Sensitive Canberra: Your guide to inclusive integrative health services in Canberra
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If I could share anything, from my life with chronic illness, it would be that we need to help people more easily navigate the path to a supportive GP, medical team, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
Current research shows the “median wait times for a diagnosis for women in Australia” is four years, ranging from six months to fifty years. Read that again.
We shared in the last article that 2025 is a positive time to be living with chronic conditions in Canberra, with our abundance of services. This article is not medical advice, but general information and an introduction to some Canberra practitioners including a GP, psychologist, dietician, dentist, and allied health practice.
Chronic illness is a lot. Not just the day-to-day mental load, but the financial and relationship impacts, exhaustion of advocating for yourself medically, and communicating your accessibility needs in life, at work, and home.
I’ve experienced 40 years of misdiagnosis, severe chemical sensitivity, digestive and immune issues, and relying upon family financial support. I’m relieved to be on my own path to diagnosis, and that legislative protections for some disabilities and chronic conditions are progressing
Health is complex and multifaceted, to say the least. Research is showing the interconnection of physical, mental, emotional, gut, and nervous system health, the effects of air quality, fragrances, cleaning and self-care products, and managing stress levels across all areas of life, including social, environmental, financial, and career.
So where to start?
Find a GP, ideally with a passion for chronic conditions. They will guide you, coordinate tests, and connect you with other specialists as needed. Client-centred integrative practitioners are changing the way chronic health conditions are managed.
Many practices are also allergy, chronic illness and disability-inclusive, providing accessible, hypoallergenic, latex-free and low-fragrance, products and environments, along with telehealth options.
Dr Laura Chapman
Specialist GP and director of The Know You Co (TKYC)
Dr Laura created TKYC to offer patient-centred and collaborative management of chronic and complex health issues. This passion emerged through her personal chronic disease experience while practicing as a GP. TKYC values compassion and communication, combining medical and lifestyle strategies in designing individual treatment and management plans, while nurturing relationships with their expanding network of aligned providers.
Dr Laura discusses ways to make life easier with chronic conditions, such as pacing. She also hosts events called the Co-mmunity Series with other practitioners, to educate, inspire and create spaces for connection. A tip she often shares is that “people don’t know what you don’t tell them”. She finds that people are generally willing to accommodate health needs if communicated clearly, even though it can feel uncomfortable to do so.
Peter Yorke Building, Level 3/173 Strickland Crescent, Deakin | theknowyouco.com.au
Kimberley Webb
Accredited practicing dietitian (APD) and credentialed eating disorders clinician (CEDC)
Dietician Kimberley Webb is especially passionate about complex and chronic conditions, because of the important role nutrition can play across different stages of illness and treatment. She loves supporting her patients, with individualised, evidenced-based advice, as there is no ‘one diet that fits all’.
Kimberley focuses on long-term healthy eating behaviours, hydration, food variety, and achieving nutrition needs, while enjoying food freedom, social eating and travel as much as possible. Where needed she can work with doctors to order gut testing, which she reviews and incorporates into nutritional strategies. Food is multifaceted, so she values tailoring plans to her clients’ preferences, ethics, schedules, budgets, and cultural and cooking needs.
Disordered eating and food fears can form with long-term illness, so dieticians like Kimberley and some psychologists are there to provide support.
Practices online | kimberleywebb.com.au
Rosalie Poesiat
Clinical psychologist, Flexible Psyche, MPsych(Clin) BPsych(Hons)
Rosalie supports a diverse range of people with chronic conditions “who go about their lives with often unseen challenges and barriers”. She understands the emotions such as grief and loss, that come with interfacing with the medical system and navigating complex illness. Supporting her clients with advocacy and enhancing their capacity to communicate with health professionals, friends, and family, is integral to recovery. As she says, “We know increasingly that our psychological well-being affects our biological systems in a direct way”. She empowers her clients to move toward choosing a life based upon their values, and an improved quality of life.
Unit 3, 6 Geils Court, Deakin | flexiblepsyche.com.au
Dr Michael Ryan
Holistic dentist, BDS Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management) (Orofacial Pain)
Symmetry Dental is a family-run practice located in the heart of Kingston, providing comprehensive, patient-centred care. Recognising that individuals with complex and overlapping medical conditions are often more susceptible to inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, their team takes a collaborative approach to treatment. They work closely with rheumatologists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals to develop tailored treatment recommendations and multidisciplinary care programs.
Their approach includes the management of TMJ pain, headaches, migraines orofacial pain, the assessment and correction of aberrant breathing and sleep habits, and the treatment of chronic pain conditions. By integrating expertise from various specialties, Symmetry Dental strives to improve not just oral health but overall well-being because dental issues such as oral inflammation and jaw alignment, can greatly impact general health.
27 Jardine Street, Kingston | symmetrydental.com.au
Lauren Bowman
Senior osteopath, clinical Pilates instructor and director of Fundamental Health
Lauren has a passion for helping her patients overcome pain, and her caring team of interdisciplinary practitioners includes pelvic health physiotherapy and osteopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, psychology and clinical Pilates. She specialises in women’s health, gut health, and chronic pelvic pain conditions, with a gentle, whole-body evidence-based approach. Combining hands-on therapy visceral osteopathy with clinical Pilates, she brings education, movement and strength to her rehabilitation.
When managing a chronic illness or pain, daily breathing, movement, strength and mobility tailored to you and your health needs are important for physical health, the nervous system, digestive, mental, and emotional health, and to maintain as much independence and normal daily life as possible!
107 Marconi Crescent Kambah | fundamentalhealth.com.au
These are just a few of the network of health practitioners and specialists we are lucky to have here in Canberra.
Until next month, we’d love you to share your Sensitive Canberra tips and great experiences with Canberra Health Practitioners. Connect with Lisa on Instagram @sensitive.canberra or by email at simplicity.canberra@gmail.com.
