Meet Whitney Donohue | Naturopathic Physician & Professional Applied Kinesiologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitney Donohue and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitney, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I feel like taking risks is all part of the process. Risks can be both terrifying and exciting at the same time as they exceed our boundaries and push us out of our comfort zones, which we all know is where the magic happens! Taking risks has brought about some of the most amazing adventures of my life. I picked up and moved to California to finish college without knowing a single person or visiting the place I was moving to. I took a huge risk by applying to Naturopathic Medical School, unaware of the process and where it would lead me! I then took a solo backpacking trip across South East Asia after I finished my medial boards and it propelled me into the most amazing adventure back to myself! Most recently I would say starting my own Naturopathic Medical Practice is high on the list! In the pursuit of following my heart and my gut, building my own practice was the only way I have been able to practice medicine how I envisioned it to be done. I have created a unique approach to healing that sets me apart from others, which comes with its own risks but really high rewards when it comes to helping people heal. I’ve passed on really great opportunities that would have been much more low risk, comfortable even, only because I knew I was meant for something different and I wanted to create it. So far, every risk I have taken has provided immense reward on all levels and I’m grateful for every one of the leaps, as I’ve always landed on my feet. Risks are where the magic is, even when there is struggle in the process!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Naturopathic Doctor and owner of Quantum Naturopathic Pain & Body Optimization. I believe in the body’s innate ability to heal itself when road blocks are removed & it is provided what it needs most to thrive. What sets me apart is that I use the amazing tool of muscle testing. It is the basis of my practice and provides insight into the body that we cannot get from any other modality. We hold a lot of knowledge but being able to neurologically & physiologically test the body for what it needs the most, is the most powerful tool we have to healing. With muscle testing we are able to examine the structural, chemical (both toxins to eliminate & nutrition to provide), & emotional aspects that affect the body and inhibit it from healing! This provides us much deeper insight and more information that allows the patient to heal quicker and more efficiently! The body heals in layers and in each layer all three of these components must be addressed before it can be released. Muscle testing provides us the tool to find out exactly what the body needs most while treating the whole person! Here things are done differently, we don’t treat symptoms, we treat the person and in the process empower you to change your health & life to reach your greatest goals!

What excites me the most is the profound healing my patients have experienced, I’m always surprised at the power and strength of the human body and its exciting when people feel empowered to change the course of their life, heal their pain & move forward with confidence. People getting back to doing / performing all the things they love the most in life, like surfing, hiking, lifting, pickle balling, running etc. is what the whole process is about! Every time someone says they were able to do the thing they love the most without pain makes the whole journey worth it!

I would say becoming a Naturopathic Doctor is no small feat. I also made it harder on myself my jumping in to learn some of my favorite modalities while going through school, which meant I spent almost every weekend for the first 3 years of medical school at a seminar or conference learning all the tools I use today! None of it was easy, but when you find things that light up your soul, you know its worth it, as being immersed in these tools left me ignited to learn more! I also think a big part of this story was my own pain journey and the years it took me to heal, which is how I ended up on this path. As I continued to learn new techniques and modalities, I was introduced to many more practitioners who helped me heal and eliminate my pain which allowed me to gain my life back. In doing so I continued to pursue all the same techniques as I knew I had to learn them so I could help people heal in the same way! So, I became the doctor I always needed. I learned all the modalities that helped me heal the most, so I could provide all of them in one place to help someone else heal in the same way. I was always healthy and active but also injured in the pursuit of all my physical activities but never had a provider help with injuries that were bigger than just ice and rest but smaller than surgery. So I became that doctor! To help active people get back to doing what they love most, free of pain! Everything I practice, everything I teach, everything I provide for my patients is everything I did to become pain free and I understand the frustration in the process of healing first hand. My brand is very personal for me, as I became the doctor I always needed and now I’m providing that space for others!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First on the list would be sunrise hikes or sunrise paddle boarding on the salt river followed by breakfast at Butter’s or Breakfast Club & coffee from Sip or Mavericks. Spend the day hanging by the pool and walking around outdoor shops! There’s so many amazing places to eat, some of my favorites are Citizen Public House, Sumomaya or bottle and boards at Postino’s! Also just watching the sunset on a really great patio with live music! I’m fortunate to have really active friends so anything that gets us outside in the sunshine and moving is on the list! Also day trips, Sedona and Payson are some of my favorite spots!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The first people who deserve a shoutout to are my amazing parents. They have supported me chasing all my wildest dreams and continue to be my biggest supporters and number one marketing agency, Thanks Mom for handing out my business cards like candy!! Also to my best friends who have showed me nothing but unwavering love and support!

I’ve been so fortunate to have many amazing mentors in my life and throughout the process of becoming a physician and also succeeding and creating a new way of approaching health and healing. All of the techniques and modalities I use in my practice to help others heal, are all ones that were used to help myself in my own healing journey and they made it possible for my practice to come to life!

Dr. Rhona Steinke I don’t where I would be without you in so many ways, there is not enough thanks for everything you have done for me and continue to teach me! Dr. Mark Force the first practitioner to treat me with Applied Kinesiology (AK) and changed the trajectory of my life. Dr. Tony Merchzek was the first person I learned AK from. Dr. Will Bos, thank you for continuing to introduce me to amazing techniques, help me learn at a deeper level and integrate, grateful for our friendship and support. Dr. Scott Walker for developing NET which has become one of my most favorite techniques that changed my practice and my life personally. Dr. Donald Baker who I never had the privilege to meet but am honored to pass on his work. Dr. Amoz Van Dyke, practiced medicine how I envisioned it, which gave me permission to do so. Dr. Tyna Moore for your support, fire and also permission to be myself and practice medicine how I want to. To my AK/NET/QN colleagues who have become family, I’m grateful for your support, teachings and love. There are many more, all equally as significant but its important to give credit where credit is due as we stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before! They have paved the paths for us to move forward with more knowledge and freedom! Grateful to all who’s paths I have had the privilege to cross and learn from!

Website: drwhitneydonohue.com

Instagram: @drwhitneydonohuend

Linkedin: Dr. Whitney Donohue, ND

Facebook: @drwhitneydonohuend

Image Credits
Jared Murray Nylmar Martinez