Interested in Working With Dr. Shook as a Consulting Client?
If you have been struggling with psoriasis, Hashimoto's,
another autoimmune or immune-mediated condition, or a complex
chronic health problem and feel like important pieces of your
health have not been fully connected, this could be an
important next step for you.
Many of the people who contact our office have already seen
multiple doctors, specialists, functional medicine
practitioners, integrative practitioners, nutritionists, or
other healthcare professionals.
They may have changed their diet. They may have tried
supplements. They may have completed laboratory testing.
They may already be taking appropriate medications.
And yet they still have questions.
Complex chronic and immune-mediated health problems are rarely
simple. Two people can have the same diagnosis and have very
different histories, genetics, environmental exposures, diets,
metabolic patterns, inflammatory activity, lifestyles, and
physiological needs.
That is why Dr. Shook does not believe the goal should be to
find a single protocol that supposedly works for everyone.
The goal is to understand you as clearly as
possible, determine what deserves the greatest attention, and
develop a reasonable starting strategy based on the
information available.
Before You Choose a Practitioner
Four Common Approaches That Can Leave Important Pieces Unanswered
Before deciding whether our approach makes sense for you, it is
helpful to understand several patterns we commonly see when
people have been searching for answers to complex chronic or
immune-mediated health problems.
1
Treating the symptom without asking what else may be influencing it
Symptoms are important. They tell us something is happening.
But symptoms alone rarely tell us everything we need to know
about why it is happening.
The same symptom may occur in people for very different
reasons. Likewise, one physiological problem can affect
multiple systems at the same time.
Inflammation, blood sugar dysregulation, impaired oxygen
delivery, thyroid dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems,
nutrient deficiencies, sleep disruption, stress physiology,
immune activation, and other factors can interact with one
another.
2
Assuming one diet will solve everyone's problem
Diet matters. For many people, it matters a great deal.
But diet is only one part of the picture.
Someone may improve dramatically with dietary changes alone.
Another person may have important metabolic, inflammatory,
immune, gastrointestinal, hormonal, nutritional, or lifestyle
factors that also deserve attention.
A good diet can be foundational without being the entire
strategy.
3
Jumping from one alternative treatment to another without a clear model
Functional and integrative medicine can be enormously
helpful when they are used thoughtfully.
They can also become confusing.
People are often told to try a cleanse, a detoxification
protocol, a stool test, a food sensitivity panel, an
elimination diet, a supplement protocol, or a long list of
specialty tests without ever being shown how those
recommendations fit together.
More testing is not automatically better. More supplements
are not automatically better. A more expensive plan is not
automatically a better plan.
There should be a reason for what is being considered, a
priority for where to begin, and a way to reassess whether
the strategy is helping.
4
Looking for the one supplement, test, food, medication, or protocol that fixes everything
There is rarely one thing that explains every complex
chronic health problem.
Supplements can be useful. Testing can be useful. Diet can
be useful. Medication can be appropriate and necessary.
Lifestyle changes can be extremely important.
The mistake is assuming that any one of those things is the
entire answer for everyone.
A better approach is to understand how the different pieces
may fit together in the individual person.
A Different Way to Look at the Problem
Three Important Signs You May Have Found a Practitioner Who Can Help
One of the most important questions you can ask is not simply
whether a practitioner uses the term functional medicine. Ask
what model they use, how they decide what deserves attention,
and how they determine what to do next.
Important Sign #1
They use a coherent model for understanding autoimmune and immune-mediated disease
Dr. Shook approaches autoimmunity through a functional
immunology framework informed by what is often described as
the Environmentally Induced Autoimmunity Model.
At the broadest level, health reflects an interaction between
genetics and environment.
We cannot change your genetics. But we can sometimes change
aspects of the environment, lifestyle, nutrition, metabolic
health, inflammatory burden, and other modifiable factors that
influence how your body responds.
Environmentally Induced Autoimmunity Model
This functional immunology framework considers the
interaction among barrier breach, environmental triggers,
and immune dysfunction within the context of individual
susceptibility and genetics.
Barrier Breach
Intestinal permeability, blood-brain barrier function,
pulmonary barriers, and other biological barrier systems
may be relevant depending on the individual case.
