Holistic Herbal Consultations
Now Accepting New Clients!
Herbal allies for embodied presence and mental & emotional well-being.
Let’s be honest… it can be rough out there… and a lot of us feel like we’re hanging on by a thread. We’re doing our best to take care of ourselves and our families, scraping by, and some of us are on the precipice of burnout.
This is no surprise, given that the state of our health is deeply informed by the ecological, political, and economic wreckage of late stage capitalism. But I am not here to rant (although if you would like a good rant, you can find one here).
As an herbalist, I am here to introduce you to the herbal allies that will help your body, mind, and spirit to remember the ways of aliveness and vitality that may have been forgotten through many years of doing their gosh darn best to navigate a world falling apart.
Alex’s Approach
Working closely with herbalist Alex Williams, you will learn new ways of tending to your body – through herbs, lifestyle, nutrition, and movement – to address the concerns you bring to each session.
In the past, Alex has approached his clinical practice as a generalist practitioner, supporting clients with a variety of health and wellness goals across all body systems. While Alex is happy to support you wherever you are at in your healing journey, his focus in clinical practice is now primarily on supporting clients with mental and emotional health concerns who wish to incorporate herbs into their daily wellness rituals in support of a stronger sense of mental & emotional well-being and resilience.
Alex deeply understands the connections between mental health, physical health, and the social & environmental factors that contribute to a holistic sense of well being, individualizing his approach for each client with these different perspectives in mind.
Alex is also happy to work in collaboration with your therapist or counselor to tailor his recommendations to complement the work you are already engaged in with your current mental health practitioner.
Herbalism and Social, Emotional, & Mental Well-Being
I am passionate about supporting clients who are navigating mental health issues to rediscover grounding and embodied presence within their bodies and psyche so that they may navigate their lives with an open heart and strong sense of self.
My approach to mental health arises from my own journey struggling with mental health issues throughout my life and discovering healing through therapy alongside my deepening connection with the more-than-human world.
From my experience, I’ve found that a combination of radical ecopsychology, mindfulness practices, depth psychology, and somatics offer some of the best approaches and frameworks for working with and through mental health issues. This is because these approaches move beyond simple coping mechanisms and ‘adapting’ to a world falling apart, towards an approach that emphasizes deep embodiment, care of soul, and discovering the eccentricity of selfhood that allows one to show up fully in the world, without apology.
Are we a good fit?
I am not a therapist, so I do not diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health conditions. I have, however, worked with many clients variously navigating anxiety, depression, panic disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), insomnia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), substance abuse and addiction, burnout, and other mental health conditions and have found herbs to be very supportive, either own their own or as a complement to conventional care.
Herbs can also be very supportive for clients who are navigating neurological conditions like dysautonomia that can profoundly affect mental and emotional well-being, or clients who may be dealing with chronic fatigue, brain fog, or concerns relating to cognitive function.
When working with clients who are either formally diagnosed or undiagnosed with any of the above conditions, I take a strengths-based, client-centered, and harm-reductive approach. I believe that pharmaceutical medications can be very supportive and even life-saving for many folks navigating mental health conditions and I will only recommend herbs that can be taken safely in tandem with any medications your mental health practitioner has prescribed for you.
I take a ‘whole body’ approach to mental health, so we will also consider underlying factors that may contribute to your mental health concerns (such as the role of digestion and nutrition in mental health, immune health, and other body systems and physiological processes that contribute to mental and emotional well-being).
Learn more about my clinical approach below.
These initial sessions may be sufficient for your needs if you are:
new to herbal care and are seeking to get a sense of how to integrate herbalism into your daily rituals
familiar with herbal care and simply seeking support in cultivating a self-care plan related to concerns such as anxiety & stress management, immune support, or general wellness guidance.
Package Includes:
(1) Initial Intake Consultation – 90 minutes
(1) Ongoing Support Appointment – 60 minutes
Takes place over the course of 1-2 months
Package does not include the cost of herbs & supplements, but all clients receive 15% off custom formulas from our compounding dispensary.
