ABOUT ME
I am passionate about empowering women to take control of their mental health through nutrition and lifestyle medicine
I grew up fascinated by psychology and how the mind as I witnessed a close family member struggle with their mental health for many years. As a child, I saw first hand the devastation anxiety and depression can have on someone's life.
After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology I became interested in nursing and went on to qualify as a mental health nurse, working with both children and adults in many different clinical settings.
I enjoyed working in the community because I could assess all aspects of my patient's environment. I was able to see the many different things that could be contributing to their poor mental health including junk food, alcohol and a lack of good sleep and exercise. It was during these visits that I realised that I couldn't treat someone's mental health without addressing their diet and lifestyle.
I worked in the field of mental health within the NHS for over 14 years, with the last five years dedicated to a child and adolescent mental health service. The stress of large casloads and working with such a vulnerable population took it's toll on my own mental health. Anxiety, insomnia and digestive issues compelled me to take some leave from work. It was during this time I realised I had to find a new way to help people if I wanted to stay healthy myself.
Helping women address the root causes of poor mental health is now my core mission. I do this using functional medicine principles., assessing each client's own unique needs in a holistic way and then give them the tools they need to help reduce stress and anxiety. These include the right foods, targeted supplements and lifestyle changes.
I am committed to professional development and keeping up to date on current research in Nutritional Psychiatry. I am currently completing Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals certification. I also attend the Applied Functional Medicine Mentoring Programme (AFMMP) to further my knowledge in functional medicine and how to apply this model to clinical practice.
Qualifications
-
Registered Nutritionist MBANT
-
Registered Nutritional Therapist CNHC
-
Registered Mental Health Nurse NMC
-
BSc Hons Psychology
-
PgDip Applied Psychology (Clinical Specialism)
-
Applied Functional Medicine Mentoring Programme