What is naturopathy?
In order to offer someone the maximal amount of healing potential, a naturopathic practitioner needs to analyze and strategically integrate all potential variables that may be affecting the body’s innate ability to heal itself – a well-qualified naturopathic health professional rigorously analyzes a person as holistically as possible, particularly in terms of how they address and implement customized treatment regimens. Since any one component of the body has a critical relationship with all other components, we can’t view any of these organs or biological factors in isolation. Instead, it is a naturopath’s responsibility to identify these internal connections, monitor them, and negotiate a resolution with the body through a treatment plan that empowers the body to heal independently. Not “forcing” the body into a situation that it is unhappy with allows a person to stay healed for a longer period of time, leaving them even more fortified against diseases, illnesses, and or emotional stressors in the future. While a naturopath is considered to be an alternative health professional, their strengths often shine in the fact that they operate as trained detectives or investigative journalists.
Sometimes, it’s the most intuitive, targeted questions that reveal the most effective and longest-lasting solutions…
Naturopathic practitioners use many natural health modalities in their healing approach – the most fundamental ones are dietary modifications, the use of modern and traditional herbal remedies (such as those used in traditional Chinese or Ayurvedic medicines), homeopathic remedies, orthomolecular solutions (healing through supplementation), and the proper addition of certain minerals and vitamins. Oftentimes, a person may be in a diseased state, not so much from the disease taking over, but because they are missing a few of the most fundamental biological components that are crucial in fortifying the body’s ability to protect itself.
Our bodies need three key components to heal: blood, oxygen, and nutrients – if these variables are effectively delivered to the diseased areas, the body will be empowered to begin the repair process.
Clients should understand that customized naturopathic healing treatment plans should only be seen as an open and honest discussion between themself and the practitioner – naturopathic healing should be as pain-free as possible, allowing each individual the space, time, and energy to meet their natural health goals in a way that is relevant to their unique situations. We pledge to work closely and negotiate with each client to develop a treatment plan with goals that are realistic, achievable, safe, and practical.
Braden Kelley, N.D., C.H.H.P.
Board-Certified Naturopathic Doctor, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
After recovering from a plethora of chronic health conditions (with little to no answers) for many years, Braden felt deeply inspired to devote his life to helping others identify, overcome, and heal from chronic, difficult-to-treat health conditions. Because of these prior experiences, Braden considers himself to be both a “professional patient” and a passionate natural health practitioner.
The best teachers have spent the majority of their time living through the perspectives of their students – this means that direct experience is a teacher’s most valuable tool…
Education:
In 2017, Braden was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Thought from Hillsdale College in southern Michigan. After suffering from several serious health conditions during his late teens and immediately after his undergraduate schooling, he was fortunate to discover profound relief from a highly experienced acupuncturist in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. After feeling fundamentally inspired by this transformation, Braden decided to move to Austin, Texas, to pursue an intensive, 4-year Master’s degree in acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine at AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine. Braden’s time at AOMA required him to complete an extensive list of courses, including (but not limited to) biomedical terminology, pathophysiology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, massage, nutrition and dietary therapy, internal medicine/physical assessments, and many others. Currently, Braden enthusiastically integrates many aspects of traditional Chinese medicinal wisdom into his modern naturopathic practices.
After completing 2 years at AOMA, Braden made the decision to move back to Michigan after suffering from financial and physical consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was extremely difficult; however, he felt this change would afford him additional time to heal and reassess his academic forecast.
Soon after, he was accepted into the Certified Holistic Health Practitioner program at Trinity School of Natural Health. Upon completion, he made the decision to take a 5-hour, comprehensive natural health exam offered by the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners, where he was awarded the title of BCND (board-certified naturopathic doctor, or N.D.).
In December 2023, he enrolled in Kingdom College’s Master’s in Naturopathic Psychology Program, which is the only naturopathic psychology program in the country. Braden’s goal is to develop a deeper expertise in helping those with psychological disorders from a naturopathic perspective. His tentative date of completion is the Spring of 2025.
Afterward, he plans to enroll in Trinity School of Natural Health’s Certified Lyme Specialist program, with the intent to gain a more detailed understanding of techniques used to heal and rebalance the body with clients who suffer from chronic Lyme disease. Additionally, Braden intends to enroll in Kingdom College’s Doctorate of Homeopathy program, where he will spend three years mastering the history and practical application of homeopathic remedies in the naturopathic field.
Clinical/real world experience:
In 2021, Braden worked in the office of a holistic-minded M.D. in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, where he managed a variety of functional healing modalities administered to chronically ill patients (many of them with Lyme disease). This experience was deeply impactful and offered valuable clinical perspectives that he continually integrates into his own naturopathic treatments. While living in Texas, Braden worked briefly at a holistic ozone therapy clinic and spent many hours shadowing professors and colleagues practicing in the acupuncture/holistic health industry. In Michigan, he worked for two years in a local health foods store which afforded him the opportunity to informally consult with a large volume of health conscious customers on a daily basis.
Today, Braden maintains a close relationship with several active practitioners in the natural health field, including other naturopathic doctors, massage therapists, acupuncturists and holistic-minded medical doctors.
At Bespoke Wellness, we are deeply honored to guide, teach, and assist you along your personal health journey; we pledge to wholeheartedly embrace every aspect of the healing process that considers the most unique, challenging, or perplexing aspects of ill health.