Pathways to Health: Dr. Ashley Woyak Explores Functional and Naturopathic Medicine

In this episode of Happiness Unscripted, host Kristin DeSouza welcomes Dr. Ashley Woyak, an expert in Functional, Naturopathic, and Chiropractic medicine. Dr. Woyak shares insights into her extensive educational journey and how her unique approach to healthcare addresses the underlying causes of chronic conditions, particularly for women in midlife. The episode delves into the differences between conventional and naturopathic medicine, emphasizing the importance of root cause analysis, personalized care, and a holistic approach to health, as well as the value of functional medicine. Dr. Woyak also discusses the benefits of collaborating with a diverse team of specialists for optimal patient care, highlighting the growing acceptance and effectiveness of naturopathic medicine in her practice in Madison, Wisconsin.

00:00 Introduction to Happiness Unscripted

00:13 Meet Dr. Ashley Woyak

01:19 Ashley's Journey into Functional Medicine

06:19 Understanding Functional and Naturopathic Medicine

10:39 Examples of Integrated Medicine

17:42 Cost-Effective Healthcare Solutions

20:54 Signs You Might Benefit From a Functional Medicine Practitioner

21:29 The Spectrum of Patients in Functional Medicine

22:53 Personalized Lab Work

26:23 The Initial Consultation Experience

31:32 Empowering Patients in Their Wellness Journey

35:46 Outro and Next Episode Teaser

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Hey there friends! Just a friendly reminder that this podcast is all about sharing ideas and having fun conversations. I'm not an expert in this subject over here - just a curious person exploring topics I find interesting. So please don't take anything said here as professional advice. When in doubt, chat with the real pros who know their stuff. Thanks for listening and hope you join us for the next episode! Now, let's dive in and get happy!

Transcript

Kristin - Host.. 0:00

Hello. Welcome to Happiness Unscripted, where we are on a mission to embrace happiness. I'm your host, Kristin DeSouza. On this podcast, we talk about the journey to a deeply happy and joyful life. Today, Dr. Ashley Woyak is joining us to share her expertise in Functional, Naturopathic and Chiropractic medicine, and how this approach to healthcare can help people, particularly women in midlife, reclaim their health and vitality. Ashley, I'm so happy that you're here.

Ashley 0:32

Yes. Thank you for having me.

Kristin - Host.. 0:35

Ashley is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and Doctor of Chiropractic who practices at Forward Natural Medicine in Madison, Wisconsin. With her unique dual credentials as well as a background in chemistry and mathematics, Ashley takes a comprehensive root cause approach to treating chronic conditions. She's passionate about educating patients about alternative approaches to health, which can complement standard medical approaches, as well as provide a different strategy to address one's struggles to feeling our best. Ashley can particularly offer new perspectives for hormonal imbalances and chronic health challenges that often affect individuals in midlife. So Ashley, let's start with your journey into functional medicine. You have an extensive educational background with a bachelor's degrees in chemistry and mathematics from Edgewood University, as well as having earned a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Doctor of Naturopathic medicine degrees. So that's quite a lot of education. What drew you to functional and naturopathic medicine as compared to the more well-known doctor of medicine? And how does this combination of credentials allow you to see and treat patients differently than practitioners with a single specialty?

Ashley 2:01

Yeah, so when I was in undergrad at Edgewood, I knew I wanted to get into the healthcare space. Um. And particularly kind of being pre-med. And then, we're in the Midwest so we don't really know about the functional medicine options, like there are out west and whatnot. So anyways, I started shadowing, um, healthcare providers particularly in like primary care and certain specialty areas. And I just realized it wasn't my passion, it wasn't my calling. And there's not to say that it's not right or wrong, there's a need for it. And a holy cow, it's, I respect those providers big time. But I just knew when I was in that um, area it just wasn't for me. And I kind of was wanting to dig deeper into like, okay, why are patients having these issues, why, what are their underlying problems going on and is there a way that we can kind of address it in a more route? Talking to them about diet and lifestyle and stress and all, all these other things instead of just kind of bandaid it with medications. Again, I'm not anti-med whatsoever. I talk

Kristin - Host.. 3:05

Yeah.

