy to my workday.
I AM A HEALTH CONSULTANT.
Together my patients and I journey along a path of inquiry to determine the root cause of their concerns. I help to educate them about their health, the health care system, food, herbs, health food stores, water quality, the neuroscience of sleep you name it. If it relates to their health its a part of the discussion. Patients bring in all of the information that theyve received from their family doctor, specialists, health food store clerks, Dr. Oz, etc. We sit down, clarify, and come up with a plan together. Often my role is to help people better navigate the health care system and figure out which practitioner best suits their needs, so that they can get well in the safest and most efficient way possible.
PHILOSOPHY OF WELLNESS.
We find true balance and lasting health when we have a solid foundation in basic wellness principles. My philosophy for health is that proper diet and exercise are fundamental. Sometimes we use supplements or medications to surmount an obstacle to wellness, but health is then maintained by relying on a nutrient-rich-allergen-free diet and a consistent and rewarding exercise-based lifestyle.
AREAS OF FOCUS.
I have a special interest in womens health, including hormonal regulation, nutrition, digestion, fertility, as well as pre- and post-natal care (though I am not currently practicing as a birth doula). I also have an interest in sports medicine and pain management, and a large portion of my practice is trigger point acupuncture.
WHY NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE?
People are drawn to naturopathic medicine for various reasons. For me, once discovered, it was an obvious career path in which the rewards seem to continuously reveal themselves. With a 4-year undergraduate degree in neuroscience & human biology and a couple of years of travel under my belt, I was in line for doing a masters degree. The reductionism of scientific research eventually steered me towards a desire for a more holistic education that was more reflective of our complexity. I found a program that included all of the staples of a medical education (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology), as well as alternative treatment modalities that aid the body in healing itself in gentle ways (acupuncture, botanical medicine, natural supplements). I jumped right in. I chose naturopathic medicine for its solid grounding in science and have stuck with it because of the tremendous benefits it has brought to myself and my patients.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
Not only do I love to talk the talk, but I also pride myself on walking the walk. I see myself as a learning tool to develop naturopathic wisdom. I experiment with diet, exercise, supplements, self-help books, and any other tools that I might suggest for my patients. I have a clean, allergen-free, veggie-rich diet that is continually evolving. I believe that there is not one diet that suits everybody, but that through testing and experimentation, each individual must determine their optimal diet, and I love helping patients with this inquiry and finding solutions in reasonable time frames.
I also practice what I preach by prioritizing exercise. I believe that our bodies are not built for sitting at desks all day long, so I try to balance my day job with all kinds of movement like running, hiking, swimming, canoeing, cross country skiing, and especially with hot yoga. I am a certified yoga instructor because I see the enormous impact of integrating a regular yoga practice into our schedules. Not only would I much rather a patient adopt a daily yoga practice than take a supplement or medication, but I see how effective it can actually be. A supplement or medication may improve a few biochemical processes in the body, but a long-term exercise regimen will impact ALL biochemical processes in the body. I teach yoga because, although learning can happen in the clinic room, change happens in our kitchens and on our mats (or any other environment dedicated to exercise), and I like to be there to support my patients through their transition to wellness. Diet and exercise are very powerful, and the more we do the work, the easier and more rewarding it feels!
