You left your last naturopath appointment with a bag full of supplements, a printed protocol, and high hopes. Three months later, you’re not sure anything has changed. The bottles are still half-full because the schedule was too complicated. You’re not entirely sure what you were meant to be fixing in the first place. And you’re wondering if naturopathy actually works, or if you just picked the wrong person.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: this happens more often than it should. And as someone who’s been practising for over a decade, I can tell you exactly why it happens and what you should expect instead.
I’ve been on both sides of this. I’ve seen practitioners who missed the mark entirely, and I’ve caught myself falling into some of these traps early in my career. What I’ve learned is that when naturopathy doesn’t help, it’s rarely about the modality itself. It’s usually about the approach, the fit, or the expectations that were (or weren’t) set from the start.
Let’s talk about what actually goes wrong.
The “One Size Fits All” Protocol Problem
Too many practitioners reach for the same toolkit regardless of who’s sitting in front of them. You mention fatigue, they prescribe “adrenal support.” You mention gut issues, you get the standard probiotic and glutamine stack. Same supplements, same diet advice, same approach for everyone with vaguely similar symptoms.
I once had a client come to me after discovering she’d been given the exact same protocol as three of her friends—all of them seeing the same naturopath, all complaining of tiredness. Never mind that one was a new mum surviving on broken sleep, another was a shift worker with erratic eating patterns, and my client was dealing with undiagnosed iron deficiency. Same symptoms don’t always mean same cause.
This happens when practitioners are rushed, working from templates, or haven’t developed the skills to truly individualise care. It’s faster to prescribe a pre-made protocol than to sit with someone’s unique context and design something specific to them.
What you should expect instead: questions about your specific situation. Your daily routine, what you’ve already tried, what actually fits into your life. A practitioner who’s listening more than they’re talking. A plan that feels like it was built for you, not pulled from a filing cabinet.
Want to know what a genuinely personalised approach looks like? I walk through my process here.
They Didn’t Actually Listen to What You Said
You’re halfway through explaining your symptoms and you notice the practitioner has already started typing. They interrupt to steer the conversation back to their favourite topic. By the time you finish, you’re pretty sure they’d already decided on the treatment before you walked in the door.
I’ll be honest—I caught myself doing this early in my career. Someone would start describing their symptoms and my brain would race ahead, already planning the protocol. It took a mentor pulling me aside to make me realise: the solution is often buried in what someone mentions casually, almost as an afterthought.
“Oh, and I also wake up at 3am every night but that’s probably not related…”
“I’ve always had this weird thing with dairy but I just avoid it…”
“My mum had the same issues…”
Those offhand comments? That’s where the real information lives.
Good listening isn’t just about letting someone finish their sentence. It’s about following up on details, asking clarifying questions, connecting dots between things that seem unrelated. It’s sitting with information rather than racing to solutions. When a practitioner interrupts you repeatedly or dismisses tangential information, they’re likely working from assumptions rather than your actual experience.
Key Warning Signs Your Practitioner Isn’t Listening:
- They interrupt you multiple times during your initial explanation
- They seem to have decided on treatment before you’ve finished talking
- They dismiss details you mention as “probably not related”
- Follow-up appointments feel like they’re starting from scratch each time
- You leave feeling like you weren’t really heard
The Supplement Overload Trap
You walk out with 8-12 bottles, a complicated dosing schedule that requires setting phone alarms, and a bill that makes your eyes water. You’re supposed to take some with food, some away from food, some in the morning, some at night, some together, some separately.
Here’s what happens next: you try really hard for about two weeks. Maybe three if you’re exceptionally disciplined. Then you miss a dose because you were running late. Then you forget the evening ones because you were tired. Then you look at the pile of bottles on your kitchen bench and feel like you’re already failing, so you just… stop.
This isn’t a you problem. This is a prescription problem.
I’ve seen clients who’d been on 15+ supplements for six months with zero improvement. When we stripped everything back to three targeted products and addressed the actual foundational issues first, things finally started shifting. Not because those 15 supplements were wrong, but because taking them consistently was impossible and we couldn’t identify what was actually helping.
My approach: start minimal. Add gradually. Always explain why each thing matters and what we expect it to do. If something isn’t clearly contributing after a reasonable trial, we drop it. You should be able to explain to a friend what each supplement is for, and that explanation should make sense to both of you.
The reality is that supplement quality matters, but so does compliance. A good protocol you actually take beats a perfect protocol that stays in the cupboard. I write more about the quality question here.
No Clear Plan or Timeline
You left the appointment without really understanding what success looks like or how long this is meant to take. The advice was vague: “give it a few months and see how you feel.” But what does improvement look like? What if you feel 10% better but not 50% better? What if some things improve but others don’t? When do you know if it’s working or if you need to try something else?
Some practitioners avoid setting clear expectations because they’re worried about promising results they can’t guarantee. Others genuinely don’t know how long things should take. Either way, it leaves you floating without any way to measure progress or decide when to pivot.
