Mission Statement:
Dr. Firisin’s mission is to guide each patient to a place of optimal health in body, mind and spirit through time spent, active listening and individualized treatment plans using naturopathic therapies rooted in the principles of naturopathic medicine. Each patient will experience an increase in independence from previous medical paradigms and beliefs while being empowered through active healing, lifestyle changes prevention and wellness. Bio:
Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Firisin took a hiatus from a successful career as a physical therapist on the east coast to travel west and return to medical school in order to pursue her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Her years of experience in patient care provide her with a unique approach to Naturopathic Medicine and Family Practice. Her practice aims to help all those pursuing optimal health. She recently relocated back to her home state and is peased to now be practicing in Southport, CT. As defined by the House of Delegates Position Paper, Amended 2011 and the American Association of Naturopathic Medicine:
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing
process. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. The following principles are the foundation of naturopathic medical practice:
1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
2. Identify and Treat the Causes (ToIle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere):Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient:
Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat;
Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms; and
Acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process.
4. Doctor as Teacher (Docere): Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
5. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
6. Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.
