A first visit with Dr. Mariah, ND lasts 60 to 75 minutes and is mostly a structured conversation. The goal is to build a complete picture of your health (history, lifestyle, current concerns, recent labs) so the initial plan you leave with reflects your specific situation. For background on what naturopathic doctors are trained to do, see what does a naturopathic doctor do in Ontario and how naturopathic medicine works.
This guide walks through what happens before, during, and after the appointment, what to bring, and what to expect from follow-up care.
Before the appointment
Once you book, you will receive intake forms to complete in advance. These typically cover:
- Personal and family medical history.
- Current medications, supplements, and dosages.
- Menstrual and reproductive history (if relevant to your concern).
- Diet, sleep, stress, exercise, and energy patterns.
- Previous lab work, imaging, or specialist reports.
Filling these out thoroughly before your visit makes the appointment far more productive. The hour is then spent on context, nuance, and planning, not basic data collection.
What to bring
Whether your visit is in person at WOMB Woodstock or InsideU Woodstock, or virtual from anywhere in Ontario, bring (or upload):
- A list of current medications and supplements, with brand names and doses.
- Any recent lab results (bloodwork, hormone panels, thyroid, iron, vitamin D, imaging).
- Reports from specialists that relate to your concern.
- Your extended health benefits information if you plan to submit the visit for reimbursement.
- Questions you want to make sure you ask. A short written list is fine and often helpful.
If you have lab work from the last 6 to 12 months, share it ahead of time. It often changes what additional testing is or is not needed.
During the visit
A first appointment with Dr. Mariah, ND is structured, but it should still feel like a conversation. A typical flow:
- Your reason for booking and the timeline of the concern. What changed, when, and what you have already tried.
- Health history review, including past diagnoses, surgeries, medications, supplements, and family history.
- Lifestyle review: nutrition, sleep, stress, energy, digestion, menstrual cycle, movement, and mental health.
- Lab review, if you brought results. This is where patterns often start to emerge.
- Initial assessment: the working picture of what may be going on and why.
- Starting plan: lifestyle and dietary recommendations, any supplements that make sense to begin now, and any lab work to order before the next visit.
Hands-on physical exams are not a routine part of the first visit. Dr. Mariah, ND only performs a focused exam when it is clinically relevant. If something requires hands-on assessment outside her scope, you will be referred to your family doctor; see naturopath vs. family doctor for how the two roles divide.
Lab work and testing
Many first visits end with a lab requisition. Common starting panels include:
- Complete blood count, ferritin, and iron studies.
- Full thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4, TPO antibodies where indicated).
- Hormone testing aligned with your cycle if relevant.
- Vitamin D, B12, and other targeted nutrients based on symptoms.
- Inflammatory markers or metabolic markers when indicated.
You can read more about specific tests in the lab test glossary. Some labs are run through the same provincial lab network your MD uses; others are private and have a separate cost.
After the visit
After the appointment, you will typically receive:
- A written summary of the plan and recommendations.
- Lab requisitions for any tests ordered.
- Supplement recommendations with dosages and timing, where applicable.
- A suggested follow-up window (often 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the plan).
Most patients can expect three to five follow-up appointments to see meaningful improvement with a primary concern. Each follow-up reviews progress, integrates new lab results, and adjusts the plan.
Cost and coverage
Naturopathic visits in Ontario are not covered by OHIP. Most extended health plans cover ND visits in part or in full, with annual limits that vary by plan. Bring a copy of your benefits information to your first visit so coverage can be confirmed. For full pricing detail, see the cost of a naturopath in Ontario and is a naturopath covered in Ontario.
How to prepare in one paragraph
If you only do three things to prepare: complete the intake forms thoroughly, gather any lab results from the last year, and write down the two or three questions that matter most to you. That is enough to get a productive first visit.
If you are ready to book, reserve a consultation at one of the Woodstock locations or virtually anywhere in Ontario. If you still have questions before booking, the FAQ covers the most common ones.