Environmental Triggers
Foods and food components, pathogens and infections,
chemicals, and other environmental or biological
exposures may interact with immune function.
Immune Dysfunction
Nutritional deficiencies, chemical exposures, stress
physiology, metabolic factors, and other influences may
affect normal immune regulation and response.
The purpose of this framework is not to claim that one test
can uncover "the cause" of your condition.
It gives us a structured way to ask better questions:
What may be affecting this person's immune response?
What appears modifiable?
What deserves the greatest priority?
What information would help us make a better decision?
That is the lens through which Dr. Shook approaches these
cases.
Important Sign #2
They know what to evaluate first and how to prioritize it
Functional medicine can become unnecessarily complicated when
practitioners begin with increasingly specialized testing
without first understanding foundational physiology.
Think About Building a House
If you were building a house, you would not start by buying
the shingles before you had even graded the lot and built
the foundation.
You would start with the groundwork and the foundation
because everything else depends on it.
Dr. Shook approaches physiology in much the same way.
Depending on the individual case, foundational areas may
include immune and inflammatory activity, oxygen delivery and
anemia-related patterns, blood sugar and insulin regulation,
thyroid physiology, metabolic and liver function,
gastrointestinal health, stress physiology, hormonal
function, nutritional status, and other basic systems.
Once that foundation is better understood, more specialized
questions can be explored when they are likely to provide
useful information.
Step 1
Detect
Gather useful qualitative and quantitative information to
build the clearest practical picture possible of your
physiology, immune activity, history, and potentially
relevant contributors.
Step 2
Support
Prioritize and support the areas that appear most
important using appropriate dietary, lifestyle,
nutritional, metabolic, gastrointestinal, environmental,
and other individualized strategies.
Step 3
Reassess
Measure what happened, review new information, determine
what changed, and decide what should continue, change,
simplify, or be investigated further.
Functional medicine should not be a static protocol. It should
be an ongoing process of
Detect, Support, and Reassess.
Important Sign #3
They have the training, experience, and personal perspective to apply the model
Dr. Shook's interest in functional medicine and autoimmunity
is not simply academic.
He has personally dealt with autoimmune health issues for
decades, beginning with psoriasis in his early twenties.
That experience led him to begin studying why autoimmune and
immune-mediated conditions develop, why people with the same
diagnosis can respond very differently, and what modifiable
factors may influence the immune response.
Over the years, Dr. Shook has completed extensive postgraduate
training in functional medicine and related disciplines,
including education through the Kharrazian Institute, the
Institute for Functional Medicine, the American Academy of
Anti-Aging Medicine, and other advanced training programs.
He has worked with clients with Hashimoto's, psoriasis, and
many other complex chronic and autoimmune health concerns.
He also continues to study the scientific literature and
refine his approach as the evidence develops.
Anyone considering functional or integrative care should be
able to understand what model the practitioner uses, what that
model is based on, what training the practitioner has, how
recommendations are made, and how progress is reassessed.
Before You Apply
Are We a Good Fit for One Another?
Our office does not automatically accept every person who
completes an Application for Care.
It is not personal.
Dr. Shook personally reviews applications because we want to
determine whether his consulting approach appears appropriate
for what you are looking for before asking you to schedule and
pay for an appointment.
If we do not believe the model is a good fit for your situation,
we will tell you.
When possible, we will also try to give you reasonable direction
toward another appropriate resource, such as your primary care
provider, a specialist, or another practitioner.
This approach requires participation.
If you are unwilling to consider changes in your diet,
lifestyle, sleep, activity, stress management, supplementation,
or other modifiable factors when they are appropriate, this
approach may not be a good fit for you.
That does not mean you must do everything Dr. Shook recommends.
You will always have choices.
But meaningful change often requires doing something
differently.
You should also understand that there is rarely a quick fix for
a complex chronic or immune-mediated health problem.
Our goal is not to sell you a miracle solution. Our goal is to
help you understand your options, determine the most reasonable
priorities, and help you make informed decisions about where to
begin.
What Happens Next
The New Client Process
The process is designed to give Dr. Shook enough time to review
your information, understand your situation, develop thoughtful
recommendations, and then help you decide where you want to
begin.
