Chronic Illness & Complex Condition Care in Ballard, Seattle
HOLISTIC HEALTH FOR ALL BODIES
Seattle Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine
Chronic illness can be deeply frustrating, especially when symptoms are complex, evolving, or difficult to explain.
Many of our patients arrive after seeing multiple providers, completing extensive testing, and still feeling like their symptoms are being treated as isolated problems rather than part of a larger picture.
At One Connection Healthcare, we approach chronic illness with the understanding that the body is interconnected. Symptoms rarely exist in isolation, and meaningful care often requires stepping back to understand how systems interact with one another.
Our providers work with patients to both support acute symptom management and explore underlying contributors to chronic illness, while pacing care in a way that respects each patient’s capacity, autonomy, and lived experience.
Even when routine testing or evaluations have not yet provided clear answers, our clinic is a space where the complexity of chronic illness is recognized and where your symptoms are taken seriously.
Understanding Chronic Illness Care
Chronic illness care often requires a different approach than standard acute care models.
Many patients experience symptoms that affect multiple systems of the body, such as: fatigue, pain, digestive changes, neurological symptoms, or immune dysfunction, and these symptoms may evolve over time.
Our approach focuses on:
Understanding how symptoms may be interconnected
Investigating potential underlying contributors to illness
Supporting symptom relief and stabilization
Building long-term care strategies that evolve with the patient
For many individuals, chronic illness care becomes a process of ongoing collaboration between patient and provider, rather than a single diagnosis or treatment.
Who We Serve
We support patients at many different stages of their health journey.
Some patients are newly beginning to explore symptoms or potential diagnoses. Others have already worked with multiple providers and are still seeking answers or additional support.
We work with patients across the lifespan, from neonates through adulthood. While not every provider sees every age group, our clinic includes providers who work with children, adolescents, and adults.
For complex cases, we often use a team-based care approach, where multiple providers collaborate and coordinate care within the clinic to support patients with complex or multi-system conditions.
Care coordination between providers is a key part of how we approach chronic illness treatment.
Conditions & Symptoms We Commonly Support
Our Seattle clinicians work with patients who have already received diagnoses as well as individuals who are still exploring possible causes of their symptoms. Common conditions we support include:
Chronic infections
Autoimmune conditions
Lyme disease
POTS and dysautonomia
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Mold-related illness
IBS and IBD
SIBO and SIFO
Chronic pain and musculoskeletal injuries
Endocrine disorders (including thyroid conditions and Cushing’s)
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hypermobility disorders
Spinal cord disorders such as Chiari malformations, CSF leaks, and tethered cord
Because chronic illness can present differently for each individual, care plans are always personalized.
How We Approach Chronic Illness Care
We feel fortunate to provide access to a wide range of diagnostic tools, treatment options, and in-house provider specialties to support patients living with complex chronic illness.
Our goal is to support both immediate symptom management and deeper exploration of underlying contributors to illness, while pacing care in ways that respect each patient’s energy, autonomy, and lived experience.
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When beginning care, we start with a thorough review of your health history.
This may include reviewing:
previous medical records
past laboratory testing
imaging results
prior diagnoses and treatments
Taking time to review what has already been explored helps us develop a more informed understanding of your health history while avoiding unnecessary repetition of testing that has already been completed.
For many patients with chronic illness, understanding the timeline of symptoms and prior care is an important part of identifying patterns and possible contributors to illness.
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When additional testing is appropriate, we take a thoughtful and individualized approach.
Diagnostic testing may include:
standard laboratory testing
specialty testing (saliva, blood, stool, urine, or swabs)
diagnostic imaging and specialist referrals when indicated
Testing is always considered collaboratively, taking into account factors such as accessibility, cost, and the patient’s capacity for additional evaluation.
Our goal is to gather meaningful information while minimizing unnecessary testing.
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Chronic illness often requires a flexible and evolving treatment approach.
Depending on your needs, treatment options may include:
naturopathic medicine
herbal medicine
nutrition support
physical medicine therapies such as craniosacral therapy or visceral manipulation
injection therapies
referrals to specialists such as physical therapy or orthopedics
Our providers work to support both symptom relief and the broader picture of health, helping identify strategies that may reduce symptom severity over time.
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Living with chronic illness often means balancing treatment goals with limited energy and fluctuating symptoms.
Our providers prioritize patient autonomy and pacing, including:
respecting each patient’s energy and capacity for treatment
considering financial accessibility when developing care plans
pacing testing and treatments to align with a patient’s needs and priorities
Some patients may need periods focused on symptom relief and stabilization, while other phases of care may focus more deeply on identifying underlying contributors to illness.
