Utopia Wellness

I totally agree with Jim and C. I wasted 250 dollars on his useless consultation. He did not offer anything useful. He even suggested that my joint pain could be due to my yoga practice… You must be joking Dr. Garcia.

Finding this center was just one hour away, I was very eager to see what they had to offer. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer the previous month and declined the conventional treatment.
The doctor asked me what was going on and I told him the different things I had been doing. He immediately berated me for trying to «heal yourself.» I told him that’s what I was there for. His expertise.
Later, I described to him the trauma that may have contributed to the tumor. He began to insult my family and said to count them as dead! I teared up at the thought of this because I love them. He continued telling me everything he thought was wrong emotionally with me. He couldn’t have been further from the truth in every detail. My husband agreed.
I would have walked out but thought it would be rude to at least not see the rest of the premises.
The nurse was very sweet, kind, and informative.
I was surprised with the treatment rooms. There was no privacy as you take your treatments for hours every day. Everyone was talking. No music, not peaceful at all.
I was expecting a more spa like atmosphere. Not at all!
I’m sure they have helped some people, just not a place I would want to spend time at.

Alternative medicine, to my understanding, includes looking at someone with a holistic approach. Unfortunately my experience with Dr. Garcia was anything but holistic.
Twenty minutes after my scheduled 10am appointment, Dr. Garcia escorted me back to his office. He sat at his office chair looking at the laptop on his lap and asked brusquely, «What are you here for?» This is the approach I would fully expect from a conventional doctor, but not from someone who practices alternative medicine.
Since I am hypothyroid and need my prescription renewed, I need current blood work done. He suggested that this be done in his office right now. I’m not a medical expert, but I have had blood drawn several times a year for the past several years and EVERY time I’m told to not only fast, but also don’t take my thyroid medication because it will throw off results. I was concerned and confused that Dr. Garcia was going to make a determination on my prescription with blood drawn right there on the spot.
When I mentioned that my cortisol was very high a few years ago, Dr. Garcia made a sweeping statement that my adrenal system is shot. Again, an assumption I would expect from a conventional doctor. My expectation of someone who practices alternative medicine is that they would inquire about what external factors were going on in my life at that time, and what are your cortisol levels now? Had Dr. Garcia done that, he would have learned that I was going through a divorce at that time, and labs since then have shown that everything in that area is fine.
At the end of our consultation he wrote a list on the back of a piece of scratch paper (I’m not making this up!), which included «diet and supplements» as my course of action, along with a number of treatments he offers. When I inquired about which supplements I should take, he said he sells a package. Again, I inquired about which supplements I should use, because I’m already taking a few things. Instead of giving me a clear answer he wanted me to list what I am taking and he’ll let me know if I should take it or not. «Or you can just buy my package.» I’m guessing he has considerable markup on his package and other office treatments.
After about 45 minutes, I knew a lot about Dr. Garcia’s view of mammography and thermography (how did that even come up?), about his supplements, about his other body cleanse services, about his cancer patients (the bulk of his business, it appears), and he knew very little about me or my life situation. How can a doctor take a holistic approach if they don’t even have half of my story? I felt like I was just another dollar sign passing through his office, much like his terminal cancer patients. Unfortunately, I did make a considerable contribution to Utopia on this initial consultation, but I won’t repeat that mistake.
I thought I had done my research. Dr. Garcia’s website said all of the right things. I wish I had had someone else’s experience to draw on before making my appointment.
Jim & Colette