Complete the Application for Care
The first step is free.
Complete our secure Application for Care through the
Practice Better practice portal.
The application gives Dr. Shook enough initial information
to determine whether his consulting approach appears
appropriate for your situation.
Applications are typically reviewed within approximately
one business day.
This opens our secure Practice Better practice portal in a
new tab.
If Accepted, Schedule Your Initial Consultation and Complete Your Intake
If Dr. Shook believes it is reasonable to proceed, you will
receive an email with a private scheduling link.
You will then schedule your Initial Consultation and Case
Review and complete the required intake information through
our secure Practice Better portal.
You may also upload prior laboratory results and relevant
records through the secure portal.
Dr. Shook reviews the information you provide before your
consultation.
This pre-appointment review is an important part of the
process because it allows your consultation time to be used
more effectively.
Initial Consultation and Case Review
Your Initial Consultation is approximately 60 minutes.
You and Dr. Shook will review your history, concerns, goals,
previous approaches, current care, and the information you
submitted before the appointment.
The goal is to begin developing the clearest practical
understanding possible of what may deserve attention.
Depending on the situation, recommendations may include
dietary changes, lifestyle strategies, nutritional
supplementation, additional laboratory testing, or other
options.
Testing is optional.
Dr. Shook will explain what he believes would be useful, why
he believes it may be useful, and how he would prioritize
it.
Dr. Shook Develops Your Recommendations
After the consultation, Dr. Shook spends additional time
reviewing the case and developing individualized
recommendations.
When appropriate, you will receive written recommendations
and an explanatory video walking you through the major
findings and priorities.
This gives you time to review the information before your
Recommendations Review Appointment.
You can make notes, identify questions, and think about
which options make the most sense for you.
Recommendations Review Appointment
The Recommendations Review is a 30-minute appointment with
Dr. Shook.
There is no additional charge for this appointment when it
is scheduled within 7 days of your Initial Consultation.
This appointment is an important part of the process.
We do not want you to leave with a complicated list of
recommendations you do not understand.
Dr. Shook will help you understand what he believes deserves
the greatest priority, what options are available, what
additional testing may or may not add, what the costs are,
and where you can reasonably begin.
You decide where to start.
We work with you in partnership.
What Is Included in the $350 Initial Consultation Process?
Up to 60 minutes of pre-appointment review of the records
and information you provide
A 60-minute Initial Consultation and Case Review
Development of individualized recommendations after the
appointment
Written recommendations and an explanatory video when
appropriate
A 30-minute Recommendations Review Appointment at no
additional charge when scheduled within 7 days of the
Initial Consultation
This is why we do not think of the initial consultation
process as simply paying for one hour of Dr. Shook's time.
There is significant professional review and case-development
work that happens before and after the consultation.
Continuing From Here
What Happens After the Recommendations Review?
That depends on what you decide to do.
Some clients choose to begin with dietary and lifestyle changes.
Some add nutritional supplementation.
Some decide they want more quantitative information and proceed
with laboratory testing.
Some begin with a few prioritized tests rather than completing
everything at once.
There is no requirement to purchase a large prepaid care
package.
If you begin implementing recommendations without additional
testing, Dr. Shook may recommend a Progress Review approximately
6 to 8 weeks later so you can evaluate what changed and whether
anything should be adjusted.
If you proceed with laboratory testing, the Lab Results Review
becomes the next major checkpoint.
The goal is always the same:
implement, measure, reassess, and refine.
Cost Transparency
How Much Is This Going to Cost?
The first rule in our office is that you will never go from
one step to the next without knowing what it is going to cost.
Is that fair?
We believe you should know your options before spending money.
The Initial Consultation Process
The Initial Consultation and Case Review process is
$350.
A $50 deposit is required when scheduling and is applied toward
the total fee.
After the Recommendations Review
After that, the cost depends heavily on the choices you make.
You may decide to begin with changes that cost little more than
changing the foods you purchase and modifying your lifestyle.
You may choose to use nutritional supplementation.
You may decide that additional laboratory testing is worth the
cost.
