During your first visit with a naturopathic doctor, he or she will sit down with you for one to one and a half hours to learn your history and get to know you. Your naturopath will gather medical and family history, possibly perform a physical exam and/or conduct laboratory tests, and compile information on nutritional intake, stress level, and daily lifestyle and exercise regimes. This information helps determine the underlying cause(s) of the ailment, situation, or condition at hand. If the cause is already known, your naturopathic doctor will work with you towards healing. If the condition is terminal, your naturopath will discuss with you the various options available to make the situation as manageable as possible.

As your body is self-regulating, your naturopath will educate you on the illness at hand and emphasize personal responsibility for your health. Following your thorough assessment, you and your naturopath will work together to develop programs and actions that facilitate healing. Every patient is treated as a unique individual who requires a customized healing plan.

In some cases, your naturopath will refer you to another health practitioner if special attention is required in a particular area, such as fitness training or psychological counselling.

Your naturopath may also request X rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasonography, and other imaging methods, if required.