Our goal is to support care that evolves alongside each patient’s health journey.
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– 90–120 minutes for new patient visits
– 30–60 minutes for follow-up visits -
This allows for internal referrals and collaborative case review when patients would benefit from multiple perspectives.
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Providers frequently collaborate within the clinic to support patients with complex health conditions.
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We prioritize nervous system regulation, symptom stability, and patient capacity when designing care plans.
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For patients who are highly sensitive to treatments, we work to identify the most tolerable and supportive options available.
What Makes Our Care Different?
Chronic illness care often requires time, collaboration, and flexibility.
At One Connection Healthcare, we offer:
All of our clinicians are licensed providers, and many pursue additional specialty training and continuing education in their respective areas of focus.
What Appointments Look Like at Our Seattle Clinic
Care at our clinic is designed to be flexible, thorough, and individualized to where you are in your health journey, whether you are coming in for the first time or continuing ongoing care.
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01. Initial Appointments
Initial appointments typically range from 90-120 minutes, allowing time for a full intake that includes hormonal health, broader medical history, and the social and emotional factors that influence hormones.
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02. Follow-Up Visits
Follow-up visits range from 15-90 minutes, providing time to review progress, adjust care plans, and ensure visits do not feel rushed.
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03. Ongoing Support & Adjustments
Some tools may be helpful right away, while others may take several months to reach their full impact. Responses to treatment vary, and we will always have a next step or additional option available to explore.
What Patients May Notice Over Time
Chronic illness care is often a gradual and evolving process. As patients work with our providers, they may begin to notice meaningful shifts in their health and quality of life.
For some, this may look like improved symptom management, reduced pain, or better digestion and sleep. Others may experience a clearer understanding of how their symptoms developed and what types of support may be most helpful for long-term stabilization or healing.
Many patients also find value in having options and a path forward for navigating complex health conditions. Over time, our goal is to build a collaborative care relationship where you feel supported by providers who remain engaged in your care as your body, needs, and health evolve.
Care That Meets You Where You Are
Many patients arrive after receiving treatment plans that feel overwhelming or unrealistic, such as extensive supplement regimens or rigid protocols. While those approaches may work for some individuals, we prioritize adaptable care plans that evolve as your body and life circumstances change.
Our providers consider: socioeconomic realities, physical capacity and energy levels, emotional and psychological needs, and accessibility of treatments.
Our goal is to use the least amount of intervention necessary to support the body while still providing meaningful progress.
Care is always collaborative, both between patient and provider, and between providers when a team-based approach is helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve got answers! Check out these FAQs. If you don’t see your question answered here, get in touch.
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Generally no. Patients can most often self refer. There are times where if you have been working with another provider extensively on your conditions where a referral can be supportive just to have the full clinical context of why you are establishing care and medical records included in the referral. It is not required to have this to establish though.
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No. We do encourage everyone having a primary care provider.
Many of our specialty providers also offer primary care. If your provider does not provide primary care services, we can help you identify a provider who may be a good fit.
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We accept several large carriers. If out of network, we offer superbills for potential reimbursement.
Click here to learn more about insurance plans we are contracted with.
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No, we work with people in many phases of work up and exploration of symptoms.
Our clinicians can work with you through a diagnosis process if you do not yet have that prior to establishing care.
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Yes. Our clinic provides care for patients from neonates through adulthood.
Some providers specialize in pediatric care, while others focus on adult patients. Our team will help guide families to the provider who best fits their needs.
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Treatment approaches depend on the child’s age and individual needs.
Care may include:
herbal medicine
homeopathy
physical medicine such as craniosacral therapy
referrals to PT or OT
medications when appropriate
Our providers work creatively with families to identify the most supportive and accessible options.
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Sometimes, yes.
Certain chronic conditions can be supported during pregnancy through adjunctive care. Depending on the condition and treatment goals, some diagnostic testing or treatments may be paused during pregnancy and resumed postpartum.
Your provider will work with you to determine what is most appropriate during pregnancy.
Healthcare as a home base, not a transaction
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Healthcare where you will be seen and believed
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Healthcare as a home base, not a transaction · Healthcare where you will be seen and believed ·
Ready to feel supported in navigating complex chronic symptoms?
If you’re navigating complex or unexplained symptoms and looking for a provider who can help connect the dots, our team is here to support you.
Call us at 206-279-6390.
BOOK APPOINTMENT TODAY |
BOOK APPOINTMENT TODAY |