You deserve realistic timeframes. Not promises, but informed expectations based on clinical experience.
For example, with gut issues, I typically tell clients to expect some small shifts within 2-4 weeks—less bloating after meals, slightly more regular bowel movements, maybe less reactivity to foods. Meaningful change usually takes 8-12 weeks of consistent work. If we’re not seeing anything move in that timeframe, we reassess the strategy entirely rather than just continuing to “give it more time.”
For hormone-related issues, the timeline is longer—usually 3-4 months to see significant change because we’re working with monthly cycles. For sleep or stress patterns, some people notice shifts within days, others need weeks of nervous system work before things click into place.
The point isn’t that I can predict exactly what will happen. The point is that you know what we’re aiming for, what markers we’re watching, and when we’ll check in to see if the approach is actually working.
They Ignored Your Actual Life
The protocol was perfect—in theory. It required meal prep you don’t have time for, supplements taken at times when you’re never home, lifestyle changes that would need you to completely restructure your day. You mentioned you work shift work, or have three kids under five, or travel constantly for work, and they just… carried on as if you had unlimited time and energy.
I once worked with a client who’d been given a supplement schedule by her previous naturopath that required doses at 7am, 2pm, and bedtime. She was a shift worker. Her schedule rotated weekly. Some weeks she was asleep at 7am. Some weeks she was at work at 2pm. The protocol was clinically sound but completely divorced from her actual life.
If a treatment plan doesn’t fit your life, it won’t work. Full stop.
This doesn’t mean we can’t challenge you or encourage you to make changes. It means those changes need to be realistic and built around what you’re already doing. Maybe you can’t do a full morning routine, but you can take your supplements with breakfast. Maybe you can’t cook elaborate meals, but you can batch-cook one thing on Sunday. Maybe you can’t meditate for 20 minutes, but you can do three deep breaths before difficult conversations.
Good practitioners ask about your actual schedule, your family situation, your budget, what you’ve got capacity for right now. They help you find entry points that work rather than handing you an ideal scenario that requires a completely different life.
Sometimes the most powerful work I do is helping clients figure out what’s actually possible rather than prescribing what would be theoretically optimal. That’s the work we explore in lifestyle coaching.
Your Treatment Plan Should Include:
- Realistic timeframes for expected improvements
- Clear markers of progress you can track yourself
- Protocols that fit your actual schedule and capacity
- A plan for when things aren’t working (not just “give it more time”)
- Understanding of what each supplement/intervention is meant to achieve
Missing the Root Cause Entirely
Your last naturopath prescribed sleep supplements without asking about your caffeine intake, screen habits, stress levels, or bedroom environment. They gave you digestive enzymes without exploring why your digestion might be compromised in the first place. They treated your symptoms without investigating what’s driving them.
This is the difference between symptom management and actually addressing underlying issues. Both have their place, but if we’re only ever managing symptoms, you’ll be dependent on interventions indefinitely rather than actually resolving the problem.
Sometimes digging for root causes requires testing. Sometimes it requires detailed questioning about timeline, triggers, and patterns. Sometimes it’s both. The skill is knowing when testing will genuinely reveal useful information versus when it’s expensive noise that won’t change the treatment approach.
I recommend functional testing when it’s going to genuinely shift our strategy—when we need specific information that will change what we do next. I don’t recommend it when we’re just collecting data for the sake of it, or when the results won’t meaningfully impact our approach. Testing should answer a specific clinical question, not just satisfy curiosity.
For example, if someone has clear symptoms of low iron—fatigue, pale skin, heavy periods, brittle nails—we can start addressing that presumptively while confirming with simple blood work. We don’t need expensive nutrient panels to tell us what’s already obvious. But if someone has persistent digestive issues that aren’t responding to first-line approaches, comprehensive stool testing might reveal specific bacterial overgrowth or parasites that need targeted treatment.
I write more about when testing makes sense here.
They Didn’t Work With Your Doctor
Your previous naturopath dismissed your medications or talked about your medical care in ways that made you uncomfortable. They created an “us versus them” dynamic that put you in an awkward position—either you trusted your GP or you trusted them, but apparently not both.
Here’s my stance: I’m not here to replace your GP. I’m here to fill gaps and support what’s already working.
I had a client come to me who was on thyroid medication prescribed by her endocrinologist. Her previous naturopath had told her to stop taking it and rely solely on supplements and diet changes. Her thyroid function deteriorated. When she came to me, we worked alongside her endocrinologist—supporting her medication with nutrients that enhance thyroid conversion, addressing gut health that impacts thyroid function, managing stress that was likely contributing to the problem in the first place.
Her thyroid markers improved. Her endocrinologist was pleased. Everyone won.
Most GPs are actually receptive to complementary care when it’s done intelligently and collaboratively. What they (understandably) resist is practitioners who dismiss evidence-based medicine, discourage testing, or make promises that can’t be kept.