Package Cost: $200
Not sure if an herbal consultation is right for you? Book a free 20-min Intro Session with Alex to get your questions answered, or to discuss how one-on-one work can be individualized to accommodate your specific needs.
Initial Sessions – Laying the Groundwork
Book your First Session
To book an appointment, please click the link below. This link will bring you to our booking page, where you can book your initial intake session. Upon booking, you will be asked to briefly describe the primary issues and wellness goals you’d like to address through our work together.
At the end of our first session, we will book your first ongoing support appointment.
What happens after booking my first session?
Sign up for Practice Better - After booking your initial intake consultation session, you will receive an invitation to join Alex's secure client management system, Practice Better. It's free and this platform will give you access to the forms and video conferencing tools needed to conduct the consultation.
Complete Forms Online - You will be sent two forms to complete before we meet (an informed consent form, and a confidential health history form), which will be stored securely and shared with an herbal mentor only with your consent. These forms must be submitted 48 hours prior to your initial intake consultation in order to keep your appointment.
Initial Intake Consultation - During our 1.5 hour initial consultation, we will go in-depth into your health history so that we can develop a clear picture of where you are in your wellness journey. We will also discuss your interests and what you hope to get out of our work together. From here, we will begin to lay a foundation for your wellness journey by developing an integrated herbal, nutritional, and lifestyle protocol to support you in addressing your wellness goals.
Receive Written Recommendations - After your session, I devote several hours to go over your case, research, and develop an herbal and lifestyle protocol for you. These recommendations serve as a starting point that we may modify and adjust over time. You will receive this written guidance through Practice Better within a week of our Initial Intake Session.
Written Guidance / Herbal Protocols may include custom herbal tea blends, tinctures, and other preparations. This guidance may also include lifestyle changes, recipes, foods, dietary supplements, movement, body work, meditation or reflection practices, and suggestions for how to integrate all practices and herbs into your routine.
Purchase Herbs - The cost of herbs is not included in your visit. An invoice for your custom formulations will be included along with your protocol and shipped after payment of herbs is received. All clients receive a 15% discount on all custom formulas while we are actively working together.
Tinctures are typically priced at around $12/oz before discount
Teas are typically around $10/oz before discount
Cost of herbs for most clients ranges between $40-80/month – I am always happy to work with you to find the most cost effective way to integrate herbs into your everyday rituals, including offering guidance on making your own teas and tinctures at home.
Ongoing Support Appointment - At the end of our first session, we will also book your first ongoing support appointment. This appointment is offered to check in and see how the herbs are working with you, answer any questions and make any changes to your initial protocol.
Transition to longer-term work - During the first ongoing support appointment, we will briefly discuss if you would like to continue working together for longer term work. We discuss the possibilities and benefits of long-term guidance. We will also discuss a meeting cadence that works for both of us. If you feel the initial sessions were sufficient for your needs, or feel that the timing is not right, no worries, we will make the most of this appointment by outlining some practices that you can take with you to engage with on your own.
If you are experiencing more long-term, chronic health conditions, or feel that your wellness goals require additional support, you might consider engaging in longer term work together beyond these initial sessions.
Some folks also enjoy checking in on a seasonal basis to tweak their formula or discuss how herbs can support new goals or shifts in life and circumstance – whatever the reason, I am here to support you as long or as short as you need!
Other things you might want to know before booking…
Initial Virtual Sessions: All initial intake consultation sessions are held virtually via through my client management system, Practice Better.
In-Person Sessions are only available for those who have already completed their initial intake consultation and first ongoing support appointment and are interested in engaging in longer-term work. For all sessions after the initial sessions, you are given the option to book an in-person session.
At this time, I only work with clients 18 years of age or older. I will not work with anyone under this age, even if accompanied by an adult. I also will not consult with anyone on the behalf of a friend or family member, I only consult with clients directly. If you have a friend or family member who may be interested in my services, please have them book with me directly.
At this time, I only work with clients located within the United States, this is primarily due to the challenges and costs of shipping herbal supplements internationally.
The Greenspell Herbal Free Clinic is available for those who would like to see an herbalist, but do not feel that they can afford the full cost of consultation or consultation package. Click Here to learn more.
