NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

It no longer surprises me as to why so many people are uncertain about foods – about what they should be eating, avoiding and about why certain foods are more superior to others. I can also say with 100% certainty that, in spite of the vastness of nutritional advice out there, food shopping can feel more of a stressful experience and necessity rather than a relaxing experience it once used to be. Abundance of food choices does not necessarily equal health and vitality.

On the contrary, in my clinic I have found that multiple choices of yogurts or exotic fruits can easily overwhelm individuals who are confused about what food is right for them and those who have an unhealthy relationship with it. Consequently, this leads to poor choices and a vicious cycle of consuming ingredients that do not support nor contribute to optimal health.

The age of information also brings many conflicting resources discussing the topic of nutrition. What it means to eat healthy can have hundreds of different forms, of which none might be actually suitable for long-term maintenance of health. People may be inclined to follow advice based on someone else’s positive experience with a particular diet or a supplement, without considering the crucial element of our individuality.

This is where nutritional therapy can help. It is the science of nutrition that is personalised and unique to you, optimising your health and well-being, whilst addressing your health challenges; always utilising the latest evidence based research. Nutritionists help people to reach their optimum health with the use of individual dietary advice, supplementation, functional testing and an ongoing support and guidance – all carefully designed after taking into consideration the many different aspects of an individuals’ health

HEALTH COACHING

Health coaching support people to make long lasting changes to their food and lifestyle habits so they can function at optimal levels, feel full of energy and above all, free from debilitating symptoms or conditions. It is a wonderful addition to nutritional therapy since it adds value to individuals in supporting them to move forward towards their personal vision of health and wellness.

How much of health coaching is integrated within a consultation v`aries greatly from client to client as it is based on how much support is required in making healthier choices. Some sessions may unfold as 100% nutritional therapy focused, others 100% health coaching focused, and there may be sessions equally focused on nutritional therapy and health coaching (50% : 50%).

The aim of health coaching is to create an awareness of what people really want, what is driving them and what might stay in the way of achieving it – a key component of an effective coaching therapy. Health coaches spur you on and keep you committed and accountable throughout the Programme. They assist you to use your own insight, personal strengths, and resources to set goals, commit to action steps, and establish accountability in building an envisioned healthy lifestyle.

At the root of many health problems are various unconscious patterns, habits, routines and circumstances that are related to other aspects of life. Creating an awareness around these can have a ripple effect on other areas – such as family life, social life, career or activities. By giving people time and space to make changes, they can break through barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential and maintain a healthy lifestyle in the long run.

The process of health coaching is critical in order to establish new healthy eating habits, re-framing perceptions of situations, creating empowering alternative beliefs and overcoming barriers to success.

TRAUMA INFORMED WELLNESS COACHING (TIWC)

I tend to view TIWC as the final piece of a puzzle, which sadly does not get recognised enough in a world of nutrition as well as conventional medicine. It appreciates the interconnection of early life adversity and trauma and a dysfunction of human biology. Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) can leave lasting imprints via dysregulation of the stress response system, which may damage the developing body and brain of a child. This leads to long term health problems and drastically increases susceptibility to stress-related illnesses (diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer, autoimmune conditions etc.)

Adverse Childhood Experiences are common – 70% of adults have experienced at least one ACE’s and a large proportion of those affected live with the impact every single day, of course without having any awareness of how their physical health might relate to any trauma from the past. Most adults go through life unaware of how these old traumas are impacting them on a daily basis and frequently find themselves caught up in an automatic repeating cycle of various coping mechanisms.

Addressing these issues requires more than a current acute disease model that tends to focus on treating physical symptoms rather than exploring the underlying and often hidden causes of ill health. It needs a holistic and compassionate approach, which recognises that whatever we experience in childhood impacts every aspect of who we become as adults.

As a Trauma Informed Wellness Coach I help clients uncover links between what they are experiencing now, where those patterns may have been formed and most importantly, how to support you in achieving your health goals.

Similarly to Health Coaching, the integration of TIWC is unique to each client. It is based on their individual circumstances, on where they are right now, what their goals are and, how much readiness there is to move forward. In many cases, TIWC is not required to be integrated within a consultation at all, or only at the very end of a Programme.