112 Kala Square Place Suite 2, Port Townsend, Washington 98368
Meet the Hearth Team
Rebecca Sornson, ND, LMT
Dr. Rebecca Sornson (she/her) is a naturopathic physician and co-founder of Hearth along with her husband, Joshua Kraetsch.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology, Rebecca worked as an organic farmer, a massage therapist, a farm-to-table cooking class instructor, and helped run a summer camp for teenagers. Through these adventures, Rebecca's respect and interest in individuals' healing journeys grew and deepened.
This led her to Bastyr University where she completed her doctorate in naturopathic medicine. While in school, she co-authored a research study on the microbiome of organic farmers. She has had advanced training in herbal medicine, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, infant craniosacral therapy, biofeedback, yoga therapy, and whole foods nutrition.
Her specialty is treating people from an ecosystem perspective which means investigating how food, lifestyle, stress, psychological health, and spiritual health may all be playing a role in a person's wellbeing. Rebecca is also an avid cook and herbalist and relies heavily on food and plants for medicinal support. Rebecca is also passionate about supporting bodies of all sizes and uses a Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating approach to supporting people on their health journeys.
In her free time, Rebecca loves being on the beach, in the garden, or in the woods with Josh and their young children, Ada and Solomon. She also loves to sing, read, travel, walk, ferment, and have dinner parties.
Erin Vicha, ND, RH (AHG)
Dr. Erin Vicha (she/her) first moved to Jefferson County in 2002, homesteading in Quilcene for 14 years. She is excited to be back on the Peninsula and is passionate about providing inclusive, affordable, naturopathic healthcare. Her background is in forest ecology, where she first pursued her love of plants. This led her to learning about medicinal plants and starting her own wildcrafting business, Tarboo Wildcrafting. After working in the botanical supplement industry and studying herbal medicine for years, she decided to go back to school so that she could learn more about the human body and help people clinically beyond what botanical medicine has to offer. She graduated from Bastyr University with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and is a registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild.
As a mother, she is particularly interested in common childhood illnesses and focused on additional training in pediatrics. She is also interested in sexual and reproductive health and is a substitute clinician for Jefferson County Public Health. Some of her other clinical interests include environmental medicine, cardiovascular health, hydrotherapy, and craniosacral therapy, and biofeedback. However, she sees herself as a rural primary care family doctor who is ready to serve the needs of the community.
Some of her passions include hiking, running with her dog, swimming in cold mountain lakes, gardening, brewing, knitting, woodworking, and of course herbal medicine.
Kate Briggs ND
Dr. Kate Briggs (she/her) is a Naturopathic Doctor at Hearth Natural Medicine. She is originally from Bainbridge Island and currently resides in Poulsbo. She graduated from Bastyr University with a Bachelor of Science in Herbal Sciences and most recently with her Doctorate in Naturopathy. She also received advanced and clinical herbalism certifications from the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism as well as worked for multiple years as an herbalist at an apothecary in Boulder, Colorado.
Kate was introduced to naturopathic medicine at a young age where she experienced firsthand the benefits of the foundations of health and their positive effects on health and wellbeing. These foundations include nourishment, mental and spiritual fitness, movement, restful sleep, nature, and others. It was this influence coupled with an interest in medicine that led Kate to pursue a degree in naturopathy.
Kate’s goal is to help her patients establish their own foundations of health. She loves the individualization of naturopathic medicine and strives to focus on treatment plans catered to the specific needs of the patient. She works with patients of all ages and spent most of her clinical internship shifts working with the pediatric population. Dr. Briggs offers primary care but has a special interest in chronic conditions, digestive disorders, women’s health, family planning, and adjunctive pediatric care.
When not practicing medicine, Kate loves getting fresh air biking and hiking on trails, cooking without following recipes, helping out on the farm where she lives, and being amongst her young niece, family, and friends.
Josh Kraetsch LMHC-A
Josh (he/him) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate and Art Therapist. He is also a co-founder of Hearth Natural Medicine.
Josh pursued studies in psychology, literature, critical theory, and art in his Undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota, earning a B.A. in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature in 2004. From there he followed his passion for connecting with natural systems to work that included habitat restoration, farming, landscaping and stewarding the medicinal herb gardens at Bastyr University. All the while he continued to develop his interests in psychology, spirituality, and the creative process through practices such as songwriting, collage, qi gong and meditation. Josh worked extensively with Michael Meade and Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, based on Vashon Island, WA from 2014-2017. This work included a training in the intertwining of story, art, ritual and nature to create powerful opportunities for healing. He then carried that knowledge into his graduate studies and practice as a mental healthcare provider.
Josh earned his M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy from Antioch University in Seattle. He pursued additional coursework in Internal Family Systems, Play Therapy, Attachment Theory, and Existential Counseling. He completed a yearlong internship at Jumping Mouse Children’s Center in Port Townsend, where he worked with children from ages 4-11 in a variety of creative, expressive therapies. Josh also gained clinical experience in art therapy and nature-based therapy with adults through work with Sequim Counseling.
His orientation to counseling is trauma-informed and anchored in deep listening and presence. He brings an awareness of the impact that family, cultural and other social systems can have on us as individuals, and works with his clients to develop their resources for personal empowerment in the face of life’s many challenges. Creative expression, meditation, and somatic awareness are some of the resources which he draws on regularly both personally and professionally.
When not practicing counseling, Josh enjoys playing music, walking/hiking, gardening, dancing with his family and friends.
Belinda Jimenez; Front Desk
Belinda Jimenez joined the Hearth team in 2021 when she responded to Dr. Rebecca's ad at the Corner Store for an office cleaner. She did such an amazing job making the space beautiful and inviting (with natural, non-toxic, and homemade cleaning products), that Rebecca asked if she'd come on board in a larger capacity.
Now you'll find her at the front desk. She takes wonderful care of the patients and the doctors with gentle smiles for all.
Belinda has a deep love of plants and natural health which led her to study extensively in the fields of Hydrosols for Health & Flower Essences for wellbeing. She also is an avid gardener and you'll often see posies from her garden decorating the Hearth space. Our office plants also sing her praises!
When not working, she can be found playing the harp, hiking, gardening, and cooking gluten-free vegetarian meals.