Case details may be shared with 2-3 herbal mentors for professional development purposes only with your consent.
I comply with HIPAA standards. Your files and any other information you provide will be kept in HIPAA-secure online spaces. All virtual meetings take place via a HIPAA-secure online virtual room.
The initial intake consultation and follow-up appointment are audio recorded for note taking purposes. In-person sessions are never recorded. All recordings and transcriptions are stored securely on Practice Better's HIPAA compliant server and are only available to Alex Williams for the purposes of note-taking, research, and protocol development.
FAQs
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As an herbalist dedicated to providing you the best experience possible, we will dive deep into your health history according to your priorities and goals.
During a holistic herbal consultation, we’ll discuss your primary health concerns in depth, as well as other health issues that may be relevant in an attempt to find and address the root cause(s) of any health concern you bring to the consultation.
I approach our conversation and work together with complete respect, creating a non-judgmental environment to explore your wellness goals.
We may discuss:
body system functions
family medical history
nutrition and lifestyle
movement and exercise
rest and stress patterns
and more!
Based on what we discuss in our initial consultation, I craft a holistic herbal protocol that is tailored to address your unique wellness goals that includes herb, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations, alongside self-care practices in support of your wellness goals.
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Holistic health consultations are focused on addressing your health concerns using a holistic approach, and are intended to complement your primary medical care.
Through working with a clinical herbalist, you will:
Support your body & mind in ways that are holistic, integrative, and effective.
Develop a professional relationship with a holistic practitioner who is devoted to your needs and vision for wellness.
Work with plants in support of your vitality and well-being while ensuring safety alongside prescription medications and complex health conditions.
Receive a comprehensive protocol that is tailored for your body, constitution, and vision for wellness.
Learn the best approaches for rekindling a strong relationship with your body and earth.
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If you are here to work on more concrete physiological goals: GI health, acute illness, chronic illness, immune health, hormonal health, etc., it is probably best to start with a holistic herbal consultation.
If you are interested in learning herbalism, becoming an herbalist yourself, or developing skills to deepen your connection with your body and the more-than-human-world you inhabit, mentorship might be the best choice.
I do understand that you may find yourself in both camps. In that case, we can begin wherever you feel is most urgent and our working relationship can transform into what you need over time.
No matter where you start, I will work with you to emphasize and address the work your body is asking of you. Please reach out if you have any questions about the differences between my offerings.
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Naturopaths are doctors, herbalists are not. Herbalists tend to offer herbal recommendations to complement primary medical care, not replace it. While naturopaths do study herbal medicine, they also embrace a wide variety of therapies, which means that they tend to be generalists rather than specialists. Herbalists tend to focus solely on herbal approaches to address health issues, so their herbal knowledge tends to be far more extensive than naturopaths.
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Most people typically see a clinical herbalist when they have a chronic illness, with or without a diagnosis, if they are experiencing health issues that they feel conventional methods have been unsuccessful in addressing, or if they are seeking a more holistic perspective to complement their primary medical care. Clinical herbalists, especially those who are members of an organization such as the American Herbalists Guild, have extensive clinical training in anatomy, physiology, and herb-drug interactions, and establish their practice with a standard of competency necessary for offering comprehensive holistic care.
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The plants and mushrooms are our ancestors. Over millions of years they have become masters of living in profound interdependence with their environment, alchemizing the elements to facilitate healing within their bodies, and the body of the surrounding ecosystem.
In many ways, plants and mushrooms provide a bridge back to the interdependent nature of our deepest selves.
By working with plants and mushrooms, we learn their healing powers, we restore our connection to the earthly realm we inhabit, and we become more ourselves.
“We are human only in contact, and conviviality, with what is not human.” – David Abram
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Once you have booked an herbal consultation, I have the time reserved for you in my schedule exclusively for you. Cancellations made up to 48 hours prior to your appointment will be rescheduled without penalty. If you cancel your appointment less than 48 hours prior to your appointment or do not show up to your appointment, you forfeit this consultation booking and no refunds or rescheduling for that missed appointment will be available. See all additional policies, including our refund policy, by following the link in the footer section below.
