Questions About Working With Dr. Dorner

The first step is the Functional Brain Health Evaluation, a 60-minute virtual visit designed to help Dr. Dorner understand your history, symptoms, previous care, and the areas that may deserve further investigation.

You can book directly through the Book Your Evaluation button on the website.

If you are not sure whether the evaluation is right for you, you can schedule a brief Discovery Call first.

No. Some clients already have a formal diagnosis, while others are just beginning to explore persistent mood, focus, behavior, sleep, or cognitive concerns.

The evaluation is designed to meet you wherever you are in that process.

Yes. Dr. Dorner works with both adults and children, and often with parents or families who are trying to better understand a child's brain and mental health concerns.

Appointments are conducted virtually by secure video.

This allows you to meet with Dr. Dorner from home and makes it easier to review records, laboratory results, recommendations, and follow-up plans together.

The initial visit is a comprehensive 60-minute evaluation.

Dr. Dorner reviews your symptoms, timeline, health history, diagnoses, medications, supplements, previous treatment, prior testing, sleep, nutrition, stress, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and other relevant factors.

The goal is to understand the broader picture, identify the areas that deserve attention first, and determine what should happen next.

You will have the opportunity to upload relevant records before the visit, including previous laboratory results, imaging, medication and supplement lists, prior testing, medical or psychiatric records, and other information that may help clarify your history.

Dr. Dorner reviews the information you provide before the appointment whenever possible.

Often, yes.

Depending on your situation, initial recommendations may include nutrition, sleep, lifestyle, environmental, or supplement strategies.

Dr. Dorner may also recommend additional testing when more information would be useful before developing a more detailed strategy.

Your next step depends on your individual situation.

Some clients begin with initial recommendations. Others complete additional testing before returning for a Functional Brain Health Results & Strategy Visit.

That visit is used to review findings, identify priorities, and refine the plan for the next phase of care.

Not necessarily.

Testing is recommended selectively, based on your history, symptoms, previous records, goals, and what information would actually help guide the plan.

Some people already have useful testing. Others may benefit from additional investigation.

Depending on the case, recommendations may include:

• comprehensive blood laboratory testing
• GI-MAP stool testing
• Organic Acids Test (OAT)
• DUTCH hormone testing
• nutrient testing
• mycotoxin testing
• Lyme and tick-borne disease testing
• other testing appropriate to the individual situation

No. Laboratory testing is separate from the Functional Brain Health Evaluation and is billed separately.

Dr. Dorner discusses any recommended testing with you before you decide whether to proceed.

Costs vary considerably depending on what testing is appropriate.

Rather than recommending a standard panel for everyone, Dr. Dorner considers your history, existing records, priorities, and budget before recommending additional testing.

Specific costs are discussed before testing is ordered.

It depends on the test.

Some specialty tests use stool, urine, or saliva samples that can be collected at home. Other testing may require a blood draw through an appropriate laboratory.

Instructions are provided for any testing that is recommended.

Turnaround time varies by laboratory and test.

Once the relevant results are available, you can schedule the appropriate follow-up or Results & Strategy Visit to review them with Dr. Dorner.

No.

Do not stop or change a prescribed medication without working with the clinician who prescribed it.

Dr. Dorner's role is to support brain and whole-body health while you continue receiving appropriate medical or psychiatric care.

No.

Dr. Dorner does not prescribe or manage psychiatric medications. Medication decisions remain with your prescribing physician or psychiatrist.

In many cases, yes.

Functional brain-health support is designed to complement appropriate medical, psychiatric, psychological, neurological, pediatric, and therapeutic care.

Dr. Dorner may also recommend additional services or referrals when appropriate, including psychotherapy, EMDR, psychiatric care, neurological evaluation, or other supportive services.

The roles are different and can be complementary.

A psychiatrist is trained to diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe or manage psychiatric medications.

Dr. Dorner focuses on functional brain health and examines nutritional, metabolic, digestive, immune, hormonal, environmental, neurological, sleep, and lifestyle factors that may be influencing how the brain functions.

Dr. Dorner holds a Doctor of Natural Medicine (DNM) credential and has training in naturopathic and functional medicine.

He is not an MD or DO and does not replace a physician, psychiatrist, neurologist, therapist, or other licensed healthcare professional.

His work focuses on functional brain health, nutrition, lifestyle, environmental factors, and other areas that may contribute to overall health and function.

Not everyone receives the same supplement recommendations.

When appropriate, Dr. Dorner may recommend targeted supplements based on your history, symptoms, diet, existing testing, and laboratory findings.

The goal is to use supplements strategically rather than simply adding a large number of products.

When supplements are recommended, Dr. Dorner can provide access to a practitioner dispensary offering professional-grade products.

Specific brands and dosages are selected based on the individual plan.

No.

However, if a specific product, form, dose, or brand is recommended, using an equivalent product is important because supplement quality and formulations can vary considerably.

The initial 60-minute Functional Brain Health Evaluation is $597.

Laboratory testing, supplements, follow-up visits, and third-party services are separate unless specifically stated otherwise.

There is no standard schedule that fits everyone.

Follow-up frequency depends on the complexity of your concerns, whether testing is completed, how you respond to recommendations, and how much ongoing support you want or need.

Dr. Dorner will discuss the appropriate next step with you as the process unfolds.

There is no universal timeline.

Some people need a focused evaluation and a limited number of follow-ups. Others with more complex concerns may benefit from several months of structured support.

The pace depends on your history, testing needs, goals, response to recommendations, and the complexity of the situation.

The total investment varies because testing, supplements, and follow-up needs are individualized.

Your first step is the $597 Functional Brain Health Evaluation. Any additional testing, supplements, or follow-up services are discussed separately so you can understand the cost before deciding how to proceed.

This approach works best when you are willing to actively participate in the process.

Depending on your situation, that may include changes to nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, environmental exposures, supplement use, or other daily habits.

The goal is not perfection. It is consistent progress and a willingness to work on the priorities that matter most.

Previous treatment and testing are important parts of your history.

Rather than assuming that everything needs to be started over, Dr. Dorner reviews what has already been tried, what helped, what did not, and whether there are areas that may not yet have been adequately explored.

Visit the Conditions & Concerns page for an overview.

You do not need to have a formal diagnosis to schedule an evaluation.

If you are unsure whether your concern fits, a Discovery Call can help determine the best next step.