Depending on the type and amount of specialty testing involved,
laboratory costs can range from relatively modest amounts to
several thousand dollars for a very comprehensive assessment.
That does not mean everyone needs thousands of
dollars of testing.
Dr. Shook will prioritize his recommendations and explain what
additional information he believes each option may provide.
You decide where to begin.
We would rather help you make a good decision with the resources
available to you than make you feel that there is only one
acceptable way to move forward.
Questions We Are Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a question below to see the answer. We want you to
understand the process, Dr. Shook's role, costs, testing, and
your options before deciding whether to apply.
Consultation Process
Is there a fee to complete the Application for Care?
No. There is no charge to apply.
How quickly will I know whether my application is accepted?
Applications are typically reviewed within approximately
one business day.
Can I schedule an Initial Consultation without applying first?
No. Dr. Shook personally reviews the Application for Care
before inviting someone to schedule.
How long is the Initial Consultation?
The Initial Consultation and Case Review is approximately
60 minutes.
Dr. Shook also spends time reviewing your information
before the appointment and developing your recommendations
afterward.
What is the best way to return records and health information?
Use the secure Practice Better client portal.
Please do not send health information, laboratory results,
symptoms, diagnoses, or other sensitive medical
information through ordinary website contact forms.
What laboratory tests are required?
There is no universal laboratory panel required for every
client.
Dr. Shook makes testing recommendations based on your
history, existing records, goals, budget, and what
additional information he believes could improve
decision-making.
Do I have to complete all recommended testing at once?
No.
Testing can be prioritized. You may choose to complete no
additional testing, begin with the highest-priority tests,
or complete a more comprehensive assessment.
Dr. Shook will explain what he believes each option may add.
Why does Dr. Shook recommend laboratory testing?
Testing can provide quantitative information that cannot
always be obtained from symptoms and history alone.
It may help establish baselines, identify physiological
patterns, clarify priorities, and provide additional
information for reassessment later.
More testing is not automatically better. The important
question is whether the information is likely to help make
better decisions.
Who reviews my specialty laboratory testing?
Dr. Shook reviews the testing he recommends as part of the
corresponding laboratory interpretation and
case-integration process.
When appropriate, he may provide an explanatory video so
you can review the findings before meeting with him.
This allows your appointment time to focus more heavily on
questions, interpretation, integration, and next steps.
About Dr. Shook and His Role
Is Dr. Shook a medical doctor?
No.
Dr. Brad Shook is a Doctor of Chiropractic with extensive
postgraduate education in functional medicine and related
areas.
He works in a consulting and coaching capacity.
He does not replace your primary care provider,
dermatologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, or other
medical specialists.
Does Dr. Shook work only with psoriasis?
No.
Psoriasis is an important area of focus for Dr. Shook and
DrBradShook.com, but his consulting work is not limited to
psoriasis.
He has extensive experience working with people with
Hashimoto's and other autoimmune, immune-mediated,
metabolic, and complex chronic health concerns.
Does Dr. Shook work with people who are taking medications?
Yes.
Many clients continue taking medications prescribed by
their physicians.
Functional medicine can provide an essential complementary
layer of care.
Dr. Shook does not prescribe medications and does not
advise clients to discontinue medications prescribed by
another clinician.
Medication decisions should be made with the healthcare
professional responsible for prescribing them.
What is Dr. Shook's approach?
At the simplest level, Dr. Shook uses a three-part process:
Detect, Support, and Reassess.
He gathers qualitative and quantitative information,
prioritizes the most relevant findings, develops an
individualized support strategy, and then reassesses the
client's response so the plan can be refined.
Cost, Testing, and Insurance
How much does the Initial Consultation and Case Review cost?
The current fee is $350.
A $50 deposit is required when scheduling and is applied
toward the total.
What is the cancellation policy for the deposit?
The $50 deposit is fully refundable when the appointment is
canceled at least 5 calendar days before the scheduled
appointment.
Cancellations within 5 calendar days of the appointment are
non-refundable.
Does the Initial Consultation fee include laboratory testing and supplements?
No.
Laboratory testing, supplements, and future professional
services are separate from the $350 Initial Consultation
process.
You will be told the cost of anything additional before you
decide whether to proceed.
