Meet Dr. Lauren Gresham of Totally Lovable Naturopathic
Contacting Dr. Gresham
Phone: (425) 286-6341
Fax: (833) 914-2700
Email: totallylovablenaturopathic@gmail.com
Web: https://www.totallylovablenaturopathic.com/
Q: What is your specialty?
I have two main domains of clinical service: sexual health and trans and gender diverse care.
Concerning sexual health, I treat a variety of conditions ranging from hormonal issues related to the lifespan (menopause & andropause as two prime examples), the medical aspects of pelvic pain conditions (endometriosis, fibroids, interstitial cystitis/chronic prostatitis, etc), dermatological assessment of genital skin disorders (lichen sclerosus, lichen planus), recurrent dysbiosis (bacterial vaginosis, recurrent candida infections, cervical dysplasia and HPV), erectile dysfunction, desire, arousal and orgasm concerns, and pelvic organ prolapse.
Concerning care for trans and gender diverse folks, the majority of my patients seek me out because the conventional standards of care have not worked well for them. They have been treated like an algorithm or a set of lab values at their previous provider and they have had their concerns ignored. I provide an extremely customized treatment protocol for each patient. I practice an informed-consent, shared decision making model with my patients. There is no one-size fits all for gender expansive people and my patient’s preferences and goals are the foundation for treatment plans.
Q: What kinds of patients do you love working with?
I love working with folks that are excited to reclaim and restore their sexual vitality and wellness. I love supporting queer, LGBTQ+, polyamorous and kink-minded patients. I love working with people that have larger bodies and do not want their size to be blamed for all their health issues. And I love working with anyone else that identifies as a weirdo, burner, black sheep, raver or otherwise unique individual.
Q: What advice do you have for someone considering, but maybe still on the fence about, naturopathic treatment or discussing pelvic and sexual health topics?
If people are on the fence about seeking care, I imagine it’s for one of these main reasons:
1. they are not optimistic that their problem will go away,
2. they are concerned about finances,
3. they are skeptical of naturopathic medicine, or
4. they feel private about discussing sex with someone.
If someone is not optimistic that the problem will go away: If there is an answer out there, I will work hard to find it for you. It is true that for some patients, a diagnosis might be a lifelong condition. Rest assured, I am extremely thorough. I have chosen to step outside the insurance model so that instead of drowning in insurance bureaucracy, I can invest that same time seeking out answers for patients with difficult diagnoses. I will present you with the best treatments from both the conventional medical model and from the natural holistic world to help you access the greatest scope of possible treatments to resolve your concerns.
If patients are concerned about finances, I remind them that I have discounted prices available for some services, especially for BIPOC patients. I have also offered payment plans in certain circumstances. And I am a big proponent of the family/village/community doctor mentality, so if they want to exchange services or other unique trades, please do not hesitate to ask.
If someone is skeptical of naturopathic medicine: I am likely a great fit for them! As far as naturopaths go, I am not very fringe or woo-woo. I use mainstream medical literature as part of all my patient care. I utilize natural remedies prudently. Some natural treatments have robust clinical research, others are speculative. I inform my patients about this before making any recommendations. But unlike conventional providers, I actually have the time to spend with my patients so we can discuss their treatment choices and barriers that might arise along the way.
If someone is nervous about discussing sex with someone: the culture of the United States propagates shame and secrecy around sexuality. It is totally normal to have internalized this shame and to feel very private about sexual health concerns. And still, people out there are struggling with sexual complaints and who can they turn to if not their doctors? Odds are, you will not be the first patient to share your specific problem with me; I have heard a lot of unique stories and seen some difficult diagnoses. Our sexual lives have the potential to be some of our most healing safe spaces. I want to help my patients access this so they can lead more connected, nourished and well-loved lives.
Q: Why did you join The Pelvic Health Clinic Community?
Sexual health concerns are almost always multifaceted; typically, there are at least both psychological and physiological aspects contributing to the problem. Working in an interdisciplinary team is essential to help patients access the best outcomes. A patient may need a medical evaluation, in-depth pelvic floor muscular work, trauma-integration/nervous system restoration, counseling or systemic structural bodywork. Obviously, I cannot be the sole expert for all these treatments. And I do not want to send my patients into the wild to seek these out themselves. Being part of The Pelvic Health Clinic means that I can connect my patients to experts in the various domains of sexual wellness to ensure they get the best outcomes.
Q: What would you do for a career if you weren’t a doctor?
This question has two parts for me.
Based off the greatest need, if I weren’t an ND, I would be a mental health provider for gender expansive folks. There is a huge shortage of mental health providers offering affordable care to this community and every day, I sit with patients that need better mental health services but cannot find care. This is an injustice.
My alter-ego other career choice would be co-creating an eco-village as a farmer and community mama. I have tried some version of this on my own (ie. gardening), but I would prefer a robust group of people all living together.