This About story doesn’t revolve solely around nutritional therapy. It’s the journey of how I got to be a nutritional therapist; not a straight and informed road leading to some calling I was destined to follow, but a track with dead ends and tricky bends but also magical uplifting views.
If it’s a story about lifelong involvement or dedication to nutritional therapy you’re looking for, this isn’t it. You may want to turn over the virtual page and read the next section.
I was born in Sydney, a preemie baby who developed into a child and young teen with unexplained sniffles, patches of eczema and bouts of wheezy chest. I was undersized. At school pick-up my mum had to lift my straw school hat to find me as the brim sat somewhere around my nose.
Allergies were rife in our family, and back in the 60s and 70s antibiotics were freely prescribed for all sorts of ailments, even for an allergy-driven chesty wheeze. Discussion on the damage antibiotics could wreak to the gut microbiome wasn’t even skirting the edges of the world most of us inhabited at that time.
My mother began looking outside the conventional medical box for someone to help her ‘sensitive’ tummy and inflammed skin (urticaria) as well as my sniffles and recurrent respiratory problems. And so it’s her I have to thank for introducing me to the realm of naturopathy, herbal medicine and iridology. Planting the seed that would germinate many years later in my life.
Looking back, I can see how progressive Sydney was in the 70s and 80s compared to many other countries regarding what was generally termed ‘alternative’ medicine. However, finding recommendations for colleges or diploma courses which could offer accredited diplomas in complementary therapies wasn’t easy. On top of that, it began to feel risky as a career move as there weren’t any informed and experienced people able to advise me.
Through life’s random events that lead us all in unexpected directions, I ended up in Germany, first at the Goethe Institute learning the language, then taking it further and studying French and German at the Institute of Translation and Interpreting at Heidelberg’s Ruprecht Karl university. As a student I worked part time at a night school teaching English as a foreign language, or I’d skip some days at uni and work as a consecutive interpreter on the stands at trade fairs in Frankfurt or other cities. So many lessons learned in those years, so much growing up and lifelong friends made.
After qualifying I moved back to Sydney, working a decade in the international conference industry. An inspiring time led by a bright and formidable woman and her team of twelve female employees. My work focused on translating, occasional interpreting, frequent bilingual guiding both in Australia and New Zealand. Then moving into the management of the company’s language division, travelling to Asia to promote Australian-based interpreters, or drafting dreary client contracts, but always working in a team, whether with office colleagues or the conference linquists. The work was so interesting and varied, I loved it. And all these years on, at the opposite end of the globe I’m still in touch with that bright and inspiring boss.
The birth of our first son coincided with a temporary move to UK. For a brief time I continued to do some very part time work in Europe for the Sydney conference company. Not an easy juggle, and the work was more tourism-based than conference services. When our second son arrived I was happy to focus on family and motherhood. Jungle Jim and Mini Music makers, kiddy picnics and the day-to day. All the joys and testing wobbles of family life.
I never dreamt that when I hit my mid-forties an opportunity would present itself to go back to that original dream of naturopathy (just as I never dreamt we’d still be living in UK!) Life’s paths once again pulling in unexpected directions.
The naturopathic nutrition course (or nutritional therapy course – the name was still finding its legs) was part-time so it meant just one weekend a month up in London with the rest being home study. The college was a mere 10 minute walk away from one of my mum’s best friends, Hedi. With a place to stay each month, plus my husband starting the first of many retirements, it all fell into place.
In 2009 I gained my diploma in nutritional therapy and then did another year of part-time postgraduate study in Iridology, both at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, CNM in London. A couple of years after I set up my small business I came upon the IFM community (Institute of Functional Medicine) at a CAM conference in London. IFM was focusing on targeted, personalised health support for clients, which made far more sense than a one approach fits all. In 2015 I completed their module in ‘Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice’ and ever since then I’ve been using this personalised patient approach in clinic.
Most of my work involves one-to-one consultations. These can happen either in my home clinic in Dorset or online, depending on clients’ choices and needs, and on where I’m based at the time. As my life has been changing over recent years – spending time abroad – I’ve decreased overall working hours but increased my online work. Seeing clients in person in Dorset, however, is still an important part of my practice.
I regularly attend seminars and conferences, take part in practitioner webinars and always have a health podcast on the go that I can listen to in the car or on trains. Not just for the required CPD education hours, but because I really get a kick out of learning and I love being part of the functional nutrition community.
Today’s global understanding that food and lifestyle impact our health. and our longevity, means that functional nutrition is fast becoming the first-line approach for many more people than, say, a decade ago. And with the ver-growing number of research studies each year, this number will continue to soar.
Healthy cooking days used to be regular events I offered for small groups or businesses wanting hands-on food support for vegetarian, gluten free or dairy free healthy diets. These days I tend to offer them more to clients as an option for their follow-up appointment. A way to put into practice some of the dietary changes they’re introducing into their lives.
The organisations I belong to are the British Association of Nutritional Therapists (BANT), the Complementary and Natural Healthcare council (CNHC, which is supported by the Dept. of Health), and the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTCC).
For more information about Functional Medicine please click here.
My annual newsletter, monthly website blog and social media pages on facebook and instagram give me the ideal platform to interact and connect with you. A way to share new research or recipes, that aren’t just about cooking, but give nutritional information to help you make healthier choices.