Ashley 3:05

with my patients all the time, but it's just so we, like, I just wanted to have a different perspective and I knew that was what I really would care about. And talking to, let's see here, like a, an educator at Edgewood. And they said, have you heard about naturopathic medicine? I said, uh, no, not at all. And so I kind looked into it and I was like, yeah, I think this is for me, even though I'm gonna be considered one of those kind of crazy people, but, um, this is for me. So, not your typical, um, provider. I knew I'd be in Wisconsin a little more. Uh, I don't know, different, but it, it's, I think that we've come a long

Kristin - Host.. 3:40

Yeah,

Ashley 3:41

way. Things are different now,

Kristin - Host.. 3:42

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 3:43

in, versus back then. So, which is great that

Kristin - Host.. 3:45

Yes.

Ashley 3:45

people kind of get what I do and kinda that functional medicine perspective and I'm, I'm so glad I took that journey

Kristin - Host.. 3:53

Excellent. Yes, I would agree that growing up, uh, Naturopathic and functional medicine wasn't something I heard about a whole lot, but it's interesting to me when I, say that I go to a naturopathic doctor, how many people know what that is now. And compared to, I used to have to explain

Ashley 4:17

Yeah.

Kristin - Host.. 4:17

what that was.

Ashley 4:18

Uhhuh. No, that's great. I love that. And I, naturopathic doctors got licensed in Wisconsin, um, I wanna say like three years ago now. So I think there's, there's more providers in the area that do what I do. And, and, and that helps for sure.

Kristin - Host.. 4:31

Yes. Well, and I think, uh, I think it is helpful to point out for people that aren't as familiar with it, that you really are bringing together a lot of perspectives. Like, yes, you can prescribe medications to patients, but you're also, really spend some time asking what are your goals? What are you looking to get out of this? And, um, I kind of love how well you meet patients where they're at. One of the things that I really noticed about working with you is that while you might know that there's five things that could really help a person, if they're only ready to do two or three of'em, you're willing to just really focus on those and bring a very positive approach to, this is where you're at in your journey and what you're willing to do right now'. And, you focus on the positive opportunities and not necessarily saying, but you're still not doing this, and so I really like that

Ashley 5:33

like,

Kristin - Host.. 5:33

about

Ashley 5:34

what you

Kristin - Host.. 5:35

your approach.

Ashley 5:35

perfect just meeting the patient where they're at for, or anyone where they're at,

Kristin - Host.. 5:39

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 5:39

people that are, just like, yeah, I, I want more blood work in labs and I want optimal health. that's what their goal is. And I have some people there have seen 10 different specialty providers and they've done a million things and it's been years and years and they've been dealing with chronic health issues and they got nowhere and they're just like defeated. They're crying in my office. And, um, it's just, just kind of like, okay, we really gotta figure this out. And, and it's a journey together. I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know immediately what's going on, but we eventually, we, we, we chip away and we get there,

Kristin - Host.. 6:12

Yeah. Yeah. I like that you chip away at it. So, I kind of jumped ahead of myself a little bit there. Let's talk a little bit about what functional, naturopathic, and chiropractic medicine is, and I will, share for our listeners, you'll probably talk a little bit more in depth about the functional and the naturopathic, because even though you, have trained in chiropractic medicine, that is not something that you actively practice right now. So for our listeners who may not be familiar with functional medicine and naturopathic medicine, can you explain what each of these is and how you really see them as differing from conventional medicine? And let's, focus on, compared to like when someone thinks of going to their GP's, the general practitioner's office, what is, what is your take and focus?

Ashley 7:08

Yep. So to have a doctorate, naturopathic medicine, you have to go to a medical school that specializes in that. versus like functional medicine, medical doctors, nurse practitioners, other healthcare providers can do kind of post school training to, to learn some of that. But really for both of them, similarities are trying to get more to the root cause of like, why is this going on? What's happening? And really addressing it through more diet, lifestyle, uh, stress, like, like kind of getting those foundational things and, and doing it a little more holistically if possible. That's not to say a lot of like functional medicine providers don't use medications at all. Like we, we certainly do, but it's kind of trying to have optimal health and optimal wellness for longevity and not just being old, but like having a, um, healthy lifespan,

Kristin - Host.. 7:58

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 7:59

wellness type of thing. So that's,

Kristin - Host.. 8:01

Nice.

Ashley 8:01

versus going to your general practitioner or primary care provider, unfortunately, it's not that they don't care about that or wanna do that, it's more the system is more, okay, you're coming in, here's your problem, here's your medication typically, or let's

Kristin - Host.. 8:17

Right.