Good integrative care means knowing when to refer, when to collaborate, and when to stay in your lane. I write more about this approach here.
No Follow-Up or Adjustment Strategy
You had one appointment, got your protocol, and then… nothing. Or you had follow-ups booked, but they felt like you were having the same conversation every time without any real adjustment or progression.
Bodies change. Life circumstances shift. Protocols need adjusting.
What looked like the right approach in week one might not be serving you in week eight. Maybe you’re responding faster than expected and we can progress to the next phase. Maybe something isn’t shifting and we need to troubleshoot why. Maybe you’ve hit a stressful period and need more support, or things have settled and we can simplify.
Good follow-up isn’t just checking boxes or repeating the same questions. It’s genuinely tracking what’s working, what’s not, and adjusting accordingly. It’s celebrating small wins—”you’re sleeping through the night now, that’s huge”—and honestly addressing what hasn’t moved—”we haven’t seen any change in your energy levels, so let’s look at why.”
My approach involves regular check-ins at a pace that makes sense for your situation. Sometimes that’s every two weeks initially, then spacing out as things stabilise. Sometimes it’s monthly from the start. We also maintain clear communication between appointments if you hit obstacles or questions come up.
You shouldn’t feel abandoned after the initial appointment, but you also shouldn’t feel like you’re locked into endless appointments that aren’t adding value.
The Wellness Industry Pressure Problem
Some practitioners are more focused on selling a lifestyle brand than solving your actual problem. Everything is framed in terms of transformation, optimization, and achieving some version of perfect health that requires constant vigilance and considerable investment.
The Instagram-perfect wellness aesthetic: morning routines with seventeen steps, supplement stacks arranged artfully on marble countertops, elaborate smoothie bowls, cold plunges, red light therapy, continuous glucose monitors for people without diabetes. It all looks aspirational and achievable, but for most people living normal lives with normal constraints, it’s just… not.
I’ll be honest—it’s tempting to present everything as transformational and life-changing. That’s what sells. That’s what gets engagement. But most real progress is gradual and unsexy. It’s consistently taking your iron supplement even though nothing dramatic happens. It’s getting slightly better sleep over months, not perfect sleep after one protocol. It’s reducing flare-ups from weekly to monthly, not eliminating them forever.
What to look for: practitioners who talk about challenges, setbacks, and realistic expectations. Who acknowledge that progress isn’t linear. Who don’t make you feel like you’re failing if you’re not constantly optimizing every aspect of your health.
You’re a person with a life, not a wellness project. Treatment should enhance your life, not consume it.
Red Flags to Watch For:
- Pressure to purchase expensive testing or supplements immediately
- Dismissal of conventional medical care or medications
- Promises of rapid or dramatic transformation
- Making you feel guilty about lifestyle factors you can’t easily change
- Creating dependency rather than working toward independence
- More focus on their brand/image than your actual outcomes
What Actually Makes a Difference
After twelve years of practice, I’ve learned that three things matter most: clear communication, genuine individualisation, and sustainable strategies.
You should feel heard, not lectured. The plan should make sense to you and fit your actual life, not some idealized version of it. You should know what we’re trying to achieve and how we’ll measure whether it’s working.
You should be able to explain your treatment plan to a friend and have it make sense to both of you. If you can’t, that’s a problem with how it was communicated, not with your understanding.
I have a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy and I’m a member of ATMS and ANTA, which means I’m held to professional standards and ongoing education requirements. But more importantly, my approach is calm, realistic, and supportive. I’m not interested in perfect protocols that you can’t maintain. I’m interested in clear steps, consistent guidance, and building habits you can actually stick with.
That’s what makes the difference between a plan that works and a plan that sits in a drawer.
You can read more about my background and approach here.
The Bottom Line
If your last naturopath didn’t help, it doesn’t mean naturopathy doesn’t work. It means the approach, the fit, or the communication wasn’t right. Maybe the strategy was too complicated. Maybe it wasn’t individualised enough. Maybe expectations weren’t set clearly from the start.
You’re allowed to be discerning. You’re allowed to ask questions and expect clear answers. You’re allowed to push back if something doesn’t make sense or doesn’t fit your life. Good practitioners welcome this—it makes the work better for everyone.
The practitioners who get defensive when you question their approach or ask for clarification? That tells you something important right there.
What you deserve is someone who listens properly, explains clearly, builds realistic plans, and adjusts when needed. Someone who treats you like a collaborative partner in your own health rather than a passive recipient of protocols. Someone who’s honest about what’s possible, what’s likely, and what’s uncertain.
If you’re tired of approaches that don’t stick—if you’re ready for something that actually fits your life and makes sense to you—I’d be happy to discuss what a realistic, personalised plan could look like. No pressure, no perfect wellness aesthetic, just practical support that actually helps.
Book a consultation if that sounds like what you’ve been looking for.
