Frequently Asked Questions

I offer virtual consultations (telehealth) Australia-wide, which work exceptionally well for naturopathic care. Comprehensive assessments, functional testing review, and protocol development are all conducted effectively via video consultation. Functional testing is completed at home using postal test kits, making it convenient for busy professionals, families with young children, and those in rural or regional areas across Australia. 

I provide virtual consultations to clients across all Australian states and territories including NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and ACT. International clients are also welcome, with the exception of USA and Canada due to insurance limitations.

premium programs.

Initial Consultations: 90 minutes - $240 

Follow-up Sessions: 60 minutes - $160  

Care Plan Reviews: 30 minutes - $80 

Functional Testing Discovery of Findings: 60 minutes - $480 (includes extensive pre-session analysis)

I also offer packages for better value, and payment plans can be discussed for premium programs.

Currently, Australian private health funds do not provide rebates for naturopathic consultations, even under "extras" cover. This is an industry-wide situation affecting all naturopaths in Australia. Consultations are private pay, and I provide itemised receipts for your records. Payment plans can be discussed for premium programs if needed.

Both naturopaths and nutritionists take comprehensive, whole-body approaches to health, use functional testing to identify underlying factors, create individualised protocols, and are trained in nutritional supplementation and lifestyle medicine. The key difference is that naturopaths have additional training in herbal medicine. This means I can incorporate therapeutic herbs alongside nutritional support—which many people find valuable for addressing inflammation, stress response, gut-brain health, and immune function. Both professions work collaboratively with your existing medical team, and the choice often comes down to whether herbal medicine is something you're interested in as part of your protocol. 

Yes, through systematic investigation. Many children experiencing focus or concentration challenges have underlying factors that may be affecting their brain's ability to function optimally—such as gut-brain axis imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, environmental exposures (like mould or heavy metals), or inflammatory processes. I use comprehensive functional testing to identify specific factors rather than guessing, then develop evidence-based protocols to address what we find. This approach works alongside any existing support from paediatricians, psychologists, or educational specialists. 

No, and I would never recommend that. Naturopathic care is designed to complement, not replace, conventional ADHD treatment. If your child is on medication prescribed by their doctor, they should continue it. My role is to investigate whether there are additional factors—like gut health, nutritional status, environmental exposures, or inflammatory processes—that might be affecting their symptoms. Many families find that addressing these factors alongside medication helps optimise outcomes. I always work collaboratively with your child's paediatrician and other healthcare providers. 

Non-invasive functional testing including:

• Hair Mineral Analysis - assesses mineral status and heavy metal exposure
• Organic Acids Testing - evaluates metabolic pathways supporting brain function
• Comprehensive Stool Analysis (GI360) - examines gut-brain axis health
• MycoTox Profile - screens for mould/mycotoxin exposure
• MTHFR Genetic Testing - identifies genetic variations affecting methylation

All testing is done at home using postal test kits (no blood draws for most tests), making it easy for children. Testing recommendations are individualised based on your child's specific presentation. More information on testing can be found here.

This varies significantly based on what we're addressing. Some changes (like nervous system regulation techniques or dietary modifications) can show improvements within days to weeks. Deeper changes involving gut healing, reducing environmental exposures, or addressing nutritional deficiencies typically take 2-3 months to fully manifest. The Premium Systematic Investigation Program runs for 5-6 months to ensure sustainable, lasting outcomes rather than quick fixes that don't hold. 

 No. While I have specialised expertise supporting neurodivergent children (ADHD, autism, anxiety, OCD), I work with all children where parents sense something might be creating obstacles for their wellbeing. This includes children experiencing focus challenges, frequent headaches, learning difficulties, digestive issues, frequent illness, or any presentation where systematic investigation might identify hidden factors.  

Absolutely. This is exactly what Performance Optimisation is designed for. Many high-performing professionals aren't "sick" but know they could feel better—they're experiencing afternoon energy crashes, difficulty switching off after work, poor sleep quality, or getting sick whenever they take annual leave. These aren't just "normal stress"—they're signs that specific physiological systems need support. Using a six-pillar assessment (sleep, gut-brain, immune, stress, energy, recovery), I identify which areas need attention first for your unique situation, then build practical evidence-based protocols that fit your demanding schedule. 

This is called "leisure sickness" and it happens because chronic workplace stress suppresses your immune function. When you finally relax on holiday, your immune system rebounds and suddenly you're vulnerable to every virus going around. The solution isn't just "stress less" (impossible for most professionals)—it's about building immune resilience through specific interventions: strategic movement breaks during work hours, gut-brain optimisation, addressing inflammatory patterns, and supporting your nervous system's ability to transition between "work mode" and "rest mode." This is one of the core issues I address in Performance Optimisation consultations.

