Frequently Asked Questions
What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative Medicine is the practice of utilizing the best of both conventional western medicine as well as complementary and alternative medicine in order to maximize wellness.
What is Wellness?
Wellness is a state of optimal functioning, resiliency and joy.
What is coaching?
Coaching is the process of serving as an advocate, guide and source of inspiration for another as they take the journey towards their chosen goals. A coach holds his/her client accountable to their values and goals, helping them eliminate tolerances in their life. A coach stands side by side with their client as they assess where they are at in their life now and discover where they want to be.
What is an Integrative Wellness plan (IWP)?
An Integrative Wellness plan is a comprehensive and personalized assessment tailored specifically for you that will help you to achieve your desired goals. The IWP is the foundation of the coach/client relationship at Integrative Wellness.
The IWP is generated from information gathered at the initial visit. The plan will be generated from multiple spheres:
- Genetics: using resources such as those found at http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/ as well as http://www.navigenics.com/ to evaluate your genetic make-up
- Environment: evaluating your satisfaction and current demands being placed on you in different areas of your life: including but not limited to financial, occupational, relational and health/medical
- Lifestyle: complete lifestyle assessment to include behaviors that you are doing that you would like to stop doing and behaviors you are not doing that you would like to start doing
- Personality and coping style assessments: to assess how you are dealing with stress and to assess if your coping styles and defense mechanisms are constructive or destructive
- Current conditions: bring your medical records so that current medical conditions and illnesses can be evaluated to ensure all options (conventional and alternative) are being maximized and used properly and safely to maximize your wellness. This assessment to will also ensure there are no potentially dangerous interactions between any treatments that your are using (for example an interaction between your medication and any supplements that you are taking)
- Goals: creation of life goals for which you will be held accountable
- Wellness conditioning system: behaviors and skills that you will learn that will help you with the emotional stability; positivity; energy and focus that you need to reach your goals and maximize your Wellness.
Will Dr. Puopolo be my Primary Care Doctor and/or my Psychiatrist?
The answer is neither. Dr. Puopolo will be focusing on a complementary, holistic or integrative approach to medicine. It will be mandatory that you have a primary care physician and a Psychiatrist (if you have a history of mental illness) already established prior to seeing Dr. Puopolo.
Will Dr. Puopolo try to sell me his supplements or herbs?
No.
Does Dr. Puopolo accept insurance?
All services will be fee for service payments via cash or credit card at the time the services are rendered.
What should I bring to the initial visit?
Medical records, detailed family history and navigenics report (optional—see websites above), willingness to grow. For a fee we will collect and send saliva sample to Navigenics.