Restorative Health: A Holistic Haven for LGBTQ+ Care

At Restorative Health in Sandy, healing goes beyond prescriptions — it’s about creating a space where wellness meets identity and where every patient, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, feels truly seen and supported.

The clinic stands apart from traditional medical centers in multiple ways. With a focus on holistic wellness, Restorative Health specializes in ketamine infusions, medical cannabis and hormone therapy — treatments that are often overlooked by conventional care providers. Founded on the belief that standard treatment plans don’t work for everyone, Restorative Health offers personalized, alternative care to patients struggling with mental illness, chronic pain and more. While open to all, the clinic places a special emphasis on serving the LGBTQ+ community, offering a safe, affirming space where compassion and dignity are prioritized.

“Many people who have long-term chronic health conditions also experience financial struggles.”

At the heart of the clinic is nurse practitioner Rita Rutland, whose personal and professional journey shaped Restorative Health’s mission. Raised on a holistic medicine campus in Japan, Rutland was exposed early to Eastern healing methods. Her extensive background in nutrition, massage therapy, sports medicine and nursing, combined with her own experiences navigating pain management, fueled her passion for nontraditional treatments. “Ketamine was a game-changer,” Rutland says, referring to her discovery of the treatment’s power to transform lives. Despite not accepting insurance, the clinic is committed to affordability: “Many people who have long-term chronic health conditions also experience financial struggles,” she explains.

Restorative Health’s philosophy is grounded in promoting wellness rather than just treating disease. This approach prioritizes lifestyle modification and holistic treatments over pharmaceuticals. The clinic serves individuals with a range of mental and physical health concerns — from anxiety and depression to migraines and inflammatory pain. “I don’t know any patient that has chronic long-term pain that doesn’t have at least a little bit of depression,” Rutland notes, underscoring the need for integrated care that addresses emotional and physical health together.

The clinic’s core services are ketamine infusions, medical cannabis and hormone therapy. Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication used off-label to manage depression, PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain. Rutland describes ketamine’s ability to “stimulate neural growth and regrowth of neurotransmitters” and improve mood regulation. She adds, “It also helps you make new processes and connections to take your life in a positive direction and shift the narrative.” Medical cannabis is known for its mood-stabilizing and anti-inflammatory properties — cannabis provides relief for both mental health symptoms and chronic pain. The clinic also offers continuation of gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender patients, as well as referrals to providers who specialize in beginning transition care.

“I don’t know anyone in the LGBTQ+ community that hasn’t had some sort of trauma.”

Restorative Health also serves as a vital safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, where trust and respect are foundational. “I don’t know anyone in the LGBTQ+ community that hasn’t had some sort of trauma,” Rutland says. Whether from bullying, self-image issues or societal pressures, these patients benefit from therapies rooted in self-acceptance and healing. Many clinic staff members identify as LGBTQ+ themselves, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. The team even attends the Utah Pride Festival together each year.

Ultimately, Rutland sees Restorative Health as more than a clinic — she sees it as a haven, noting that the business is not just unique in its service offerings, but also in how the clinic tries “to support patients with the idea that ‘it’s okay to be me’” and encourages them to “embrace their lives,” both key themes of the Pride movement.

Restorative Health is located in Sandy, Utah and consultations for services are available at an affordable cost. Patients wishing to inquire about services can fill out the contact form on the clinic’s website at restorativehealthprimarycare.com. The clinic staff can be reached by phone or text at (385) 449-0565.

Read more about accessible LGBTQ healthcare in Utah:
Access Unclear: Gender-Affirming Care in Utah
Transgender Health Program at the University of Utah