Stephanie Beynon became a Dr. of Naturopathic Medicine to satisfy her desire to help others. Before this, she spent years working in her community, researching, educating and advocating a more integrative approach to well-being. To Stephanie health is about looking inward. It is about self discovery and step wise change.
Stephanie received her BSc in Biology from Simon Fraser University. There she studied plant and animal physiology, microbiology, biochemistry along with psychology and the humanities. During her time there she asked questions such as: DNA codes for proteins which direct embryos to align a perfect polarity, but what directs DNA? Salt is bad for some, yet good for others? Whole livers can regenerate from 1/4 of its size, but human brain cells will never renew- though functioning may return? It has taken her years to realize there is not one solution, there are no clear answers. In order to find solutions that work for us, we must be persistent and yield to the unknown.
She went on to do further training in Nutrition, toward a certificate of Applied Human Nutrition from the same University. There she began teaching nutrition and integrative health in the Kinesiology department for 2 years as a Teaching Assistant and an Instructor. Her focus during this time was on community development where she organized a number of conferences and volunteered regularly as a nutrition educator in a variety of venues such as a community kitchen and at a youth sports camp. She then completed a four year program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, with 4 months experience at Sherbourne Health Centre, a free clinic for people living with HIV/AIDS, and a month long externship in Central Kenya providing mobile clinics to rural medically under-serviced villages.
Stephanie aims to build a strong sense of community where she practices, ensuring support in healing exists as a part of everyday life, and where prevention is considered the best medicine. Stephanie's treatment focus varies according to each individual, drawing on strengths in nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and counseling. She places the highest importance on listening and empowerment. As an eclectic practitioner, she is able to treat a host of chronic and acute conditions in a primary care setting.
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WHO SHOULD SEEK SERVICES?
Anyone who would like to improve their health, whether it's:
*respiratory infections
*skin issues
*troubles sleeping
*mental/emotional health: (stress, anxiety, depression)
*headaches
*digestive concerns
*musculoskeletal issues
*desire to quit smoking
*fertility
*prevent future illness
As a primary care provider, she is trained to assess and diagnose from the standpoint of western medical pathology, as well as a Chinese medicine perspective, and a mind-body-spirit individualized approach. She then treats based on those individual needs, from her array of tools ie:
*acupuncture
*botanical medicine
*nutrition
*physical therapy
*hydrotherapy
*lifestyle counseling
*creative problem solving
In practice, she incorporates a full history, physical exam, risk factor analysis, laboratory studies & other techniques, to help create a big picture.
She likes to utilize research to keep her up to date and in line with each individual case.
TRAINING
-Excerpted from The Princeton Review's "Best 168 Medical Schools" (October 30, 2006):
"After completion of standard premedical undergraduate coursework, a naturopathic physician (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. but also studies holistic and natural approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). The naturopathic program includes two full years of supervised clinical training. Completion of optional residency is also available to some graduates. A naturopathic physician takes a rigorous national licensing examination so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician."
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