Dr. Laura Gouge

Services

I am currently accepting new 1:1 clients & run a group health coaching program several times per year!

I provide evaluation and on-going care for a wide range of complaints, currently through an entirely virtual platform. I work with both children and adults, and welcome clients of all genders, races, and cultural backgrounds to my practice.

I will work with you from a whole person perspective, and take all of your concerns seriously. I take into consideration mental health, gut health, nutrition, hormone health, stress management, sleep habits, movement patterns, and your environment to both figure out what’s wrong, and how you can start to feel vibrant, energetic, and happy as quickly as possible!

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • ADHD
  • Grief
  • Autism
  • Personality disorders
  • PTSD
  • Addiction
  • PMS & PMDD
  • Obsessive Compulsive disorder
  • IBS and GI complaints
  • Fatigue
  • Burnout
  • Sleep issues
  • Diabetes
  • Painful periods

feel empowered

I am passionate about working with people who have struggled to achieve results in their health. I strive to understand each patient’s unique story in order to create the treatment plan that will work for you. I believe in having transparent conversations about treatment options, so that you can feel empowered in your healthcare.

Ready to get started?

Schedule an introductory call to discuss your health goals and see if we are a good fit.

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Interested in group coaching? Get on the waiting list »

Frequently Asked Questions

Currently I am out of network with most major insurance plans, however, I do everything in my power to keep services affordable and accessible. I am happy to provide something called a superbill that you are welcome to submit to your insurance (I do recommend calling your insurance ahead of time to confirm out of network benefits). You may also use a Health Savings Account. My goal is for patients to not need me long term, and so most patients don’t need to meet more than 3-6 times per year unless they are navigating a more serious health issue. I also offer interest-free payment plans as needed.

I no longer accept insurance in order to provide a higher level of care for my clients than I was able to provide as an in-network provider. For example, I spend 90 minutes with you at our first visit instead of 15 minutes, I make myself available through a secure portal for text and email, and I purposefully keep my practice very small so both new and follow up patients can receive care quickly when they need it most. With insurance, I had a waitlist for over two years which was very stressful for both me and my patients because they couldn't get care when they needed it, and I was very limited in the amount of time I could spend with each patient.

I also combine my medical knowledge with coaching skills to really help you implement change instead of just giving you a treatment plan and a pamphlet with some vague recommendations.

It always depends on symptoms severity and how these complaints have been present. For conditions that have been present for many years, healing is often gradual but we can usually start to see some results within 2-3 weeks, and more significant changes at the 4-6 week mark.

My approach is likely similar in that I approach patients as whole people, not just symptoms. However, my clinical experience and expertise is unique. I worked for two years in various community health clinics as part my medical residency providing treatment to underserved and ill populations, and then worked for the last three years for a conventional mental health clinic providing care to patients with severe mental illness. Many of my patients over the last decade have been low-income, so I aspire to create accessible and affordable treatment plans so you don’t leave with a list of hundreds of dollars in supplements or a bill for thousands in lab tests.

I completed a four-year doctorate level degree, passed two separate state licensing exams, completed a two-year residency, and have to renew my medical license annually. Health coaches vary in knowledge and skill set (some are very knowledgeable!) but they are not regulated or standardized so you can end up with inconsistent or worse unsafe health recommendations. They also aren’t trained in diagnosis, lab interpretation, and can’t prescribe or taper patients off of medications.

Don’t confuse naturopathic doctors with the generic term ‘naturopath’, which is an online degree that can be completed without any clinical experience. Naturopathic doctors go through four years of rigorous biomedical education with two years of supervised clinical experience to earn a degree. They also have to pass two national board exams.

In the state of Oregon, naturopathic doctors can work as primary care doctors, order labs, and prescribe prescription medicine. Our training is distinct in that we have more training than a conventional medical doctors in nutrition, botanical medicine, and preventative treatment options. Naturopathic doctors also receive more in-depth training in holistic modalities than functional medical doctors or nutritionists.

During your first visit, we will approximately spend 90 minutes discussing your most pressing health complaints. I’ll also want to learn your full health story and the bigger picture of how you’re feeling with everything from your diet, to digestion, sleep, hormones, and more. I also want to learn about YOU so that we can figure out how to help you succeed with the treatment plan.

I know that health isn’t one size fits all, and it’s important for me to understand where you are coming from to set you up for success! Together we will determine a realistic and achievable plan for you so that you have clear and concise steps to move forward on your health journey and start feeling happy, healthy, and vibrant as soon as possible.

When it's needed, I can and do prescribe medications for patients in the states of Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. For over three years, my primary role was managing outpatient medications for patients with mental health complaints.