About
Who is Dr. Kim Gowetor?
I am really just a person…like anybody else…that chose to have my own business working as a naturopathic doctor. I happen to like to write and sometimes share what I’ve written, and enjoy activities that get me outside and moving.
When I’m not in the office you can find me learning, exploring, exercising, experimenting in the kitchen, chilling with my kitty, or spending time with family and friends. I LOVE to explore, learn, and exercise. These 3 things (and a hot shower in the morning) are like my coffee, I need them to stay refreshed and energetic.
People often ask me why I chose Naturopathic Medicine and my quick answer is “well, it chose me”. I absolutely never saw it coming but kidding aside, it encompasses all of the aspects of health and healing that I learned along my own journey to “get better”.
This journey felt like it started when I turned 20 and began having “out of the blue” panic attacks but in retrospect it started much earlier. Prior to the panic attacks, I was more or less care free. I didn’t worry about the future or try to make plans. I didn’t have any expectations. I figured everything would just work itself out because that was what was “supposed” to happen, right?!
I can’t say I was overly happy or healthy but I was “blissfully” unaware. The panic attacks however rattled my core. They woke me up in a way that I could no longer ignore and I became acutely aware that some things needed to change.
Growing up I learned to suppress my emotions, voice, heart, and spirit in order to try to “fit” in this world. My mental and physical health suffered because of this and over time starting showing the signs of stress that they were under, slowly becoming more problematic in my life.
I experienced mental health issues like depression, low self-worth, and lack of motivation; which eventually became panic attacks, anxiety, and agoraphobia.
I experienced physical health issues like low energy, frequent illnesses, painful joints, and arthritis; which eventually became digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, and repeated burnout.
Once awakened by my panic attacks I spent years investigating how to “get better” but after hitting the metaphorical wall of burnout time and time again AND never fully getting where I wanted to be in my health or my life, I finally gave up.
I stopped trying to be “strong” and suffer through everything. I stopped forcing myself to accomplish, and I stopped trying to control all the outcomes and “have it all together”. It was exhausting! and it wasn’t fulfilling my needs anyway.
I finally understood that despite all the ways I had learned to take care of myself and all the self-healing work I had already done, I had been learning to control outcomes. I had been seeking a key that would magically change everything back to some semblance of the way it was and provide me with validation for my experience BUT the reality: I was forever changed and nobody seemed to be able to validate my experience.
What I actually needed was very simple…complete acceptance and total self-love. Why? Because with complete acceptance and total self-love, you let go! And in this space that is created by letting go you are able to ALLOW in whatever is needed. It is no longer a struggle or a matter of force. It is no longer managing symptoms and following strict regimes or protocols. There are no rules to follow except the ones you desire for yourself; it is simply a matter of whatever you NEED you put first, always! No question.
I didn’t need anyone or anything to validate me or my experience EXCEPT me. I could just choose to be whole and healthy without anything to prove that I deserved to be that way. I deserved it simply because I AM.
My journey has been one of fear and loneliness, transformed into gratitude, acceptance and love. I now cherish this opportunity I have been given to be an aid to helping people reconnect with the parts of themselves they may have safely packed away and forgotten about in an effort to fit in, in this world. Living like I did was costing me my health but it really doesn’t have to be like that.
You truly deserve to have the life your heart really wants to be living but when you’ve spent years covering this up it can be challenging to re-connect with that knowing. My goal is to support, encourage, and guide you to uncovering that place inside that intuitively knows and help you regain your power in the world.
It is my passion to inspire you to see that there is so much more to the picture than just managing symptoms and when you can let that go, you get freedom of choice. People are amazing and have amazing qualities. I have yet to meet someone that doesn’t have the ability for change…how much change, well…that is up to you?!
I feel fortunate that life taught me that support doesn’t always come in the ways you expect it to but if you’re open it can help you realize that you can do so much more than may have ever thought possible; this is a human right! to have life lift you up to see the possibilities and lead to the uncovering of your hidden strengths and talents. I want you to know that this is totally possible no matter what your story…and we ALL have a story!
I love to work with patients that are looking for a deeper approach with their health. They have often tried other options and felt like the bigger picture was not being seen.
I see the best results with those that are:
- committed
- open-minded
- willing to try new things
- sensitive to this crazy world that we live in
- “knowing” even though they may feel lost or uncertain
QUALIFICATIONS
Dr. Kim Gowetor is a licensed and registered Naturopathic Doctor in the province of Alberta. She is a member of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta (CNDA) and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).
She started out studying Digital Arts & Media at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB which lead to a graphic design position in Wainwright, AB. She gave up the world of design however to go on to complete her undergraduate studies returning to Edmonton at the University of Alberta and finally her post-graduate naturopathic training at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in Toronto, ON. CCNM is one of two accredited naturopathic medical schools in Canada.
During her time at CCNM, she sought out further education in the shamanic and native healing arts, homeopathic medicine, and personal development while also volunteering as the design editor for the school’s student publication “The Vine”.
In her final year as an intern at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic, she was fortunate enough to obtain two other specialized internships at downtown Toronto Community Health Centers. These gave Dr. Kim the opportunity to work collaboratively with other medical health professionals as well as gain more in-depth experience in community health, addictions, HIV/AIDS, trauma/abuse, psychiatric conditions, counseling and more.
Out of her love for learning she is continually adding new therapies and techniques to her practice. A few of her other and ongoing qualifications include:
- Hakomi Counselling Techniques
- Naturopathic Injections Advanced Training
- Psychosomatic Energetics: Rubimed Level I & II Therapist Training
- Clarity Breathwork Level I Training
- Advanced Techniques in Applied Kinesiology
- Holistic Counselling Introduction
- IV nutrients & Ozone certified
- Acupuncture certified
“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” ~Benjamin Franklin