Ashley 8:17

the bare minimal labs because it's such an insurance based model. Like we're, we're only allowed to do what we're allowed to do and what will get covered, which sucks'cause that's a limited thing. And a lot of providers know they wanna explore more, but they don't want patients to have a$5,000 bill at the end of that visit type of thing. So kind of just stuck and it not that patient, not that all doctors wanna do that, but they wanna just focus in on primary care. Here's the problem, here's your med. That's fine.

Kristin - Host.. 8:46

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 8:46

um, just a different way of treating things.

Kristin - Host.. 8:48

That's a good description in that, I like your, the term you keep using about the foundations of health in terms of your sleep habits and your nutrition and whatnot. And I think that's been a really interesting piece for me. as part of the journey, I feel like I've been on that coming to you has been part of that. Yeah. I was really struggling with, what my primary care doctor helped me figure out, was stress and anxiety that was manifesting itself in physical symptoms. And they really offered me some great starting points. But as you said, I was also like, okay, well, but clearly there's things going on in my body that I want to understand beyond here's the medicine that takes care of this symptom. And so I think, that's the component I've really feel like I've gotten through coming to you and, just that line of medical care.

Ashley 9:55

yeah, I remind people too that, I don't replace your primary care doctor. that's not my goal either. you need both, and there's a time and a place for all of us, and it's, it's for you to have the best care, really.

Kristin - Host.. 10:08

To me it was just part of, building a whole network of people. Like I love my primary care doctor.

Ashley 10:14

Uh-huh,

Kristin - Host.. 10:15

I think the team, the team there is amazing and there's so many more offices coming into Sun Prairie that I could probably find someone to go to that's closer, but I'm like,'no, I'm really happy with the care. I'll drive the little extra a few times a year to stick with them. It almost feels like multiple building blocks that I'm able to put together to make a stronger and broader foundation for care So, can you give an example of your integrated medicine approach that has helped a patient in ways that, that patient expressed going to a single provider, was limiting for them, and maybe that doctor just didn't have the time or the training to focus on something that you were able to help that patient with?

Ashley 11:08

Yeah, I think I could give a couple different examples. Like right now, um, I do work with a lot of women who are anywhere between like 30 and 70 years old, and a lot of them are having, like, hormonal shifts, and it's not that they're full blown menopause yet, so their doctors are kinda like, you're fine. you don't need hormones or this or that. Like all these symptoms you're having, like pain, digestive issues, skin problems, like fatigue. do you want an antidepressant type of thing. So they feel kind of stuck. So like, that's not the problem, versus I might look at someone even who's not even in that perimenopausal state yet completely. But they're starting to have shifts and I know that hormones might drastically, like help improve their symptoms. So, um, I, I do see a lot of that where women just feel like, okay, I know there's something going on here with my hormones, but I feel like my doctors just said, your labs are fine, or you're not in perimenopausal- menopause yet, so I'll talk to you in 10 years, type of thing. So I see that quite a bit.

Kristin - Host.. 12:06

Oh goodness.

Ashley 12:07

Yeah. Um, even like digestive issues, I have a lot of patients that, have gut stuff going on and they might even be lucky enough to see like a GI specialist and they just get diagnosed with like IBS. They're not told like, okay, here's why this is happening. It's just'Do you want a med for this or not?' So those are the common ones I'll see, um, where they, there might be like roadblocks. Weight loss is a big one too. Sorry, I could like keep going and keep going, Kristin.

Kristin - Host.. 12:35

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Ashley 12:36

just like I, I'm, I can't lose weight, like what I did in my thirties, just like diet and exercise, the way it would come right

Kristin - Host.. 12:42

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 12:43

that I am, upper forties, fifties, I'm doing, I am in calorie deficit. I'm working out with a trainer and I'm gaining weight, and their doctor's kinda like it is just your hormones, that's it. And keep doing what you're doing

Kristin - Host.. 12:56

Yes. I think, I think that's it. A good example of one where I feel like myself and a lot of friends that I've talked to that are in our forties, um, we're confused. We're like, okay, the things that I've been taught from childhood about here's how you take care of yourself. Here's how you stay fit and healthy aren't working. And it was really hard to find somewhere to turn to that, yeah, you weren't getting, uh, just more of the same. That doesn't make you feel very good. Yeah. You're like, but, I'm trying

Ashley 13:36

you feel defeated.

