The main differences are regarding our training and the systems we operate within.

While MDs and NDs both receive the same standard medical training, MD programs focus more on pharmaceuticals and surgery, while ND programs focus more on natural medicine (like botanicals, nutrition, physical therapies, counselling, etc.).

The way the conventional healthcare system is set up in Ontario, MDs are usually limited to 10-15 minutes with patients to only address immediate concerns. NDs usually spend at least 30-60 minutes with patients to work on chronic conditions and their root causes. NDs are also taught to empower and listen to their patients, whereas MDs are usually taught that they know what’s best for their patients.

Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals receive advanced training in conversational techniques/therapies, whereas NDs receive basic training in counselling.

Psychologists, psychiatrists, and NDs are all trained to recognize, prevent, and manage mental health conditions, whereas social workers are mostly trained to be supportive. Psychotherapy is a protected act for professionals who have attained the proper education.

Psychiatrists are MDs who are also trained to prescribe pharmaceutical medications, whereas NDs are trained to prescribe natural medications.

The main differences are regarding education and regulation.

Naturopaths do not receive standardized education, which means that there are a variety of programs that are not accredited. They do not receive supervised clinical training. Due to this, they are not eligible to write standardized board exams, nor regulated to make diagnoses or be primary care providers.

NDs must complete a pre-medical Bachelor’s degree or equivalent courses before being accepted into a 4-year post-graduate accredited program by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). They must complete more than 4100 hours of education, including at least 1200 hours of supervised clinical training. Then, they must complete a standardized set of board exams depending on where they practice. They are regulated as primary care providers to diagnose and treat all health concerns.

Current research and ancient wisdom agree that the best way to treat mental health (and health in general) is from an integrative, wholistic approach. NDs are the only profession who are trained to provide services that encompass the entire range of what a person needs to feel whole with their mind, body, and spirit. Other professions require additional training to be considered “integrative”.

Naturopathic medicine is for people who would like to treat their mental health with more than just pills and therapy. In practice, an NDs approach to mental health could look something like: correcting deficiencies and reducing inflammation through diet, prescribing botanical/orthomolecular medication to reduce symptoms and support the mind/body, modifying other lifestyle aspects like exercise, sleep, and the stress response; improving mindset/motivation to achieve goals, etc. Most people don’t need advanced talk therapy to feel better, OR, talk therapy isn’t enough on its own.

Oftentimes, NDs are sought as an addition to a person's existing healthcare team. We always encourage a collaborative approach to healthcare, which we believe is the way of the future. When a person has so many doctors, NDs usually function as the hub to make sure their client understands all their treatment options to maximize benefit and minimize harm.