Traditional wellness programs are designed for people with predictable schedules and unlimited time—"meditate 30 minutes daily," "eat every 3 hours," "get 8 hours sleep." For demanding professional lives, this just becomes another item on the never-ending to-do list. My approach is fundamentally different: I identify which of six foundational pillars needs attention FIRST for your specific situation (rather than trying to fix everything at once), then build practical protocols that work with your actual schedule—not some idealised version where you have unlimited time and energy. Plus, with 15+ years in Australian corporate environments including banking, I genuinely understand the constraints you're working within. 

 Yes—and I've been there myself. In fact, experiencing burnout in corporate environments was one of the reasons I decided to study naturopathy in the first place.

Burnout isn't just "too much stress"—it's a complex physiological state involving disrupted stress hormones (cortisol patterns), gut-brain axis dysfunction, immune system exhaustion, and nervous system dysregulation. Through systematic assessment and functional testing when appropriate, I identify which specific systems are most affected, then develop targeted protocols to restore resilience. This works best when caught before you're completely exhausted, but I've worked with professionals at all stages of burnout recovery. Having walked this path myself, I understand both the corporate pressures that create burnout and the practical realities of trying to recover while still working.

Not necessarily. My regular appointment hours are Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 9:30am-2:30pm AEST, which may work for professionals with flexible schedules or those working from home. For busy professionals who need appointments outside these hours, I offer flexibility for evening sessions—just email me at wellness@janayakarlocinaturopath.com.au to arrange a suitable time. The initial 90-minute consultation does require focused, uninterrupted time, but follow-up sessions (60 min) and care plan reviews (30 min) can often be scheduled during lunch breaks or between meetings if you have a private space for the video call.

NO. 

Let me be very clear: naturopathic approaches do not cure OCD, and I would never claim they do. Evidence-based psychological treatment (ERP therapy) and medication (when prescribed by your doctor) remain the foundation of OCD treatment. My role is to investigate whether there are physiological factors—like gut-brain axis imbalances, inflammatory processes, nutritional deficiencies, or environmental exposures—that might be influencing your OCD symptoms or recovery outcomes. 

Many people, Including myself, find that addressing these factors alongside conventional treatment helps optimise their recovery. I always work collaboratively with your existing mental health treatment team. 

Research shows that 90% of your body's serotonin (a key neurotransmitter involved in OCD) is actually made in your gut, not your brain. Your gut microbiome, digestive health, and gut-brain axis significantly influence brain chemistry, inflammation levels, and nervous system function—all of which can affect OCD symptoms. Through comprehensive stool testing and targeted protocols, we can assess and support gut-brain health as one complementary factor in your recovery journey. This doesn't replace conventional treatment but may enhance its effectiveness.

Yes. I navigated undiagnosed OCD for 20+ years before finally getting proper diagnosis and treatment. This lived experience, combined with systematic research into physiological factors affecting OCD, informs my practice. I understand OCD from both personal and professional perspectives, which helps me bridge the gap between conventional treatment and complementary naturopathic support. However, my personal experience never replaces evidence-based protocols—everything I recommend is grounded in current research. 

Testing is individualised, but commonly includes one or more of the following:

• Comprehensive Stool Analysis (GI360) - assesses gut-brain axis health
• Organic Acids Testing - evaluates neurotransmitter metabolism and methylation
• MTHFR Genetic Testing - identifies genetic variations affecting brain chemistry
• Hair Mineral Analysis - assesses nutritional status and heavy metal burden
• Additional testing based on your specific presentation and symptoms

Not everyone needs all tests—we discuss what's most relevant during your initial consultation based on your individual situation. 

More information on testing can be found here.

Absolutely not. Continue taking all medications as prescribed by your doctor. Naturopathic support is designed to work alongside your medication, not replace it. If any herbs or supplements I recommend have potential interactions with your medications, I'll discuss this with you and coordinate with your prescribing doctor if needed. 

Never change or stop psychiatric medications without consulting your Doctor. 

Collaboratively. With your permission, I'm happy to communicate with your mental health treatment team about the complementary approaches we're using. I provide updates on any protocols that might be relevant to your overall care, and I'm always interested in their perspectives. Many psychologists and psychiatrists appreciate having a practitioner who can address the physiological factors they're not trained to investigate. 

The goal is integrated care where everyone works together to support your recovery.  