Kristin - Host.. 13:38

Yeah. Yeah.

Ashley 13:39

Yeah,

Kristin - Host.. 13:40

Yeah. you were talking about women where you might be kind of 10 years out from full blown menopause where you get the standard treatment. Um, I've kind of been chuckling lately because I have, uh. An early teenager in my house and a, a tween in my house. And so seeing a lot of like hormones shifts going on with them and like, sometimes my husband and I just look at each other and we're like, what was that? Like? What just happened? But it was funny. Yeah. Yeah. My poor husband is probably just like, some days just wants to go hide in a corner somewhere, living with all three of us. But yeah, it was, it kind of struck me that I'm like, oh, I'm kind of like going through, the adult stage of this, where, you're moving from, they're moving from kid to adults and I'm moving from, this adult that's supposed to be producing babies to one where it's like, oh no, you don't need that system to work quite so much anymore. So I've decided to start thinking of myself as, I'm like, I'm just like a teenager going through, hormonal shifts. It's fine.

Ashley 14:51

it.

Kristin - Host.. 14:52

Yeah. So on your forward medicine website, uh, the opening page presents your team and as offering root cause science and a patient first approach, and that really resonated with me. So would you, uh, talk about, what did you mean by root cause science in your team's practice and what, um, what that terminology resonates with you and what you're looking to bring forward?

Ashley 15:27

Yeah. I think for everyone that steps foot in the office, we just look at'em as an individual. Like if there's no cookie cutter

Kristin - Host.. 15:33

Okay.

Ashley 15:34

thing. It's like you, and let's get to know you and let's give you the best care that we can. I've got, people that come in for consults for me that might wanna do injections or peptides or things for joint pain. And I, after talking to'em for a while, I'm like, you really should go see Dr. Sam for physical therapy. And that made all the difference, so it's not just, oh, you're here and let me just throw what I think you need at you. It's just really listening to them getting a good history and, um. making sure they're gonna walk outta there feeling heard and getting the best care possible

Kristin - Host.. 16:09

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 16:10

there's cases that are really tough and I say, okay, I would really love to bring Dr. Emily on who does acupuncture. she's got a science that I quite frankly don't know anything about, but I know a lot of our patients, like her patients, it makes a drastic improvement, whether it's sleep or hormones or digestive stuff.

Kristin - Host.. 16:28

Nice.

Ashley 16:28

I, to me, hopefully I answered that correctly, but just looking at them as a whole and

Kristin - Host.. 16:32

Yeah,

Ashley 16:32

okay, not just you're here, I'm gonna throw this at you because it's what I do and what I know.

Kristin - Host.. 16:37

that makes sense to me that you're saying you're not just, I think you just said it well; it's not just what you can provide. You've got a very diverse team. But, when I look at your website, I'm always amazed at how I can see the interconnectedness of the specialties. you have someone who specializes in acupuncture. You have, a doctor of physical therapy, which, worked with him and that was a really amazing experience as someone who's gone through, I've had two ACL reconstructions in my twenties, and so I've been through a lot of physical therapy and that was a really different experience to work with him. And, um, he has such a thoughtfulness about what he's doing and the ability to explain it. And so I think that, to me, that's one of the best ways I can explain how I have experienced what I would call your, root cause, um, approach to things. That there's just a lot of thoughtfulness about, let's keep digging a little deeper until we're convinced we've really put everything on the table and, thought about all the different angles

Ashley 17:42

Yeah, and those too, like for example, like my services may be more cash based, but like

Kristin - Host.. 17:48

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 17:49

or Laurie or massage therapist, like accept, insurance. So I'm always doing the things, okay, what can we make to do, have this all be affordable for you? Let's look at your

Kristin - Host.. 17:57

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 17:57

our options.

Kristin - Host.. 17:59

Yeah.

Ashley 17:59

just to also keep costs down for patients too,

Kristin - Host.. 18:02

That was another thing that's been very interesting to me is that blend of, some services, through your office take insurance and some don't, but it's, really struck me how I can see how a lot of decisions on, which one goes, which direction has to do with what's the most cost effective plan.

Ashley 18:23

Mm-hmm.

Kristin - Host.. 18:23

come and had blood work done with you and, the cost for that blood work that you just contract with an office to run through the analyzer and send you. The data for you to work with versus what I see when I'm going to one of the larger ones through a standard insurance experience is very different.

