Sonya Heitshusen's IFM Wellness Journey

​I think many of us have gone to the doctor and felt like a number, not a person.  Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.

​This is my new, favorite place for holistic healthcare and all-around wellness.  Integrative Family Medicine of Iowa opened last week in West Des Moines.

The co-founders, Kara and Sarah, are veteran health care providers, committed to treating people not conditions.  They saw a need for this type of practice in the community and created something unique.​

​First, the clinic doesn’t look like a clinic at all.  It looks and feels more like your friend’s living room.  I took a seat in a comfy, pillow-lined chair for my consultation and was given a robe for my exam rather than a flimsy, paper gown.

Kara and Sarah have created a space that is comfortable and welcoming that allows them to build trusting relationships with their clients.  As Sarah says,

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​“I want my clients to feel like they are sitting down to chat with a friend over coffee.”

​​And I did.  Kara and Sarah really listened to me and helped me map out a plan for my health and wellness journey.  My personalized plan includes meeting with a health coach and adding some supplements to my diet.  I also opted for intravenous therapy – a faster way to deliver vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

I’m especially impressed by the attention to mental health.  I’ve always been a firm believer in the mind, body, spirit connection.  Kara and Sarah are too, which is why Integrative Family Medicine of Iowa has a licensed psychiatric specialist on staff.

Kara calls it the

"feedback loop of health."

​​She says health and healing can take years to achieve, especially for those who have had a drastic illness or traumatic experience.  
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​“Achieving health means that multiple aspects of life, including your mental health, physical wellness, medical approach, diet, stress are flowing in a happy continuum.  When one of those is off, others can fall off easily.”

​​Sarah believes the experience is what sets Integrative Family Medicine of Iowa apart from other clinics.  The goal:  Creating a community of caring for the Des Moines Metropolitan area.

I highly recommend checking it out.  Booking an appointment is easy – just go to the website:  www.integrativemediowa.com
 
I’ll keep you posted on my wellness journey.  I think this is the experience we’ve all been waiting for – and one we all deserve.

​By: Sonya Heitshusen - Award winning journalist.