By Schuyler Corrigan

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January 19, 2023

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Whole Journey Services is a local RVA small private practice that provides mental health therapy using holistic values. We are honored to feature one of their new interns, Lucy Cary and invite you to book her services. The amazing thing is Whole Journey shares an office space with RNM so you can get all your health needs in one place.

Meet Lucy

Hi there! My name is Lucy Cary, and I am a Resident in Counseling in the state of Virginia. I provide mental health therapy through Whole Journey Services, a small private practice that values the use of holistic care, and its Richmond office is actually located inside of Richmond Natural Medicine! I provide both in person and online sessions, as well as outdoor walk & talk therapy held in a local park for those who are interested (when weather and scheduling permit).

Therapy with me is quite holistic and collaborative, as I tend to focus on tailoring my style to each individual’s needs while also taking a “whole person” approach in order to highlight the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirt. I value a trauma-informed lens within my work with clients, as well as the use of positive psychology approaches such as utilizing clients’ strengths as tools within the therapeutic process.

While I do have a diverse clientele with a wide variety of issues and goals, I really enjoy working with adults, teens, the LGBTQIA+ population, women’s issues, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, and those who are seeking holistic healing. I chose to become a mental health counselor because I knew I wanted a career centered around helping others, so I paired this intention with my deep interest in psychology along with my inherent abilities to actively listen, empathize, show compassion, and cultivate a safe, judgment-free
space. I would be happy to connect if it feels aligned with your needs!

Interview with Dr. Chelsea Barranco at RNM:

Q: What are your interests and specialties within naturopathic medicine right now?

My main interests include mental health and gastroenterology, and specifically how there’s a
strong correlation between the mind and gut, so I try to explore the relationship between the two
when working with patients who present with either of these issues. I’ve also enjoyed working in
pediatrics, as well as using homeopathy which is one modality used by naturopathic doctors.
Homeopathy can be used with most patients, and it works to address the whole person at once
which considers the physical, mental, and emotional parts of a person altogether.

Q: What does your approach to mental health support look like?

My approach to mental health support, along with my general approach towards all issues that
patients present with, is to find the root cause of concern and address and implement supportive
therapies that are unique to the individual. For instance, I may work with multiple patients who
have anxiety, but each patient will have their own unique care plan that caters to their specific
presentation. In finding the root cause it will be important to rule out other medical issues that
may be manifesting as mental health symptoms.

Q: What kinds of values drive your patient care?

I value the installation of hope and empowerment within my work with patients, as well as
providing care that’s unique to each person’s presentation, holding a safe space for patients to
share their experiences while validating their frustrations and concerns, and using collaboration
to create a care plan that feels realistic and feasible to the patient.

Q: What is the difference between being seen by a naturopathic doctor versus a traditional doctor
in the United States who practices Western medicine?

Naturopathic doctors typically have longer appointment times than conventional doctors due to
the emphasis on information gathering, taking time to understand the patient’s experiences,
looking for root causes, and customizing care for each patient. Naturopathic doctors also place
more focus on the importance of preventative medicine and supporting the body’s innate ability
to heal itself. Treating the whole person and going beyond symptom care is also a naturopathic
principle that we implement. Supportive therapies may include homeopathy, botanical medicine,
nutrition, and lifestyle recommendations.

Q: As a naturopathic doctor, what do you wish the entire world knew or understood?

I want everyone to understand the importance of simple lifestyle habits such as getting enough
sleep, drinking enough water, exercise, eating nutrient-dense foods, and spending time outside.
These basic practices can have tremendous impacts on our health, and they can also stimulate
the body’s inherent healing capabilities. I also recommend doing something every day that
makes you laugh or smile!

Q: What could someone expect from their first visit with you or another ND? What about follow-
up appointments?

Someone can expect their first appointment to be two hours long in order to gain an
understanding of the patient, collect a thorough medical history from them, and explore their
lifestyle habits such as sleep and diet. After gathering this information, the ND will provide their
recommendations, have a discussion on what they wish to prioritize within their care, and create
a collaborative care plan with the patient. For follow-up appointments, the ND will aim to see
how the patient responded to these recommendations, explore what felt difficult for them to
achieve on a daily basis, and also discuss what was and/or was not feasible for the patient. The
ND will make changes to the plan of care depending on these factors while also providing
additional support with any other concerns.