Ashley 18:45

Oh my gosh. Yeah. That, and that's kind of what I, I, I, I personally don't deal with insurance because a lot of time it doesn't cover what I offer. It doesn't co

Kristin - Host.. 18:55

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 18:56

preventative functional medicine, stuff like that, and I don't wanna be told how to practice, and I want

Kristin - Host.. 19:03

Right.

Ashley 19:03

to do what I can do that I know helps people. And I, I think Kelly, who's the other nurse practitioner at the Middleton office, we both do a really good job of mindful and, keeping costs down for patients. But a lot of our things,

Kristin - Host.. 19:17

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 19:18

like, a vitamin D is$15 at our office. you might get that done at your doctor's office and your copays more than that. Or if your insurance, for some reason decides to deny it, you could get a$300 bill. you, you just

Kristin - Host.. 19:33

Right?

Ashley 19:33

always a gamble because it's

Kristin - Host.. 19:35

Yeah.

Ashley 19:35

that insurance model. So, um, I love

Kristin - Host.. 19:37

Yes. Yes.

Ashley 19:38

are, do really good care and blend insurance and low, you know,

Kristin - Host.. 19:44

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 19:44

out of pocket pocket expenses.

Kristin - Host.. 19:47

One of the things I'm looking to bring through this podcast is just expanding awareness and options of things. I go to a naturopath as part of my overall healthcare and wellness and there's things that I get there that, I consider very cost effective that I doubt I would consider doing through a GP for those reasons that you mentioned. So,

Ashley 20:12

Some, some, like,

Kristin - Host.. 20:13

yeah.

Ashley 20:14

hormones or certain peptides or meds, if your primary care provider prescribes it and your

Kristin - Host.. 20:20

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 20:20

it, when you go pick it up at Walgreens or CVS River, you could be billed just a ridiculous amount,

Kristin - Host.. 20:26

Yeah.

Ashley 20:26

like, through us, it's so

Kristin - Host.. 20:29

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 20:30

So there is

Kristin - Host.. 20:31

Well, and

Ashley 20:32

and the cost and like, here's what you

Kristin - Host.. 20:34

yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Ashley 20:35

Yeah.

Kristin - Host.. 20:37

when I've talked to your office about options for things, I know what the cost is gonna be for them and can think about it and make an informed decision for,

Ashley 20:48

Exactly.

Kristin - Host.. 20:50

my, my budget and what I think that option will bring to me. So, I'm sure you see have lots of reasons why, anyone could come to a functional medicine, naturopathic doctor. But what do you feel like are some key signs that someone, if they're noticing these things, in themselves, could be a sign that they could really benefit from a functional medicine practitioner and at least having a initial consultation with you?

Ashley 21:24

I mean, I'm biased. I think everyone should just see one.

Kristin - Host.. 21:29

Yeah.

Ashley 21:29

But I think, most of the time people come to see us'cause they're just not getting answers at all. or whether it be, I'm just, I just don't feel like myself. I'm fatigued. I am, my mood is down, I'm not sleeping, I'm, I'm gaining weight. feeling flaw, I guess you could say. Like there's all these little things that are not parable, but they're just

Kristin - Host.. 21:52

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 21:52

So there's that spectrum. it

Kristin - Host.. 21:55

Okay.

Ashley 21:56

that's so down, um, they've worked with five different GI specialists or you like in kind of some specialty area or even like cardiology or things like that where it's very specific, but they just feel like they're getting nowhere. I think that's a

Kristin - Host.. 22:12

Okay.

Ashley 22:13

too. Not that I, I always tell people, I don't specialize in any

Kristin - Host.. 22:18

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 22:18

category. Um, like,'cause I

Kristin - Host.. 22:20

Right.

Ashley 22:20

of, uh, cancer patients that even come to the clinic and I, I remind them like, I'm not a oncologist. I'm not gonna replace that. And I don't

Kristin - Host.. 22:27

Yeah.

Ashley 22:27

In naturopathic oncology either. So, um, but I'm gonna do my best and here's what, evidence-based, things show and

Kristin - Host.. 22:34

Yeah.

Ashley 22:35

I could help and, and hopefully have better outcomes, but I'm not gonna replace that. So

Kristin - Host.. 22:42

Mm-hmm. Yeah,

Ashley 22:43

the spectrums are all over. But yeah, it's just kind of someone who just feels blah and they're not getting somewhere to someone who's like, just seen it all.