Does Dr. Shook accept insurance?
No.
Dr. Shook is not in-network with insurance companies and
does not submit insurance claims for these consulting
services.
These services are not represented as insurance-billable
medical services. Dr. Shook does not provide CPT procedure
codes or ICD-10 diagnosis codes for reimbursement.
How are clients billed?
Fees are disclosed before you schedule an additional
professional service or order testing.
Payments and invoices associated with care are handled
through the secure practice portal when appropriate.
What types of payment are accepted?
Available payment methods are shown through the secure
Practice Better practice portal when payment is due.
Why might there be a professional laboratory interpretation fee?
Specialty laboratory work involves more than receiving a
report from the laboratory.
When Dr. Shook recommends specialty testing, professional
services may include reviewing the results, interpreting
them in the context of your case, integrating findings with
other information, preparing an explanatory video when
appropriate, and discussing the findings and next steps
with you.
The professional cost associated with laboratory
interpretation and case integration is disclosed before
you decide whether to order the testing.
Will I know the cost of laboratory testing before I order it?
Yes. You will know the cost before ordering testing.
Will I know the cost of follow-up care before scheduling it?
Yes. You will know the fee before scheduling any additional
professional service.
Do I have to continue working with Dr. Shook after the Recommendations Review?
No.
There is no long-term prepaid commitment required.
Dr. Shook may recommend an appropriate time to reassess
your progress, but the decision to continue is yours.
Functional Medicine and Dr. Shook's Approach
Does functional medicine replace conventional medical care?
No.
Functional medicine provides an
essential complementary layer of care.
Your primary care provider and specialists remain
responsible for the medical services they provide,
including diagnosis, pharmaceutical management, emergency
care, surgical care, and other services outside Dr. Shook's
consulting role.
Many clients use both approaches.
The goal is not to choose one system of healthcare and
reject the other. The goal is to use the appropriate tools
for the appropriate problem.
Does Dr. Shook believe every autoimmune condition can be reversed?
No.
Based on our current understanding, autoimmune diseases
generally develop through an interaction between
genetic susceptibility, immune dysfunction, and environmental influences.
We cannot change the genetic susceptibility a person was
born with, and we do not currently know how to permanently
cure most autoimmune diseases or guarantee that the
autoimmune process can be completely eliminated.
A useful way to think about this is with a
dimmer switch.
Imagine autoimmune and inflammatory activity as a light.
When the autoimmune process is highly active, the light
may be turned up very brightly.
Our goal is to identify and address potentially
modifiable factors that may be contributing to that
immune activity and, where possible, turn the dimmer
switch down.
Those potentially modifiable influences may include
environmental exposures, metabolic problems, nutritional
factors, barrier dysfunction, infections, stress
physiology, lifestyle factors, and other relevant
contributors.
For some people, addressing these factors may be associated
with substantial improvements in symptoms, inflammatory
activity, or other measurable signs of disease activity.
In some cases, the disease may become clinically quiet
enough to be considered remission.
But remission is not the same thing as a cure.
The underlying susceptibility remains, which is why
ongoing attention to factors that influence immune
function may still matter even when someone is doing very
well.
The goal is not to promise that autoimmunity can be
permanently turned off. The goal is to reduce potentially
important factors that may be driving or amplifying the
process, support healthier immune regulation, and help the
person achieve the best level of function and disease
control reasonably possible.
How long does it take to see results?
There is no universal timeline.
Some people notice changes relatively quickly. Others have
more complex problems, require additional investigation,
need more time to implement recommendations, or require
ongoing medical management.
This is one reason reassessment matters. We want to measure
what is actually happening rather than promising a
predetermined result.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Complete the Application for Care
If this approach makes sense to you, the next step is simple.
Complete the secure Application for Care through our Practice
Better practice portal.
There is no charge to apply.
Dr. Shook will personally review your application and determine
whether his consulting approach appears appropriate for what you
are looking for.
Applications are typically reviewed within approximately one
business day.
This opens the secure Practice Better practice portal in a new
tab. You will leave DrBradShook.com to complete the application.
Reviewed by Brad Shook, DC
Last updated: September 6, 2026
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