Name, title, and credentials

Julia Liebich, ND, DC, MS

Why did you choose to pursue naturopathic medicine? What were you doing before that?

Growing up in rural Wisconsin instilled within me a love for nature, adventure, and taking the road less traveled. My true quest for natural solutions began with a devastating end to my collegiate running career. As an athlete, I struggled with chronic stress fractures and eventually fractured my pubic bone. After a lack of answers from medical specialists (who told me to drink more milk), I was forced to search on my own for the underlying cause, which ultimately led me to a career in Naturopathic and Chiropractic Medicine.

Following my undergraduate degree, I spent time in clinical research studying powder vaccine technology. The mountains of the west were then calling my name, so I moved to Colorado and spent years as a “ski bum” until my future path in natural medicine was solidified. I also spent time living in Montana, Wyoming, and southern California before heading back to the Midwest for medical school.

Why did you choose your naturopathic medical school?

National University of Health Sciences seemed like the perfect fit, as I was interested in the freedom of licensure that a dual degree in naturopathic and chiropractic medicine would offer.

How did you know it was the right path for you?

I was always interested in nutrition, physiology, and medicine. After my struggles and frustrations with chronic stress fractures and conventional medicine leaving me with lack of answers, I turned to search for my own. Once I found naturopathic medicine, I knew it was the perfect fit- the healing wisdom of nature combined with modern advances in medicine. Ultimately, identifying and treating the cause (tolle causam) and the WHOLE person, rather than just the symptoms.

What did you gain from your time at naturopathic medical school?

Resilience, relationships, and a rewarding future path. I have always tried to lead by example in life and live true to my passions- show others through action. Naturopathic medical school has given me the tools to provide patients hope in their health journey and a plethora of paths to keep searching for their individualized answers. The ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat acute and chronic complaints of any nature. Every case returns to the fundamental foundations of naturopathic medicine; for that training, I am forever grateful.

How did you plan for success in your career from the beginning?

I spent many weekends in post-graduate seminars, soaking in everything I could learn and developing professional relationships to help guide me on my future path. My mentors have been everything to me.

What happened after you graduated?

After graduation, I completed a residency in Family Practice, which included rotations with medical doctors, naturopaths, and chiropractors in private practice, as well as at Northwestern University Center for Integrative Medicine. Additionally, as part of the residency, I completed a M.S. degree in Advanced Clinical Practice. Following residency I spent five years as faculty at National University of Health Sciences, holding various positions including instructor, attending and chief clinician within the naturopathic and chiropractic programs. When our family relocated from Illinois, I joined Dr. Katie Corazzo at her naturopathic private practice, Balanced Care, in Minnesota. I spent two years in Minnesota before moving back to Illinois and opening my own practice within a holistic healing center.

What is your work and your life like now?

I have a private practice within a Holistic Healing Center that offers multiple therapies, including neuropsychology, psychotherapy, clinical counseling, aesthetics, creative arts therapy, and massage.

I provide naturopathic, chiropractic, and acupuncture within the Center, and am also grateful to continue to provide care for patients in Minnesota through TeleHealth.

I also have two young children. Private practice has allowed me flexibility within my schedule to balance work and take care of my family’s needs.

Does your practice focus on treatment of a specific health condition(s)? If so, please explain why you chose to focus on it and how naturopathic medicine can make a difference in treating that condition.

I work with patients of all ages, and especially enjoy working with families. I lost my husband unexpectedly in 2019 when my kids were very young, which has created a shift in my practice and led me to work closely with therapists, providing a naturopathic co-managed approach to mental health conditions. I am very passionate about supporting mind, body, and spirit and find it extremely rewarding to help patients better understand their mental health and provide a functional approach that may assess neurotransmitters, micronutrient status, GI health, genetics, and the HPA axis. Every body is unique, considering lifestyle factors, underlying nutrient depletions, neurotransmitter imbalances, and dietary factors is essential to ensure the body and mind are functioning optimally.

What advice would you give to those considering naturopathic medicine?

Don’t wait until graduation to determine your future path. Spend as much time as you can before and during school shadowing all types of practitioners and practices. Learn what you like and what you don’t like; carry that with you in whatever you pursue. Respect your elders and soak in every bit of knowledge they offer.

If you choose naturopathic medicine, show people that you truly care- your business will be reciprocated ten thousand fold. No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care (but you will obviously know A LOT :)!