Kristin - Host.. 22:51

yeah, yeah.

Ashley 22:53

I, also people who are like all into that whole biohacking world and want like the best of the best and they want everything, I don't see all the time, but I, I do. And most of the time they're the ones like,'Hey, I'm coming in and I'm gonna, I want,...' they already know the labs they want'cause they've read a book or they'll listen new podcast and all that stuff. I'm like, that's awesome. Like for sure let's come in and get your labs done and if you need me to help you go over them or want my advice, we can sit down. But the nice thing about our clinic is, we have like a, full phlebotomy, at both clinics actually now in Middleton on the east side. So people can just come, they can literally call and just come in and get

Kristin - Host.. 23:26

Yeah.

Ashley 23:26

wherever the heck they want and we can have it for'em,

Kristin - Host.. 23:28

I think I've definitely benefited from coming in and saying early on, I think that was one of the ways that I kind of started, I didn't know what labs I wanted, but I came in and was saying like, what else can we run? Because my annual checkup labs aren't really telling me something, but like, I don't feel the same. Um, I don't feel like, this is, this is the place that I want to just accept and existed, so I'm ready to start getting some,

Ashley 24:00

Mm-hmm.

Kristin - Host.. 24:00

some factual based information,

Ashley 24:03

Yeah. And that's why how Kelly, and I approach care. It's very, I'm not just throwing supplements or throwing meds at someone like based on their symptoms. It's like, no, I want lab work to help me guide the treatment plan. I want

Kristin - Host.. 24:17

Yeah,

Ashley 24:18

and labs, when I think indicated to really help guide that. So we're not just guessing, like it's, it's a very educated,

Kristin - Host.. 24:25

Yes, yes. that's very clear. I've had more than once that we've done labs. And again, one of those things when I've tried to be a Google doctor for myself and look things up, I'm like, okay, well I think this is what it's gonna say, and that's not what the labs support. And so then I've got someone who, is much more educated on a primary literature basis to then help me understand, well, what do the results actually mean? And what are different options there?

Ashley 24:57

Yeah. Yeah. Or what else are we missing or else do we have to look into?

Kristin - Host.. 25:00

Yeah.

Ashley 25:01

I will say, going into like the women's health stuff, that sometimes labs can be tough because they're just wonky, like things are just

Kristin - Host.. 25:09

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 25:10

sometimes we really have to go more based off of symptoms,

Kristin - Host.. 25:14

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 25:15

lab work and, and

Kristin - Host.. 25:17

Yeah.

Ashley 25:18

can, can really help. So I'm not saying labs

Kristin - Host.. 25:20

Yeah.

Ashley 25:20

all be all, but they really help, so.

Kristin - Host.. 25:23

Nice.

Ashley 25:24

Mm-hmm.

Kristin - Host.. 25:26

So I feel like there's a lot of people out there that, um, through the kind of the, the medical experience that a lot of us have in the US have some hesitancy about seeking, uh, medical care, healthcare, it's that, oh, just gonna cost me a lot of money, uh, out of pocket from insurance or, you've talked about people who'I've seen so many different specialists and still don't feel like I have a good answer or I'm really feeling better.' And so I think there's a hesitancy. And then also sometimes people are curious about something that's new to them, uh, but have to get over, kind of, that hurdle of trying something that's new to them. So can you walk through, um, what could someone expect when they come for a first visit with a functional medicine specialist? And, uh, again, anything that you can point out that you feel like really can help someone understand how it's different from when you go to

Ashley 26:42

Mm-hmm.

Kristin - Host.. 26:43

what a lot of us are used to in terms of a more traditional medical doctor.

Ashley 26:47

Yeah, that's why um, we do like free consults for people because I think. They can be either a little overwhelmed or they have no idea. They're just like, what the heck? I have no idea how this, if I'm even gonna like this provider, Or if I know exactly how she's gonna practice. So I love doing free consults because I don't want people to not come in because of either being like, yeah, I don't wanna spend$150 if I have no idea what that's gonna get me. So,

Kristin - Host.. 27:16

Right.

