profile

Hi! I'm Dr. Dominika Zarzeczny, ND

First inspired by the work of Dr. Gabor Mate, Dr. Dominika has focused much of her career on helping her patients connect the dots between early adversity and trauma and their impact on lifelong health and well-being. She knows that the reversal of chronic illness involves the nervous system, and so she has dedicated her practice to helping patients master their own nervous system to positively influence their mind and body, behaviours and ultimately health outcomes. Her explanation of disease doesn't pathologize or blame, but is nuanced, humanized and filled with hope. She trained with various psychologists and experts in the field of psychological trauma. She incorporates the principles of neuroscience, attachment theory, mindfulness, Polyvagal Theory and compassionate inquiry in her approach with patients. Combining these with her naturopathic training, she likes to say that she works at the intersection of science and human experience.

Featured Post

Mental or Physical Fatigue? Know the Difference—And What to Do About It

In This Issue: How To Tell The Difference Between Mental vs. Physical Fatigue Do You Need An Adaptogen? What the Research Says Quote Of The Issue How To Tell The Difference Between Mental vs. Physical Fatigue Fatigue is one of the most common complaints in clinical practice, but not all fatigue is the same. Understanding the difference between mental and physical fatigue is key to knowing when and how to seek support. 🌀 “If weekends reset you, it's probably mental.” Mental fatigue is often...

In This Issue: Brain Fog Got You Down? Its Cause May Surprise You [>3 min] Quote Of The Issue [<30 sec] Put Down the Badge. Pick Up Your Crown & Sceptre [<2 min] Brain Fog Got You Down? Its Cause May Surprise You. We’ve been sold the idea that multitasking is a superpower, especially for women. That juggling a dozen tabs in our minds is a mark of strength and success. But what if it’s actually eroding our focus and draining our vitality? A study on single-tasking in school children showed...

In This Issue: How ICD-10 Codes Promote a Fragmented View of Health [2 min] One Billion Online Searches Every Day for Information About Their Health [<2 min] Quote Of The Day [<30 sec] How ICD-10 Codes Promote a Fragmented View of Health If you remember to last week's issue, ICD-10 codes are essential for billing and classifying diseases. The problem with them is that they inadvertently promote a reductionist view of health—one that breaks the body into disconnected parts and conditions,...

In This Issue: The Per Visit Cost To See A Doctor In Ontario [<2 min] What Are Medical Codes And How Do They Apply To Your Care? [<1 min] Why Your Family Doctor Only Addresses One Issue Per Visit [And Why I Don't Blame Them] [<2 min] The Cost To See A Doctor In Ontario In Ontario, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers the cost of medically necessary services for residents, including visits to family doctors, specialists, walk-in clinics, and emergency departments. While Ontario...

In This Issue: Opinion Piece: Should You Be Paying for Healthcare? (Part II) [5 min] What Is Relational Medicine? [~1.5 min] Quote Of The Issue [10 sec] Should You Be Paying for Healthcare? Canadians take pride in their universal healthcare system. Free doctor’s visits, lab tests, and imaging are hallmarks of a public system designed to be accessible to all. Even services covered by extended health insurance are seen as “free.” A recent Leger survey found that 70% of Canadians believe the...

In This Issue: Opinion Piece: Canada’s Wake-Up Call: It’s Time to Rethink Health Care (Part I) [<3 min] Quote Of The Issue [10 sec] Canada’s Wake-Up Call: It’s Time to Rethink Health Care For generations, Canadians have taken pride in our universal health care system, enshrined in the Canada Health Act (CHA) and built on the principle of ensuring access to medical care based on need rather than ability to pay. But this system, designed in an era when our understanding of health and disease...

In This Issue: The Little-Known Antioxidant That Can Help You Breathe Easy Through the Last Stretch of Winter [2 min] The 3 Essential Ingredients Required For The Reversal Of Chronic Disease [2 min] Quote Of The Issue [10 sec] The Little-Known Antioxidant That Can Help You Breathe Easy Through the Last Stretch of Winter We are in the last stretch of winter 🎉🎉🎉 Let's do this 💪. Supporting our body’s natural defenses is key to recovering faster from colds and flu and breathing easier....

In This Issue: Is It Time To Ditch The BMI As An Index Of Obesity? [1 min] Connecting The Dots Between Obesity And Trauma [1 min] Quote Of The Issue [<1 min] Is It Time To Ditch The BMI As An Index Of Obesity? Finally. We are finally hearing that the BMI classification doesn’t tell the full story of our health. Experts agree that fat distribution—especially deeper fat around internal organs—is a more significant risk factor for diabetes and heart disease than overall weight. Waist...

In This Issue: Befriending Frustration: The Secret to Building Resilience and Health [2 min] The Glucose-Lowering Magic of Post-Meal Walks [1 min] Quote Of The Issue [30 sec] Befriending Frustration: The Secret to Building Resilience and Health Starting a new health habit can feel frustrating—whether it’s sticking to a bedtime routine or cooking nourishing meals. But what if frustration isn’t a sign of failure but of growth? In a recent post, psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy explains that...

In This Issue: The Power of Boredom: Fuelling Curiosity, Mental Well-Being And Creativity [1 min] To Take or Not to Take a Probiotic: Here's What You Need to Know [< 4 min] Quote Of The Issue: Toddler Edition [30 sec] The Power of Boredom: Fuelling Curiosity, Mental Well-Being And Creativity In a world that constantly demands our attention, boredom feels like something to avoid—but according to performance expert Steven Magness, it’s actually the greatest propeller of curiosity. When we allow...