We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Stephanie Mottola a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Mottola, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
I started my professional career at a naturopathic practice working under another doctor- learning the systems, administrative and business end of things as well as honing my clinical skills. It felt right- like what I needed as I transitioned from medical student to doctor. In the beginning and for the first few years it felt like a supportive relationship and/but over time a breakdown of communication, divergent visions for our practices and ultimately unacceptable boundary crossing led to what felt like, at the time, a very abrupt rupture of that relationship and end to my position at the clinic. I needed to quickly establish my own practice in order to continue serving my clients and maintain my livelihood. I wouldn’t have chosen to start my own practice in this way- it was abrupt, scary and I needed time and space to process before I started to feel like I had solid ground to stand on again but with the support of my loved ones and clients, a desire to continue my work in the world, and a deep desire to honor my established relationships with my clients, I made it through, became my own boss and my practice became a more genuine expression of me. I’m grateful and can now see that my commitment to self-love, self-respect and my values essentially released (freed) me into a more realized and incarnate version of myself to do my work in the world.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Stephanie Mottola (she/her/they). I work as a Naturopathic Doctor. My medical training, Plant Spirit Medicine/Five Element system training, traditional western herbalism education, love for writing (as a form of excavation, healing, connection and uplifting beauty), love and respect for the more-than-humxn beings on this planet and an interest in anti-oppression work, all inform the work that I do in the world and the way I do it. I am ultimately a growing Humxn like all of us, driven to reduce suffering and hone a sense of trust, respect and love for self(Nature) and our miraculous bodies.
Clients seek my help most often when they have health concerns and want to learn how to support their bodies through that process using natural alternatives or adjuncts to conventional western medical tools. Some are also looking for a place/relationship where they are held accountable to showing up for themselves and their healing process. Every plan my clients and I create together is completely individual- no two are alike. They always involve guidance around one or all of the following- nourishment (food, hydration, social, creative), herbal and supplemental nutrient support, habit change, embodiment and emotional expression and tending practices, movement, practices for self connection, breath work and referral/recommendations to other supportive practitioners & resources when needed.
I spend time listening to and connecting with my clients. Our first visit is 2 hours and subsequent visits are 1-1.5 hours. In these visits, I get to know them and learn from them. We build a relationship of trust and understanding that serves as the foundation for healing and we check in about how they are doing in general and with their plan. As part of my assessments, I perform functional lab analyses on common bloodwork and speciality testing as well. This helps us understand the story the body is telling and the areas where support is needed and largely informs my suggestions/their plan also.
It’s challenging to succinctly explain how I got into this work but ultimately it was informed by suffering: both suffering I experienced personally and the suffering I witnessed in those around me. I knew deeply that there was more support that could be offered than any thing I or loved ones had been offered/experienced. I wanted to know and learn about those things. Also as I grew in the world, with the help of fantastic activist-teachers I began to see the impact race, class and other aspects of identity have on health outcomes and I felt that naturopathic medicine offered unique tools and ways of thinking/knowing that could help to address these realities and I wanted to be involved in that.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Grace and compassion- both support resilience and all are genuine expressions of a desire to grow and stay connected to ourselves and those around us. I think these things are integral to healing, healing relationships and the business of both.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The relationships I have with my current clients and the trust and mutual respect inherent in those relationships. 90-95% of my practice is referral based.
Contact Info:
- Website: wildriverwellness.com
- Instagram: @wildriverwellness
- Facebook: @wildriverwellness
Image Credits
First professional pic uploaded and pic of apothecary and flower in brown jar- credit Jim Dimitroff Pic of me weaving basket and on the green hillside- credit John Schaal