Ashley 27:16

consult, I really, the goal is to kind of get a, get a, a brief history, like, what's going on with you? What's, what are your goals, symptoms, concerns, things like that. Review what labs you've had done, like your medications, your supplements, and just, and then just tell them like, Hey, this is how I approach care. um, getting to the root cause, having optimal health and wellness, doing it through more holistic. modalities, diet, exercise, lifestyle, all that stuff. Um, supplements, hormones, peptides, things like that. And, and every patient's treatment plan is gonna be different. So based on symptoms and lab results. Then after that, we'll, we'll have a follow-up appointment where I'll say, here's exactly what I think we should do, to kind of get you on that path. So

Kristin - Host.. 28:01

Great.

Ashley 28:01

try and be very, like, lay it all out for them at that free consult. So they know me, they know my approach, and they feel like, okay, I feel confident and I, I like what I'm hearing, or, and if they don't or they don't, we, that's okay. There's no pressure.

Kristin - Host.. 28:13

Yeah.

Ashley 28:14

like, oh, you have to come here and do anything. It's just, and I've had people where, they just say right now I need to, let me think about it. Life gets busy and there's chaos and there's just all the things, and I might not see'em for two years and it's like, oh, I love that you're back here. It's so great seeing you. You

Kristin - Host.. 28:29

Yeah.

Ashley 28:29

and I

Kristin - Host.. 28:30

Yeah.

Ashley 28:30

someone to feel pressured that we're on some program where they're coming in to see me every month. Like, oh gosh, we don't wanna

Kristin - Host.. 28:36

Right.

Ashley 28:37

that

Kristin - Host.. 28:37

No.

Ashley 28:38

that's, no one's got time for that.

Kristin - Host.. 28:39

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ashley 28:40

goal is to like fix the things and then, after we're getting better and better, maybe you're coming in for like, some touch up, extra labs once a

Kristin - Host.. 28:49

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 28:50

like, okay, how are things going? We've got you on a maintenance plan and

Kristin - Host.. 28:53

Yeah.

Ashley 28:54

did a good job educating you on why were we having the problem. So there's a long-term kind of solution because no one wants to, yo-yo, I don't want my patients yo-yoing.

Kristin - Host.. 29:03

Yeah.

Ashley 29:03

yo-yo. And I wanna make sure, um,

Kristin - Host.. 29:05

Nice.

Ashley 29:06

we've got a good game plan for long-term success.

Kristin - Host.. 29:08

Nice. I like that. Just a real, kinda get to know each other session and then talk about, well, if we were to start a, an interaction, a relationship, here's what it could look like and yeah, again, my experience has very much been, uh, yeah, you'll lay it all out. But yeah, there's times where I've said I work full time, I'm raising two kids. Like, no, I'm not interested in learning. You know, I wanna do these steps. I might come back to you down the road for a, this third or fourth one, but not right now.

Ashley 29:46

Yes. And it's, and it's important to know, just like all general practitioners are not the same. Not all functional medicine naturopathic

Kristin - Host.. 29:54

No.

Ashley 29:55

are the same, So it's,

Kristin - Host.. 29:56

Yes.

Ashley 29:57

had a poor experience in the past, please don't let that, like

Kristin - Host.. 30:01

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 30:02

Like it's

Kristin - Host.. 30:03

Right.

Ashley 30:03

um, get other options for sure.

Kristin - Host.. 30:05

I've worked in drug development for over 12 years now, and more times than not, I've been on kind of a, a client service provider side of things, and it's just amazing to me how important, uh, finding a good personality fit is for any sort of, uh, particularly repetitive interaction that you're gonna have with someone. I've, when I was, uh, working at Covance, it was amazing to me how I'd have someone where I'm like, oh my goodness, like, this client is just kind of exhausting for me because there's something about the way we each work that,

Ashley 30:47

Uhhuh.

Kristin - Host.. 30:48

Doesn't, doesn't click well. But then this person, then fortunately our management was usually pretty good at listening to those sort of things and would try to let them try a different member of the team for um, another time that they came to us for support. Uh, and that person just loved them, thought they were like the greatest ever, and vice versa. Yeah. Oh, it was so funny how

Ashley 31:12

Uh,

Kristin - Host.. 31:13

all of us could sit around and be like, glad you love that one was not for me. And I'd be going, what? You don't like this person? Oh, they're my favorite. So yeah. So to your point like, yeah, don't let one interaction color you, be willing to try someone different.

Ashley 31:30

exactly. Mm-hmm.

