WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT MY APPOINTMENT?
AT YOUR INITIAL APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL RECEIVE:
the time to explore your health concerns, in a safe supportive environment (a pre-appointment intake questionnaire will be sent to you in advance)
an in-depth holistic review of your symptoms, as well as your personal and health history
comprehensive interpretation of any recent testing, with further testing as needed - funded through community labs where possible
the option of non funded personalised/precision medicine testing if indicated and desired, including gut microbiome testing; pharmacogenomics (genetic metabolism of prescription medications); nutrigenomics (personalised nutrition and lifestyle recommendations based on your unique DNA profile), or continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) - additional costs apply
an individualised treatment plan, based on your personal goals and health priorities
coaching, advice, and support, to help you achieve your optimal health
up to date evidence-based practical tools and resources to help you create lasting change
follow-up options to provide you with ongoing support, accountability and assistance
AT YOUR FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, YOU CAN EXPECT:
review and monitoring of your progress, response to treatment, and ongoing goals
adjustments to your health plan as needed - based on what matters to YOU
discussion and in-depth analysis of any further testing requested
updating health goals as needed
a deeper understanding of how your nutrition and lifestyle are affecting your health, and what you can do to improve these
accountability and support to keep you on track as you make changes
we will help you feel empowered, heard, and truly cared for, and we take the time to listen!
WE OFFER OPTIONS OF 1-HOUR, 45 MIN, OR 30-MINUTE FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, DEPENDING ON YOUR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES.
MOST PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM AT LEAST 1-2 FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, BUT THESE ARE NOT COMPULSORY.
-
✔️ Want a proactive, holistic health-care plan with ongoing support, advice, and coaching
✔️ Would like an in-depth wellbeing assessment, and advice on evidence based lifestyle and integrative strategies to manage your health issues
✔️Are looking for a highly personalised health plan, tailored to your unique needs
✔️Would like to explore in depth testing such as nutrigenomics (tailored lifestyle and diet advice based on your DNA); pharmacogenomics (looking at tolerance/metabolism of prescription medications, to find the ideal combination for you); continuous glucose monitoring; or gut microbiome testing
✔️Help and support to make lasting, achievable weight management, using a positive eating intuitive non diet approach
✔️ Want to focus on lifestyle changes instead of medication (where safe to do so), or in conjunction with medication to manage existing health issues
✔️ Are entering perimenopause or menopause, and would like to take a whole person approach to optimising current symptoms and future wellbeing (including HRT if needed and desired)
✔️Have menopause related issues such as osteoporosis, insulin resistance, or high cholesterol and would like a targeted plan to manage these
✔️ Have long term goals of reducing or stopping medication for chronic disease, and would like assistance in safely titrating these down, in conjunction with lifestyle changes
✔️ Have a strong family history of heart disease, stroke, cancer, or dementia, and want to take control of your health destiny
✔️Are on a plant based or vegan diet (or are interested in trying these) and would like help to ensure you are reaching your full potential
✔️ Have elevated risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, blood sugar levels or cholesterol and want to manage these with nutrition and lifestyle wherever possible
✔️Have existing cardiovascular disease and would like targeted evidence based help to improve symptoms and future heart health
✔️ Have a new health condition, and want more support and information about what you can do to help it through lifestyle and nutrition
✔️ Would like support with fatigue, gut health, immune health, or hormone health (please note we do not offer DUTCH testing, but can use gut microbiome testing if needed)
-
Yes. Lifestyle Medicine doctors complement, not replace, the care you receive from your primary care provider or specialist.
We see our role as providing a holistic overview towards your wellbeing, and being able to dive deep into health issues and concerns - which is often hard to do within normal GP appointments!
While traditional medicine tends to focus on symptoms and diseases in different body systems, we look at the ‘bigger picture - how multiple factors interplay to affect health.
This means we can help address these root causes of illness, and help you achieve optimal health, alongside traditional medical care.
We work together with all members of your healthcare team, and have a great network of trusted allied health providers can provide a collaborative approach with as needed.
Our expertise lies in preventing, managing and treating chronic diseases that are lifestyle-related.
We give you the option of how much information we share back with your doctor, but encourage you to keep them in the loop too, as this way you get the best care from everyone!
-
Lifestyle Medicine takes a whole person approach to health, addressing all the factors that impact on our well-being.
It flips healthcare upside down - rather than relying on pills and procedures to control symptoms, it aims to improve well-being from the inside out.
Lifestyle medicine is highly evidence based and recommended by health experts around the world as a way to prevent, treat, and potentially even reverse illness.
And as it doesn't rely on expensive supplements, subscriptions, or diet plans, it's simple, achievable, highly sustainable, and affordable!
For health professionals:
Please send a referral through our secure patient management system email: yourlifestylemedics@elixirfiles.nz
Menopause and Perimenopause consults
Are you a woman in your 30s, 40s or 50s and noticing your body (and hormones) changing?
Hot flushes and night sweats are what we typically associate with menopause, but symptoms such as brain fog, mood swings, palpitations, poor sleep and stubborn weight gain can all also be linked to hormone changes - often years before periods stop!
Perimenopause and menopause can be times of huge transition, but they can equally be times you also thrive- as there are SO many things that can help.