 My presentations are evidence-based, practical, and designed for high-pressure professional environments. Topics include:

• The six pillars of sustainable wellness for busy professionals
• Why standard wellness advice fails intelligent, driven people
• Practical strategies that work with demanding schedules (not against them)
• Understanding neurodivergent employees' unique needs
• Building resilience without adding to workload
• Supporting team wellbeing in hybrid/remote environments

Presentations are typically 30-60 minutes with Q&A, and can be delivered virtually or in-person across Australia. I provide actionable strategies participants can implement immediately, not just theory. 

 Both. I offer:

• One-off presentations - for employee wellness education
• Manager training programs - for supporting neurodivergent team members
• Ongoing wellness consultation - monthly or quarterly sessions
• Policy development support - creating neurodivergent-inclusive workplace policies
• Individual employee support - Performance Optimisation consultations for staff

Programs are customised based on your organisation's size, industry, and specific needs.

I have 15+ years corporate experience in high-pressure professional environments including finance and legal sectors. I've worked in both Australian and London workplaces, so I understand the specific challenges of compliance-focused environments, deadline-driven cultures, demanding billable hours expectations, and the unique stressors of professional services. 

This isn't generic corporate wellness—it's informed by actual lived experience navigating the same pressures, expectations, and wellness challenges that you're facing. I understand what it's like trying to maintain wellbeing when your job demands are relentless. 

 Research consistently shows that comprehensive workplace wellness programs deliver:

• Reduced absenteeism (fewer sick days)
• Reduced presenteeism (employees present but not productive)
• Lower turnover costs (replacement costs 150-200% of salary)
• Improved employee engagement and productivity
• Reduced stress-related workers compensation claims
• Better team morale and company culture

For neurodivergent-inclusive strategies specifically, benefits include retaining highly skilled talent, reducing costly turnover in technical roles, and accessing the significant cognitive strengths neurodivergent employees bring when properly supported.  

 Functional testing is not covered by Medicare as it's not ordered by GPs or specialists. Some private health insurance policies may provide limited rebates under "extras" cover for pathology or preventative health, but coverage varies significantly between insurers and policy levels. Testing costs are separate from consultation fees and range from approximately $129-$500 per test depending on which tests are clinically indicated. I only recommend testing when it will provide actionable information that changes our approach—never just for the sake of testing. 

 This is something I am very passionate about - Functional testing reveals specific factors that cannot be identified through standard pathology. For example:

• Comprehensive stool analysis shows gut microbiome composition and function
• Organic acids testing reveals metabolic pathways and neurotransmitter metabolism
• Hair mineral analysis identifies heavy metal exposures and mineral imbalances
• MycoTox profiles screen for mould/mycotoxin exposure

This moves us from guessing to knowing—creating targeted, personalised protocols based on your unique biochemistry rather than generic supplementation. It's the difference between systematic investigation and trial-and-error.

No. Some people prefer to start with foundational protocols based on clinical assessment without testing, which is perfectly valid. Others want the detailed information testing provides. We discuss what's right for your situation, goals, and budget during your initial consultation. There's no pressure either way—my job is to present options and help you make informed decisions about your care.  

Book directly through my online booking system via the "Book Now" button on my website. 

You can schedule:

• Free Discovery Call (15-30 min) - to determine if we're a good fit
• Initial Consultation (90 min) - comprehensive assessment
• Follow-up sessions - after your initial consultation

New clients are encouraged to book a discovery call first to discuss your specific situation and ensure my approach suits your needs.

A discovery call is a brief 15-30 minute conversation to discuss:

• Your specific situation and wellness goals
• Whether my systematic investigation approach suits your needs
• What to expect from working together
• Investment levels and realistic timeframes
• How naturopathic support would complement your existing healthcare
• Any questions you have about my services or approach

No health advice is provided during discovery calls—this is purely to determine if we're a good fit for working together. There's no obligation to proceed with consultations.

I provide personalised dietary recommendations based on your functional testing results and/or individual needs, but not prescriptive meal-by-meal plans. My approach focuses on teaching you principles and strategies that fit your lifestyle, food preferences, and schedule—not rigid meal plans that become another stressful to-do list. 

For busy professionals and parents, this practical approach tends to be far more sustainable than detailed meal plans. 

Yes, with the exception of USA and Canada (due to insurance limitations). I work with international clients via virtual consultations. Functional testing can be arranged internationally through partner laboratories in most countries. 

Book a free discovery call to discuss your specific situation and whether my approach is right for you

Or email me: wellness@janayakarlocinaturopath.com.au