Living Our Best Lives

Family Doctor: Dr. Jacques Van Straaten

My Doctor, Jacques Van Straaten, has made a very significant impact in my family’s health. We first started visiting him seven years ago after the birth on my first child. I was a new mom who struggled a great deal with anxiety and post partum depression. We made many visits to the doctor where he patiently and kindly calmed my fears and took time to listen to my worries. What Dr. Van Straaten did was give me the skills to understand when I needed to be worried and what was less concerning. He taught me what symptoms he looks for and WHY. This has helped an anxious Mom look at my family’s health with so much more of a “fact based” lens where I could feel more confident knowing how to help my children as opposed to an emotional reaction of panic like I would have. Of course, there have still been many visits to his office when there may not have been a need, yet he still takes the time to explain why he is not concerned or when to come back.

Dr. Van Straaten is funny and kind and patient. My children love visiting because of his funny noises and jokes he makes with them. I love visiting him because of his ability to see me as a person, not just a patient, who wants to leave his office feeling heard and my concerns validated. No matter the line behind us, Dr. Van Straaten is thorough and takes my concerns seriously. Dr. Van Straaten has helped me with managing my mental wellness and encourages me to change my life in many ways without just medication. We have talked at length about weight management in over all health and supported my husband and I to lose a collective 230lbs.

I really believe that Dr. Van Straaten has kept me alive and well these past seven years. I know that under the care of a physician who have been dismissive or less patient, I know my mental well being would have gone unmanaged and I would have sank. We are so happy and healthy, living our best lives because I know if I need him, Dr. Van Straaten will be there for us.

Thank you very much for all you do. And for the work of other physicians like you.
Jenna, Bryan, Isaac, and Anna Friesen