Hidden Gems: Meet Heather Dexter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Dexter.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Becoming pregnant with my first child opened my eyes to what it meant to be fully responsible for another life and to have another life fully reliant upon the decisions being made by me and my partner. I became increasingly open and receptive during this time. I was aware and drawn to that which resonated as truth within me. During this time of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual expansion, my mother asked me to take Usui Reiki Training with her. She was looking for something to bring emotional balance and stability for herself. She and my father began a discordance during this time that would eventually (nearly 13 years later) lead to divorce.

I accepted her request to join her in this Reiki venture, though I knew zero about it or what it would mean for me. This training in conjunction with pregnancy was THE Wake-Up call for me, the first pivotal moment in my Life towards Natural Living.

I was living a high-stress life as a Forestry and Heavy Equipment Instructor for a Career and Technical Center for High School Students looking for an alternative to college. I didn’t realize all the things I wasn’t aware of. I had no idea that I was living in high stress. I had no idea this was causing extreme adrenal fatigue and in turn creating a wide array of symptoms.

Walking into and through the levels of Reiki Training encouraged me to see things within myself and my experiences differently. I witnessed life as a journey. Knowing that, I was able to decide who my teachers would be and which lessons On Earth School I would lean into.

I learned to question everything, conduct my own research and feel into the material until I found what resonated as truth in my being. Through this slow and diliberate process, I was guided to birth at home with the gentle and loving care of a Midwife. Birthing my daughter, in our home was the most beautifully empowering experience of my entire life. I become the portal for her entrance Earthside and accepted her as my teacher.

Fast forward 7 months.

I experienced powerlessness.

Madiyln developed her first Fever. As a first time mom with a first time illness, I was scared. It was a holiday weekend, and every doctor’s office was closed. The ER seemed our only choice. After hours of tests, x-rays, and exams, we were given an antibiotic and sent on our way. This emergency room visit felt traumatic and disempowering. After 2 days on antibiotic, her fever was gone. We finished the 7-day round. Within 5 days of finishing the antibiotic, her fever returned with vengeance. It was a Monday, so I opened the phone book and began calling pediatric offices to see where I could receive help. The first number I called had availability, and we were on our way. This sweet Pediatrician was an elder woman who met me with a smile, and spoke with softness.  She encouraged me to hold my baby, and with an Otoscope, looked in both of Madilyn’s ears. She then looked at me with empathy and said, “This babe has a double ear infection with a lot of inflammation and swelling in the canal. She prescribed me a Z-Pack for 14 days (a super antibiotic), and we were off again. And once again, the fever was cut in 2 days. We continued and finished the prescription. The fever returned.

This time, I looked at my partner with concern and I said, “I am not returning to a medical doctor, there has got to be another option.” He encouraged me with skepticism but supported the search. My memory tugged at my heart and took me back to Reiki Training, where a woman in my class introduced herself as a Naturopathic Doctor. I decided to take Madilyn to see her. She went through a series of Muscle Response Testing and handed me Melrose essential oil. She said, “Place 1 drop on a cotton ball and place it in her ears with every nap or sleep for the next 10 days. Please consider giving her a probiotic to rebalance her gut biome; your breastmilk will be a great support to her healing.” We began and finished this protocol. She returned to health within 2 days. I felt extremely blessed and impressed. This was Pivotal Moment #2, The Seeking. I sought out clarity when life felt unclear. I reached for options when I was unaware where it might lead.

Madilyn did not have another fever until age 6.

I felt so deeply encouraged by this experience that I felt called to explore the world of natural parenting, natural birth, and natural health. I became a Reiki Master Teacher- Practitioner and began guiding the most intimate, proficient, tangible in-person ceremonial lead Reiki Trainings my heart could create. I became a certified as a Natural Childbirth Educator guiding naturopathically focused private and empowering childbirth courses. This propelled me into attending and supporting natural births, where I was then led to become a Holistic Doula. This encouraged me to naturally supporting infant illnesses and family dis-ease, where I was led to return to school to become a Traditional Naturopathic Doctor. I graduated as a Traditional Naturopathic Doctor in 2013, 13 weeks pregnant with my third child.

My journey to becoming a TND was divinely guided by Madilyn, my oldest but my path has been shaped by my experiences with pregnancy, birth, parenting, and being witness to other families in their experiences as well.

Through sharing space with a variety of humans, infant-child-teen-adult-elder, I began to realize there is a real need to support the mind-body connection to bring ease and recognition to whole-body healing. I completed my 200 hr. Therapeutic Yoga Teacher training with an additional 100 hr. emphasis in trauma sensitivity. In this experience, exploration encouraged choice, choice made way for empowerment, and empowerment allowed the embodiment to happen naturally. The self-discovery was vast. The wwakening was real. The healing continues to be priceless.

I accepted a Naturopathic specialty focusing on women in their childbearing years, but my passion for pediatrics has grown.

No matter what age person I am working with, it is important for me to greet the inner child and unravel the support needed. I strive to empower clients to heal themselves and their children through encouraging empowerment through knowledge. Together we discuss options and together we create a plan that feels resonant, easily implemented, and managable to best support the person on their healing journey.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has proven to be a dirt road with many twists and turns, encouraging me to slow down, pause, clarify or take a closer look at the way I had been moving. When walking the FRINGE path along the edge of how the majority of people move through life, I often find myself a complete outsider with a unique outlook on life. I have come to realize that it’s ok to think differently, it’s beautiful to question EVERYTHING, and it is a gift to choose to think outside the box, doing things because it feels right.

As you know, we’re big fans of Heather Dexter LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a Traditional Naturopathic Doctor specializing in pediatrics and inner child work. I am known for supporting families through times of discomfort in illness and emotional distress.

I am a Usui Reiki Master. I lead multi-day Reiki trainings through ceremony and experience. This allows people to step into their innate power and connect with the highest version of themselves.

I am passionate about providing clients with options in order to fully step into their truth in healing. I invite people of all ages and from all walks of life who are willing to be present and patient with their wellness journey to move into balance with me. I meet clients where ever they find themselves on their healing journey. I honor the unique aspects of each client to best support them in regaining balance to their whole body (mind, body, and emotions). I strive to empower clients to heal themselves.

I am honored to hold space for each and every person that chooses to connect with me. I care with my whole heart for each person seeking support.

What’s next?
I am honored to annouced, many aspects of collaboration coming to fruition this coming year. I will be joining forces with Mel Deboer to bring a 5-week series,  “Rooted in the Wild Feminine”, to life. We will explore 5 delicious aspects of the Feminine and connect to ourselves deeply. I hope you consider joining us as we move through, empowered expression, sweet surrender, righteous rage and sacred pleasure. It is a really beautiful offering.

More detailed information can be found here – https://www.rootedinthewild.org/events/wild-feminine-series

After a long hiatus of not doing in person courses, I am happily returning to provide in person Naturopathic courses to the community.

And coming this fall, I will being leading a “Remembering your Inner Wisom” Retreat for women.

I am filled with gratitude to be bringing these offerings into the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heatherdexter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandrapidsnaturopathicdoctor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandRapidsNaturopathicDoctor/

Image Credits
Megan Lendman Photography
WaveTone Studio