They can! It’s just that they will always be taking you into consideration as they talk which will modify their extent and inhibit their expression. From a young age, kids learn the effect that they have on their parents/guardians, and in their teen years they’ve got it down! They may want to protect your feelings, or see that you have other stresses you’re dealing with and not want to add to it, or worry that you’ll think differently about them, or that they’ll let you down, or they’ll get punished for being honest because it broke a rule, or maybe it’s just too embarrassing. When you’re a teen, you want to bounce ideas, thoughts and feelings off of a seasoned impartial professional adult who doesn’t have the subjective experience of changing your diapers or wiping your nose or remembers that time when “you always were” or “acted” a certain way when you were a younger child. There may also be topics that are difficult to discuss with your parents when you’re a teen because you don’t even want to think about the fact that they once had sex or sexual thoughts, and maybe even still do, ewe! Not to mention that as a teen you’re convinced that your parents could never understand what you’re going through because when they were a teen things were different, so they obviously have no idea, right? Dr. Paula enjoys working with this age group in a way that holds a safe space for them to process their emotions and encourages them to problem-solve and feel empowered in their mental/physical/social health with objectiveness and non-judgement. She also encourages and educates them on how to have open discussions with their parents/guardians about how they’re feeling and what their needs are to strengthen the family relationship, and gives them tools to communicate on their own terms as they discover and embrace their individuality.

As a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Paula is licensed by the state of Oregon to practice as a Primary Care Physician, therefore she is trained in the diagnosis, management, prevention and treatment of both acute and chronic health conditions, and may prescribe pharmaceutical medications from a comprehensive formulary. In 2009 Dr. Paula initially began her practice in primary care medicine and over the years has honed in on her preference which is to do Integrative Mental Health with ages 11-22. Dr. Paula no longer acts as a PCP due to her emphasis on mental health and where it intersects with physical health, and the extra time it takes to be thorough on this front. However, she loves to work with her patient’s PCP and other heath providers by communicating as a part of the patient’s health team, collaborating with her patient’s overall wellness in mind.

As an Oregon licensed Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Paula may prescribe medication from one of the most comprehensive formularies in the nation. This includes Psychiatric medications such as that which are prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADD, and the like. Dr. Paula will prescribe pharmaceutical medications where necessary and usually in conjunction with other natural therapies and not alone. Though Dr. Paula can apply for a DEA Registration Number with the State of Oregon, she chooses not to prescribe controlled substances as this is not a medication type she wants to administer commonly enough in her practice to make registration necessary. However, if she feels it is warranted, she will communicate with the patient’s Primary Care Physician (PCP) or other health provider, or give her patient a referral to a provider. Naturopathic physicians in Oregon may also perform minor surgery, practice natural childbirth, and administer injection therapies, of which Dr. Paula has done all three since 2007 in medical school and in clinical practice. Since she has focused her practice on Mental Health over the years, she no longer performs minor surgery or midwifery, and only occasionally administers muscular injection therapies for nutritional deficiencies.

11-22 years of age is Dr. Paula’s focus because these are the typical ages for Middle School, High School, and College transitions. That said, some are in college a bit longer or their circumstances don’t include college at all and are looking for help with the same challenges that someone entering the “real world” and becoming an independent adult faces. Dr. Paula is happy to speak with these individuals even though they don’t fit neatly into the 11-22 category, and will assess if their needs fit Dr. Paula’s services during the Free 15-min initial phone consult. Dr. Paula will also not drop an existing patient when they turn 23 years old. She will work with them until they feel confident and independent enough to be ready to move on to the next phase of their life with good mental, physical, and social health.

Dr. Paula does not bill Health Insurance for her medical services. She will give you a Superbill with appropriate Diagnosis Codes, CPT Codes, and proof of payment upon your request so that you may submit this to be reimbursed to you by your Health Insurance Company. It is recommended that you speak with a representative of your Health Insurance Company beforehand to verify what services of Dr. Paula’s are covered by your specific plan (she will be considered ‘Out-of-Network’) and that you get their name and document their answer along with the date and time you spoke with them to be sure their answers to your questions are upheld. Many insurance plans do cover Naturopathic Medicine and Mental Health Services and it is up to you to determine with them what type of reimbursement you could expect, and what they need from you to make that happen.