Group Visits

Seema Patel, MD, MPH, IFMCP offers group visits for individuals as well as for the whole family! Call the Pepper Pike, Ohio, office to learn more about our current programs, detailed pricing, or to book an appointment today! 

What are group visits?

Group visits at Healing Family Functional Medicine aim to empower patients with knowledge, provide community support from other like-minded people, and minimize the cost of health care for individuals and families. Research has shown that shared medical visits often lead to better health outcomes and increased support for the individual and the family, while also lowering the cost of care. Furthermore, group visits are virtual, which decreases the stress of planning your day around the appointment. Note: Group visits are aimed at healthy to moderately ill patients. If severely ill, Dr. Patel recommends an individual visit.

What should I expect?

Most groups meet for one hour per week (via Zoom) for three months. Prior to the start of the group, you will be asked to complete forms that detail your health journey, family history, nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. Our group health visits are led by a multi-disciplinary team of experts including Dr. Patel, a Functional Medicine Health Coach, and a functional medicine Dietician who meet with the group virtually once weekly for three months. Some groups also include sessions with a holistic psychotherapist or mold remediation specialist. Our team takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to introduce the key concepts of Functional Medicine, including nutrition counseling, lifestyle education and strategies to reduce inflammation to optimize your health. 

Can my family join a group with me?

Absolutely! We encourage families to join group health visits together, as this strengthens your support system. Ask us about special family pricing for group health visits!  

What conditions do you treat?

• Autoimmune disorders
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Anxiety and depression
• Chronic gut issues: IBS, reflux, bloating
• Chronic headaches and migraines
• Allergies: seasonal, environmental and food allergies
• Food sensitivities
• Fatigue, brain fog
• Joint pain
• Rashes including eczema, psoriasis
• And more...

What group health programs do you offer? 

• Brain on Fire: An Integrative Approach to Mental Health 
• Family Health 
• Women’s Health
• Post Covid 
• Detoxification

Brain on Fire: An Integrative Approach to Mental Health

Mental Health group visits are for adults and teens 13+ with mild to moderate mental health issues. This program is not about managing symptoms; it’s about understanding the complex interplay between biology, environment, trauma, nutrition, and lifestyle that shape our mental well-being. This three-month program includes weekly sessions alternating between Dr. Patel, a functional medicine dietitian, and holistic psychotherapist Dr. Kellie Kirksey, who combine their medical expertise with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. Through a blend of personalized assessments, evidence-based interventions, nutritional guidance, mindfulness practices, and community support, we offer a holistic roadmap toward lifelong mental well-being. You will learn mind-body skills through a variety of modalities, including breath work, progressive relaxation, visual imagery, meditation, movement, art, and music to calm the nervous system and decrease the response to stress and possible past traumas. All participants are encouraged to have laboratory testing done to review during this group experience. During the last session, Dr. Patel will review lab results. Advanced functional medicine testing is offered to those interested. 

Family Group Health:

Through family group visits, your family can receive comprehensive functional medicine care simultaneously, saving time and money as you embark on the journey to better health- Together! Dr. Patel is one of the few physicians in Northeast Ohio who is qualified and experienced in providing care for babies, children, and adults. This group is specifically designed for children and their caregivers. Family involvement is crucial for long-term success in your family's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When one person in the family is sick, the illness affects everyone. By offering care to the entire family, Dr. Patel can enhance the health and resilience of each member, using functional medicine strategies to support each individual as a whole. This includes parents, siblings, extended family, and friends! The program spans three months and consists of weekly sessions, alternating between Dr. Patel, a functional medicine dietitian, and a functional medicine health coach. While attending the program, participants are encouraged to undergo comprehensive laboratory testing. During the final session, your family will meet with Dr. Patel to review the lab results. For those interested, advanced functional medicine testing is available. This comprehensive approach aims to optimize the physical, mental, and emotional health of the entire family. 

