Graduate Spotlight
Veronica LaChapelle, Doctor of Naturopathy “New Ways to Live”
As recently as the 1980s, many Americans with chronic ulcers seemed fated to endure a lifetime of unrelenting bent-double pain. In fact by the time she was 35, Veronica LaChapelle had spent most of her life in agonizing stomach pain. Living on a bland “therapeutic diet” consisting mainly of baby food and weighing just 100 pounds (which was 25 pounds underweight), the young mother had less-than-zero energy.
With a self-described “off the charts Type A personality” Veronica also had no patience with doctors who couldn’t figure out how to arrest the ulcers that would finally perforate her pancreas. But luckily, that’s when she literally saw a sign.
“At that time I didn’t even know what the store-front sign, ‘holistic health,’ meant,” she admits with a laugh, “but something told me to go and find out.”
Introduced to the natural miracles of protein drinks and colon hydrotherapy, Veronica recalls that in only six weeks, she knew for sure that life could be much better.
Trained as a high-tech nurse who administered IV therapies including chemo drugs and hydration, while she felt relieved to be developing holistic approaches to reclaim her own vitality, the hospital workplace eventually seemed more and more out of step with her interest in maintaining a homeostatic balance in partnership with nature.
In the 1990s a near-fatal car accident put Veronica out of the workforce for two years and during this time, she again turned to holistic healing for meaningful answers. Clearly it was time to reinvent herself.
“I told my husband I wanted to study natural health and find out how to get myself well. ‘Even if I’m never able to work again and actually employ this as a profession,’ I told him, I felt sure that this is how I would get better.”
Little did Veronica know that earning her bachelors degree in natural health would lead her to add a second bachelors program in holistic nutrition. Or that next she would pursue masters studies in natural health, and then complete her doctorate in naturopathy. But that’s not all! Veronica is now completing dual Ph.D. degrees, in natural health and holistic nutrition.
Ten years ago Veronica and Chuck LaChapelle founded Health Matrix, an Austin-based natural health clinic that now employs eight specialists whose services range from natural health and holistic nutrition to chiropractic, myofascial release and various massage modalities, infrared sauna, a soothing and “youthening” variety of skin pamperings, bio-resonance and neurotransmitter precursor programs for exercise and nutritional management, plus various botanical and homeopathic approaches for restoring the body to optimum health.
Veronica LaChapelle is a member of the International Association of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, the National Association of Nutrition Professionals and the Coalition for Natural Health. She is a certified provider of FirstLineTherapy™ and works with clients whose ages range from five to 85.
“As a world traveler who has seen our society learn to embrace naturopathy more and more each passing year, I am eager to see younger generations advance the professions of natural health, homeopathy and holistic nutrition.” With more than a dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren, perhaps Veronica’s own family can help to lead the charge!
For more information, visit Health Matrix.
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This article was based on an interview with the graduate.
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