General Questions
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine addresses the root cause of disease, using a systems-oriented, patient-focused model, and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership.
Rather than chasing an isolated set of symptoms, Functional Medicine doctors address the whole person. We spend time with our patients by taking a comprehensive history, and looking at the relationships between your lifestyle, environment, and genetics. These factors influence long-term health and can contribute to chronic disease. By finding the root cause of your disease, we can use supplements and lifestyle changes to get you on the road to feel well for the long-term.
What conditions do we focus on?
We focus on:
- Gut health
- Food sensitivities
- Pain and inflammation
- Adrenal fatigue
- Stress
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Female hormones
- Depression and anxiety
- Autoimmune conditions
- Headaches and migraines
Consultation Questions
What is the best way to schedule an appointment?
You can schedule an appointment with us one of 3 ways.
- Call our office at (510) 922-1579
- Email us at info@core-wellnessgroup.com to schedule a consultation
- Book your appointment online HERE.
How does a phone or video consultation work?
Dr. Carolyn Finnegan works with patients primarily over the phone or video because the health programs we design are based on the results of lab tests that can easily be done in your home. The types of tests that are used are stool, saliva, or urine samples, occasionally blood tests.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Finnegan will review your personal and family health history and make recommendations for lab tests that are appropriate for your specific health issues. Once your lab work has been completed, she will explain the meaning of your test results to you in a follow-up consultation. Dr. Finnegan will also create an individualized health program for you which will include one or more of the following: diet changes, nutritional supplements, exercise, lifestyle, and stress management recommendations. Subsequent consultations are scheduled to monitor your progress and to modify your program.
How long are the consultations?
- Initial new patient consultations are 50 minutes.
- Follow up lab result consultations can be scheduled for 30 min. (if you have 1 test), 45 min. (if you have 2 tests), or 1 hour (if you have 3-4 tests).
- Existing client follow up consultations can be scheduled for 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
How long does it take to get results?
How much time do I have to cancel or change a scheduled consultation?
If for any reason you cannot make your appointment, please let us know within 48 hours so we can try to fill that opening in our schedule. If the appointment is canceled with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged the full appointment amount.
Can I be seen in person?
Yes, we do have limited in-person appointments available at our Berkeley office on Monday afternoons. These are mostly limited to new patients for exam purposes. However, if you would like to be seen in-person for every visit, please let us know during your 15 minute consultation and we will try to accommodate you.
Lab and Supplement Questions
How many lab are required?
The number of labs recommended will depend on your individual situation including the number of issues you struggle with and the length of time you have been experiencing them, but the range is 1-4 lab tests.
Do I have to take all the recommended labs at once?
For expediency sake I highly recommend all recommended tests be done at the beginning of treatment, so that a comprehensive picture of the health status is acquired. This avoids potentially months of care addressing what was thought to be a simple stress response problem when it turns out there was actually some kind of missed infection in the body or environmental toxin or something that ends up truly being at the root of the patient’s health complaint.
However, if there are any budgetary concerns, patients can start with one test.
How long does it take to get lab results?
The results of your lab test(s) will be sent to the Core Wellness office 2 to 4 weeks after mailing your specimens to the lab. After evaluation we will contact you to schedule a follow up appointment to review your results with Dr. Finnegan and she will recommend a wellness protocol.
Can I order my own test kits through the laboratories or can my regular doctor order the lab tests for me?
Our authorized laboratories are only able to sell test kits to licensed practitioners. Dr. Finnegan uses specific lab tests from small lab companies that exclusively offer functional medicine tests. Larger national labs and local hospital based labs are not helpful for these types of highly specialized tests.
What laboratories does Dr. Finnegan use? And why?
Dr. Finnegan has learned over many years that the accuracy of your lab findings and the quality of the professionals performing the lab tests is the key to you uncovering what’s going on. Quality is not equal across all lab companies. Many times we see “normal” test results from regular lab companies and our lab tests find many “functional” problems. The lab companies used for Core Wellness clients have the highest testing standards and the most consistent lab results year after year. These are not replacements for regular medical tests, these tests are only used to detect “functional” issues rather than medical problems and aren’t meant to diagnose or recommend protocols for diseases. We are attempting to detect problems with the functioning of organ systems prior to the onset of a disease.
Can I purchase supplements other than from Core Wellness?
Dr. Finnegan recommends supplements from high quality and reputable manufacturers that can only be purchased with a practitioner’s recommendation. The wellness plan that Dr. Finnegan creates has specific dosages based on the exact ingredients in that specific supplement. If you want to do your own research on different supplements, we welcome you to do so but we do not provide any other recommendations nor advise on other specific blends or brands. If you purchase other supplements from other manufacturers, please research carefully. Not all ingredients are equal, and there is not a guaranteed quality when you purchase supplements elsewhere, especially on Amazon, where there are often fraudulent products for sale.
Cost & Insurance Questions
What are the fees for consultations?
New Patient Initial Evaluation
$395 – 50 minutes
Follow Up:
Established Patient
$400 – Hour
$300 – 45 minutes
$200 – 30 minutes
$100 – 15 minutes
How much do lab tests cost?
Depending on the lab test, the cost is $240-$595 for the usual lab kits we order and you can always start a program just by ordering a single test. There are labs that are more specialized that may be more expensive. You can see most of the labs we order here: https://corewellnessfm.com/products/
What types of payment does Core Wellness accept?
We accept the following forms of payment: Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
We do not accept insurance but may be able to provide you with a SuperBill. However, we cannot guarantee reimbursement.