Kristin - Host.. 31:32

as a final question for, um, the more general experience. Before we move into a little bit more focus questions. Your website states that we empower individuals to become active participants in their own wellness journey. And I think you've touched on this a little bit through what you've already shared. Uh, but what would you say, when would you say, that you've really, um, achieved that type of active participation in their wellness with a patient? Like, what makes you really excited to see, uh, how a person has become more engaged in their own journey from where they were when they started and maybe were coming in with no idea or burnt out from trying so many things and nothing really working.

Ashley 32:27

I get really excited and I love when, I'm talking to them and going over my ideas and here's what I think we could try, maybe what be going on, like maybe what's happening and where we should look into stuff. And people just feel like this glimmer of hope and like, excited. And, I love that. and then we're both excited to kind of get things moving. So, what I love about my practice is like 99% of the people that are in my office want to get better. they're not, they're not coming in because they, they're, it's an out-of-pocket expense. They, they know there's gonna be some work on their end a little bit. It's not a miracle. And so I think they've already kind of just showing up as half the battle and knowing like, I need some help. and that, and that's a. It's nice that I feel like a lot of times in the beginning we're, okay, we're a team now, we're doing this together, and there's some handholding, but eventually it's more like I'm your biggest cheerleader, And that's great.

Kristin - Host.. 33:25

Ah.

Ashley 33:26

I, I would say sometimes it's tough if I have someone that's maybe dragged in by like a parent or a spouse or someone and they don't wanna be there, or they're,

Kristin - Host.. 33:34

Ah, okay.

Ashley 33:35

and you can definitely tell, but that, that rarely happens.'cause if someone doesn't wanna get better, they're not gonna get better. That's, and

Kristin - Host.. 33:42

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 33:42

they're just maybe not at the time of their or anything where they feel the need to too. So it's not me

Kristin - Host.. 33:48

Right.

Ashley 33:48

like, oh my gosh, I can't believe they're not doing these things. That's not at all. They just, to them, they're that, that's, they're just not ready and

Kristin - Host.. 33:55

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 33:55

want changes and that's fine. So, but it's nice. Um, not having that be, it, it would be tough. I could see where primary care providers might have a lot of that burnout where That's not to say all patients are like that, but to not have someone that's engaged and active in their healthcare too

Kristin - Host.. 34:14

Right,

Ashley 34:15

so.

Kristin - Host.. 34:16

Right. No, I, I see your point there that with a primary care provider, there is a certain amount where maybe, maybe someone has a prescription that they need in order, um, to continue to live. And so they kind of have to come in at least once a year for those follow ups. But, and you can probably see, oh, if you would, if we could just add one more thing for you and that maybe takes a little bit more effort on their part, if you walk every day, or, work on getting more than five hours of sleep, uh, at a night or something like that. You, how much better they would feel. And as I could understand that as a primary care doctor, that would get tiring to have

Ashley 35:06

Yeah.

Kristin - Host.. 35:07

too many of those patients versus the ones that are more engaged. And so, yeah.

Ashley 35:13

And in their defense, they don't have time necessarily to like, educate people either. Like, Hey, this is why we're

Kristin - Host.. 35:19

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Ashley 35:19

and why it's gonna help you. that's, they're just

Kristin - Host.. 35:22

Yes.

Ashley 35:22

to the limits. Versus in my office I say, okay, we can block off how much time we need to really go

Kristin - Host.. 35:29

Mm-hmm.

Ashley 35:29

Um, and I can really try and say here's, here's why this is gonna help, or why you're having these symptoms and why, X, y, or Z is important. And, um, and really go into more depth for them and, and hopefully there's kinda like striking that nerve, like, oh, it's all making sense.

Kristin - Host.. 35:46

What a conversation With Dr. Ashley Woyak. I love how she blends science, compassion, and a true curiosity for uncovering the why behind every symptom. And guess what? We're not done yet. Next week, Ashley will be back for part two of our conversation, where we'll talk about women's health and midlife, the hormonal connections that often go overlooked, and practical guidance for building long-term wellness routines that truly work. Trust me, you won't want to miss it. In the meantime, take a moment to reflect on something you heard today that resonated with you. What's one shift you can try this week? Share your thoughts in the comments. Your story could spark hope for someone else. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave a positive review on your favorite listing platform and share it with a friend who's ready to take charge of their health and happiness. Following Happiness Unscripted on Facebook and Instagram is a great way to stay connected between episodes. I am Kristen DeSouza, and I'll see you next week as we continue our journey towards happiness. Unscripted. Let's Get happy.