We recently connected with Dr. Jennifer Trigg and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Choosing to follow your heart often feels like one of those non-negotiable risks. There’s a quiet, steady pull inside—a calling to share, create, and become the person you sense you were born to be. And yet the path forward is rarely smooth. There are the doubts of others, the weight of expectations, and the inner fear of being seen as “not enough.” Still, the voice of the heart persists—sometimes to the point of being relentless. I’ve come to see that persistence as a sign of love, guiding us back to our self.

My own path has been shaped by listening to that inner knowing, even when it asked me to veer off the familiar road. As an undergraduate, I studied neuroscience with every intention of applying to conventional medical school. But as the time to decide drew closer, something in me hesitated. Another possibility—naturopathic medical school—appeared. At first, it seemed obscure and uncertain. But it also felt like that same magnetic pull I had followed before: when I chose to spend a summer on a Lakota reservation in South Dakota, learning from Indigenous wisdom rather than taking the more traditional summer jobs my high school peers pursued; or when I studied abroad in Hungary, while many friends chose places like England or Spain. Each time, I had trusted the unfamiliar path. And each time, it changed me in ways I hadn’t expected then but deeply value now.

So, with both support and hesitancy from my family, I took the leap and moved to Portland, Oregon, to begin four years of naturopathic medical school. It was a risk—but one that wove together everything I loved: science, nature, and the mind-body connection. Today, as a practicing naturopathic doctor, I can see just how right that decision was. The world has begun to catch up—people are hungry for a new model of care, one that honors the body as an interconnected whole and embraces emerging science about the microbiome, the nervous system, and the profound influence of lifestyle and diet on health.

Starting my own practice was another leap into the unknown, but one that has been more than worth it. Each day, I witness patients shift from feeling defined by their symptoms to realizing their innate ability to heal. Those connections remind me why I took the risk in the first place.

And now, I find myself at the edge of another expansion. As powerful as holistic physical medicine can be, I’ve learned through study and clinical experience that health often extends beyond the physical—into the emotional, mental, and even energetic aspects of who we are. I’ve begun integrating this dimension into my work, creating space for patients to reconnect with themselves on every level. Taking this step carries its own uncertainty, yet what I’ve learned is that when the heart points in a direction, it is best to follow. You may not know where you’ll end up, but it will always be where you’re meant to be.

Dr. Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Dr. Jennifer Trigg, a licensed naturopathic doctor and the founder of Align Natural Medicine in Greenwood Village, Colorado. My background is in neuroscience, and after completing my undergraduate degree I went on to medical school to earn my degree as a Naturopathic Doctor. That training gave me a foundation in both conventional sciences and natural therapies, and it shaped the way I practice today—blending the best of evidence-based medicine with a truly holistic approach to health.

At Align Natural Medicine, I work with people who are dealing with concerns like digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation. Many of my patients have tried conventional routes but still don’t feel well, or they sense there’s something deeper going on that hasn’t been addressed. My role is to look at the whole picture, investigate what may be contributing to their symptoms, and then create individualized plans using nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and targeted natural therapies. Patients often share that for the first time they feel seen, understood, and supported, and that having a clear plan gives them both hope and direction.

In addition to this work, I also offer Inner Alignment Sessions—a unique service that reflects my long-standing interest in the mental, emotional, and energetic aspects of health. These sessions are a type of energetic reading that can provide new insight into the subtler influences on well-being. For many people, it opens up a different way of understanding what their body is communicating and offers perspective that can complement the physical healing we do together.

I love the work I do and the incredible people I get to meet along the way. Every patient brings a different story, and no two days in practice are ever the same. That variety is one of the things I value most—it keeps me grounded and grateful to show up fully for each person. I also want potential clients to know that when they work with me, they’ll receive thoughtful, evidence-informed care that looks at the whole picture—not just symptoms in isolation.

Healing, to me, is about listening to the body and creating the right conditions for it to thrive. My work is about helping people reconnect with their health in a way that feels empowering and sustainable, so they can get back to living the lives they want to live.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Beyond education and clinical training, the most valuable thing I’ve learned is the importance of personal development. When you do the work of truly accepting yourself—your strengths, your flaws—you naturally create a space where others feel safe to do the same. That self-acceptance becomes the foundation for the work I do with patients. From that place, people can open up more fully, listen to themselves more deeply, and begin to heal in ways that go beyond protocols or supplements. In a field like mine, where the therapeutic relationship is such a powerful part of the process, showing up authentically makes all the difference.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective way I’ve grown my practice has been through speaking events. There’s something uniquely powerful about connecting with people in person—sharing knowledge, answering questions, and simply letting them get a feel for who I am and how I approach care. Those live interactions allow people to see whether my style resonates with them, and many of my clients have first found me this way. It’s a reminder that while marketing tools and online platforms are useful, nothing replaces the human connection that comes from being in the same room and engaging in real conversation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alignnaturalmedicine.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.jennifertrigg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjennifertrigg/

Image Credits

I own all of these images