FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Flow Functional Healthcare is located in central Edmonton at Unit 101, 6915 109 Street NW. Our convenient location allows us to welcome patients from all areas of Edmonton and surrounding communities. For those across Alberta who may prefer not to travel or who live outside the city, we also offer secure virtual appointments, ensuring access to quality care wherever you are.

  • Yes, Flow Functional Healthcare offers direct billing for many extended health insurance plans. Most insurance providers cover visits with naturopathic doctors, while coverage for counselling services is often more limited. At this time, we are unable to submit claims for nurse practitioner services. Because coverage varies between plans, we recommend that patients confirm their benefits with their insurance provider before their appointment to understand what services are eligible for reimbursement.

  • A Naturopathic Doctor(ND) is a licensed healthcare provider who focuses on identifying and treating the root cause of health concerns using natural and evidence-informed therapies. At Flow Functional Healthcare, our team of five NDs blends conventional medical knowledge with natural approaches such as nutrition, supplements, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle counselling. We treat the whole person-not just the symptom-and work collaboratively with other practitioners, such as our nurse practitioner and registered counsellor,  to provide comprehensive care. Our areas of focus include hormone health, fertility support, digestive issues, and chronic conditions, among others.

  • Your initial appointment is a 75-minute comprehensive consultation with one of our naturopathic doctors. During this visit, they will take an in-depth look at your health history, current symptoms, lifestyle, diet, stress levels, sleep patterns, and overall wellness goals. We review any existing lab work and may recommend additional testing to better understand the root causes of your concerns. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what’s happening in your body and a personalized treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs. At Flow Functional Healthcare, we ensure every patient feels heard, supported, and understood. To book your first appointment, visit flowyeg.ca or call 780-760-3569 (extension 1) to speak with Nicole.

  • No, a referral is not required to see any of our practitioners. You can book directly with any of our naturopathic doctors, as well as with Michelle, our nurse practitioner, or Kim, our certified counsellor. Simply reach out or book online to get started with the practitioner best suited to your needs.

  • Our naturopathic doctors at Flow specialize in fertility support for women aged 30-50. We start with comprehensive hormone and fertility testing (FSH, LH, estrogen, progesterone, AMH, thyroid, vitamin D), then create personalized treatment plans to optimize egg quality, support regular ovulation, balance hormones, address underlying conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, reduce inflammation, and prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy. We also support women undergoing IVF or IUI by working alongside fertility specialists. Our Naturopathic Doctors have helped many Edmonton families achieve their dream of pregnancy through natural, evidence-based fertility care.

  • Both our NDs and our nurse practitioner, Michelle can help you with hormone-related concerns - the main difference lies in how they approach treatment and what they are licensed to prescribe.

    Our naturopathic doctors take a natural and functional approach to hormone health. They focus on identifying the root causes of hormonal symptoms and supporting your body’s ability to regulate hormones naturally through nutrition, lifestyle, botanical medicine, and targeted supplements. NDs are not licensed to prescribe pharmaceutical hormone therapies in Alberta.

    Our nurse practitioner, Michelle, provides a medical approach to hormone therapy. She offers hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and orders related lab work. This is often the best route if you’re looking for prescription-based hormone support such as estradiol and progesterone or testosterone therapy.

    Many patients choose to see both an ND and Nurse Practitioner for comprehensive care - combining natural and lifestyle support with medical therapy to achieve the best balance for their individual needs.

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a general term for treatments used to restore declining hormone levels. Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) specifically focuses on optimizing testosterone levels. Our Nurse Practitioner, Michelle, assesses your symptoms, medical history, and lab work to determine which approach may be the most appropriate for you. Michelle is a Menopause-Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP).

  • Many patients seek hormone therapy when experiencing peri-menopaousal or menopausal symptoms, fatigue, low libido, weight gain, brain fog, sleep disturbances, mood changes, or hot flashes. Michelle performs a comprehensive assessment, including detailed health history and lab testing, to determine whether hormonal imbalances may be contributing to your symptoms.

  • No, you do not need a referral to see our Clinical Counsellor, Kim Fontaine. You’re welcome to book directly at any time.

    Some extended health insurance plans may require a physician’s note for reimbursement, so we recommend checking with your provider beforehand to confirm your specific coverage requirements.

    If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out to our office and we can help you understand what may apply to your situation.

  • You don't have to be in crisis to benefit from counselling. Many people come to Kim during periods of transition, relationship stress, burnout, or when they simply feel stuck and can't pinpoint why. If you've been wondering whether counselling might help, that wondering is usually enough of a reason to explore it. Book a free alignment call — no commitment required.

  • Kim’s approach is grounded in curiosity and compassion. Her sessions are led by you, not a rigid protocol. There's no pressure to revisit things before you're ready. The best way to get a feel for whether it's a different kind of experience is to have a low-stakes conversation first. Book a free alignment call with Kim - it's just a conversation.

  • Yes! Kim works with couples navigating a wide range of relationship challenges, including communication breakdowns, conflict patterns, trust and intimacy issues, life transitions, and the everyday friction that builds up over time. Sessions are held in a safe, neutral space where both partners feel heard - not judged, and not pitted against each other.

    If you're wondering whether couples counselling might help your relationship, the best first step is a free alignment call. It's a no-pressure conversation where you can ask questions, share what's going on, and get a sense of whether working with Kim feels like the right fit. Book your alignment call here.

  • We offer comprehensive functional lab testing including hormone panels, complete thyroid testing with antibodies, food sensitivity testing, comprehensive stool analysis for gut health, nutrient deficiency testing (vitamin D, B12, iron, magnesium), inflammatory markers, metabolic panels for blood sugar and insulin resistance, and specialty testing for autoimmune conditions. Testing requisitioned by our Nurse Practitioner, Michelle, are covered by Alberta Health Care, while tests requisitioned by our Naturopathic Doctors are out-of-pocket. We only recommend testing that will directly inform your treatment plan and help us identify root causes.

  • Hormone testing is never one-size-fits-all. The right panel is always an individual conversation based on your symptoms, history, and what we're trying to understand.

    That said, here are some common starting points: for irregular menstrual cycles, we often begin with day-3 estradiol, LH, and FSH, plus additional hormones if the clinical picture calls for it. For men, testosterone testing is a key part of any hormone workup. In women experiencing symptoms of high androgens - think unwanted hair growth, acne, or irregular cycles - we'll often look at both testosterone and DHEA.

    The best way to figure out which tests make sense for you is to book a consultation with one of our NDs. Book an alignment call here.