Women’s Group Health:

Our Women's health group offers a specialized and inclusive approach to address the unique concerns of women in a safe and respectful setting. This comprehensive three-month program is designed to empower and educate women on various aspects of their health. The program comprises once-weekly sessions, alternating between Dr. Patel, a functional medicine dietitian, and a functional medicine health coach. Throughout the sessions, our participants will delve into a wealth of knowledge aimed at enhancing their understanding of functional medicine and its application to women's health. Topics covered include hormonal balance, nutritional strategies tailored to women's needs, lifestyle modifications, and effective stress management techniques. This program emphasizes empowering women to take an active role in their health journey. Participants will learn how to integrate functional medicine principles into their daily lives to reach sustainable habits for long-term wellness. During the final session, participants will have the opportunity to review their individualized lab results through a functional medicine lens with Dr. Patel. This personalized approach ensures that each participant gains insights into their unique health profile and receives guidance on optimization. Advanced functional medicine testing is available. This additional layer of testing provides a more comprehensive understanding of individual health markers, allowing for targeted and personalized interventions. By participating in the Functional Medicine Women's Health group, women will not only gain valuable knowledge but also acquire practical tools to navigate their health journey with confidence!

Post-Covid Group Health:

Our Post-COVID group is designed for adults aged 18 and above experiencing mild to moderate post-COVID symptoms. Note: For individuals with severe symptoms, Dr. Patel recommends an individual appointment. This comprehensive three-month program is designed to support participants in their journey towards optimal health and healing. Weekly sessions alternate between Dr. Patel, a functional medicine dietitian, and a functional medicine health coach, providing a holistic and collaborative approach to recovery. Throughout the program, participants will gain valuable insights into managing and overcoming post-COVID symptoms. Topics covered include strategies for immune system support, nutritional approaches for recovery, lifestyle modifications to enhance resilience, and effective stress management techniques. All participants are encouraged to undergo laboratory testing. In the final session, Dr. Patel will review the lab results from a functional medicine perspective, ensuring that participants receive tailored guidance based on their unique health profile. Advanced functional medicine testing is highly encouraged. This advanced testing option allows for a more detailed exploration of individual health markers, enabling a targeted and personalized approach to post-COVID recovery. Participants can not only gain knowledge about managing their symptoms but also receive practical tools and support for a comprehensive recovery journey tailored to their specific needs.

Detoxification Group Health:

This comprehensive three-month program includes once-weekly sessions, alternating between Dr. Patel, a functional medicine dietitian, a functional medicine health coach, and a mold remediation expert. We will delve deep into understanding the impact of toxins on our health and bodies, and review strategies for remediation and reducing repeated reoccurence. Our goal is to empower participants with personalized strategies for detoxification, provide practical insights into the effects of toxins on health, and discover tailored approaches to support the body’s natural detox processes. All participants are encouraged to have laboratory testing done to review during this group experience. In the last session, Dr. Patel will review lab results. Advanced functional medicine testing is typically recommended to assess the body's toxic burden.

What topics will be covered?

In addition to the core focuses for each group (as listed above), each program provides comprehensive education on the foundational aspects of functional medicine, which include:

• Gut Health: How our gut affects our overall health, and how to improve the microbiome through nutrition, lifestyle and key supplements. 
• Immune and inflammation: How the immune system functions and what causes low grade inflammation (which is the root cause of all diseases). How chronic inflammation improves with dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, replacing critical nutrients and better gut health. 
• Energy production: How the body creates energy, factors that decrease energy production, and how energy production may improve with nutrition and lifestyle.  
• Lab review: Dr. Patel reviews labs and discusses optimal (not just normal!) values that may prevent diseases or slow the progression of a disease process. 

What advanced functional medicine tests are offered?

During the group visits, Dr. Patel assesses the health and history of each patient/family and offers comprehensive functional medicine tests to better understand the needs and health challenges of each individual. Testing can include:

• Gut microbiome
• Vitamins and minerals
• Cardiovascular testing for adults and at-risk children
• Food sensitivities
• Hormones
• Environmental toxins
• Mold toxicity
• Heavy metals
• And more... 

How do I get started?

Call Healing Family Functional Medicine to schedule an appointment for a group visit for yourself or your family, or book a consultation online today!