We offer holistic in depth menopause consultations, where we take the time to listen to your symptoms and concerns, explore the role nutrition and other factors may be having, and take a comprehensive look at your current health, as well as risk factors for future health issues. And we provide you with simple practical strategies, support, and coaching, to help you get your health back where you want it to be..
This can include prescribing safe effective MHT (HRT aka hormone replacement therapy) if desired or needed - we can also talk you through the pro’s and con’s of HRT, and help you make a decision that works for YOU.
Taking the time to optimise your well-being at this stage of life can have massive benefits - it not only helps improve symptoms to get your quality of life back, it also optimizes your quality of life, and your future well-being.
If you feel like you don't know your body anymore, and want to feel well again, we'd love to help you!
Wellness advice is everywhere these days - it can be so hard to know where to start and what to do.
Yet the small things you do on a day to day basis are what have the biggest impact on lasting health!
We take the time to listen to your story, and help you address the root causes of poor health.
Plus we give you the knowledge and options to find what works for you, to live your best life.
Our team
Dr Taisia Cech
MBChB, BSc, FASLM, FRNZCGP
With a holistic approach, we will review the key pillars of your health and explore your health goals. Together we will look at using the latest scientific evidence to optimize your health and happiness.
With a certificate in plant-based nutrition and women’s health, we can review your hormones, gut health, nutrition and more to empower you to feel back in control of your health.
I am based in Wanaka, and have in-person or zoom appointments available - all day Monday and Wednesday mornings. I look forward to meeting you!
-
I hold dual fellowship in Lifestyle Medicine and General practice and enjoy empowering people to create sustainable change with their health. I am also a mum of three beautiful children and have a passion for nutrition, cooking and outdoor adventures.
I have a special interest in plant based nutrition, including pregnancy and families and have completed a certificate in plant based nutrition.
I also have a certificate in women's health, and enjoy supporting women from fertility to menopause and beyond with lifestyle medicine. I support patients with healthy weight management, and I have an interest in anything gut health and gut microbiome related.
I offer lifestyle support in the form of private consultations via video consultation anywhere in New Zealand or in person in Wanaka. With a holistic approach, we will review the key pillars of health and explore your health goals. Together we will look at using the latest scientific evidence to optimize your health and happiness.
My goal is to work with you to create a personalized lifestyle self-care plan, empowering you to confidently implement and sustain positive change.
I find it extremely rewarding to work with patients to take control of their health and see how much their changes have positively influenced their lives and that of their whanau.
Let’s take the first steps together, to help you look, feel and live your best life.
Dr Marissa Kelaher
MBChB, DCH, FRNZCGP
I specialise in holistic health consultations, taking an in-depth look at your current health and future goals, and creating a highly tailored plan to help you achieve optimal health and well-being.
With additional training in nutritional and environmental medicine; integrative peri/menopause wellbeing; nutrigenomics; metabolic and heart health; longevity; and thyroid and adrenal conditions; I enjoy helping and empowering people to regain control of their health.
I also utilise nutrigenomic (DNA) testing and gut microbiome testing if needed and desired, and have a special interest in personalised precision medicine, and mind body medicine.
I am based in Golden Bay, and from early July 2024 will be running my clinic fully online, with a small monthly in person clinic in Nelson for existing patients (by request/prior arrangement only).
I look forward to helping you on your journey to better health!
-
I am a Fellow of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners, with additional training in Lifestyle Medicine, and am currently completing Fellowship with the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
I have done foundation training through the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, as well as additional training in integrative menopause management, and thyroid/adrenal health. I have a post-graduate diploma in Child Health from Otago University.
I live with my husband and two homeschooled young boys in beautiful Golden Bay, and love the outdoors, travel, food, nature, music, yoga, and photography.
My focus is on taking an empathetic whole person approach to wellbeing, looking at how lifestyle, nutrition, sleep habits, stress, trauma, and environment interplay to affect health.
I also have a strong interest in mind body medicine, gut health, and neuroplasticity.
I can help with women's health issues (particularly perimenopause and menopause, endometriosis and PCOS), cardiovascular health, gut health, autoimmune disease, metabolic health, thyroid and adrenal healnh, pain and fatigue, nutrition and mental health, cancer recovery, and holistic support for weight management.
I also use additional personaliseI medicine testing (nutrigenomic/DNA testing, gut microbiome testing, continuous glucose monitors/CGMs to create a tailored approach that aligns with your health goals.
Consultations are tailored to meet your individual health, lifestyle and performance needs, and aim to provide the support and knowledge you need to make sustainable long-term changes.
I offer nationwide telemedicine appointments via a secure server.
I look forward to working with you, to help you achieve the health you desire!
Private consultations with qualified medical doctors, tailored to your personal health goals
Discover a comprehensive integrated evidence based approach to well-being, identifying and tackling the root causes of illness
We give you the power to take health care back into your own hands
Let us help you
Taisia offers in person clinics in Wanaka, while Marissa runs her clinic fully online, via secure telemedicine video consultations nationwide.
INVESTMENT:
$329 for an initial 1 hour appointment including detailed management plan and review of health questionnaire
$295 for an in depth 1 hour follow-up appointment
$149 for a 30 min standard follow-up appointment
$30 for non urgent repeat prescriptions (allow 2 working days, only for medications initiated/altered by us, please see your GP for standard repeats)
‘be the change you wish to see in the world’
Mahatma Gandhi