The Nutritional Supplement

What Course(s) did you graduate from at CNELM and when did you graduate?

BSc Nutritional Therapy in 2012 and Clinical Psycho Neuro Immunology (cPNI) in 2016

What did you do prior to this?

I raised my family and ran a busy restaurant in Brighton. During my studies, which were part time over 6 years, I worked for a company called Gematria who delivered conferences, sold supplements and a water activator product.

What made you decide to embark on this course of study?

I had always been interested in health and at school considered a future as a medic. Nutrition and a natural health model have been an interest for me as far back as I can remember. I was raised on a vegetarian based diet and my parent’s first port of call, if we were ever sick, was the homeopath or acupuncturist, then the doctor only if needed as a back-up to a natural health approach. I then had my own family and followed this pattern of finding integrative solutions for health issues.  Using food and nutrition to support my own family’s health became a key focus and I learnt from my partner at the time (who was Iranian), a cultural attitude and acceptance that food is medicine. Herbs, spices, seeds, specific fruits, fermented foods, broths and specific meals were routinely ‘prescribed’ by family members!

As my children moved into full time education, I had experienced the benefits of nutrition for family health and also the limitation of the medical model for some chronic conditions.  I decided to formalise my interest in health and nutrition and set about gaining formal qualifications in coaching, nutrition, and later as a personal trainer.

Why did you choose CNELM for your studies?

I had been looking for a degree level qualification and I had already undertaken coaching training, as I was clear that these skills were going to be essential in working with people to make lifestyle changes. When I found CNELM and discovered it was both a degree validated programme and included the NLP components the decision was made!

What work did you do after graduating?

I really enjoyed studying at CNELM, not just for the course content but also for the team, the support, and the family feel of the organisation. I didn’t want to leave and had developed a deep interest in the coaching elements, so I assisted on these courses for some time as a volunteer and then applied for the job of coaching course module leader and professional mentor. I have worked at CNELM in various capacities pretty much since graduating in 2012! In my time working at CNELM I have obtained further qualification as an NLP Trainer and Clinical Psycho Neuro Immunologist.

Concurrently to working at CNELM I set up a small practice in Brighton working as a Nutritional Therapist. As time went on I incorporated more and more coaching into my practice and the balance of nutrition and coaching tipped more and more in the direction of a coaching model. I always maintained that a mind body approach was essential and had been very lucky when working with Gematria to be exposed to the work of the likes of Bruce Lipton and other teachers who combined science with spirituality. When I discovered cPNI, it seemed a perfect fit for the kind of work I was doing. 

I now run a company called Weight In Mind which puts these mind/body principles at the centre of my interventions and process. Understanding that every health experience has a biomedical, social, psychological, emotional, cognitive and sexual component, and each individual may benefit from an intervention at any one of these differing areas makes for a really effective, interesting and challenging practice. I work with individuals and groups, as well as advising and working with other professionals in the arena of sports, and I also deliver longer period courses and programmes over 6 months to years. I deliver corporate training and last year had the lucky experience of working with Chris Rasey (our lead NLP Coach Trainer) delivering coaching training in an NHS setting.

Which element of the course impacted you the most?

When I completed my BSc in Nutritional Therapy the concept of epigenetics and the sheer vastness and responsibility that comes with using an integrated approach such as the functional medicine model was a revelation.

Perhaps a controversial phrase, this often sticks in my mind following studying for cPNI: ‘the disease in the personality and the personality is the disease’. This concept puts mind tools and a coaching approach firmly at the centre of any support programme. It recognises the importance of self-management, and in my opinion, if approached appropriately, opens up much more choice and success factors for a client.

Is there anything you wish you’d known before finishing your studies that you might have prepared for differently?

During my studies I was focused on ‘completing’ whilst managing work and family and some significant life changes.

I now know that starting a practice or work as a nutritional professional is not a simple or clear pathway. It takes a lot of energy, creativity, and in my opinion bravery and self-belief! I enjoy delivering the professional mentoring service at CNELM and wish I had known more about the value of applying coaching and mentoring to my own business development earlier on. I also now know the value of experience and the confidence that is gained through experience of real client work. I might have made better use of interim awards such as the Dietary Education Certification or NLP Practitioner Certification during my studies.

Do you always incorporate coaching into your consultations?

Yes always, both explicitly and conversationally. Perhaps a more pertinent question for me “do I always include a nutrition component in my consultations?” the answer is no, not always, first a client has to be ready and prepared with some tools to make the recommended changes that come from a personalised nutrition approach. 

What or who has most inspired you in your work?

Actually, all the students I have mentored since 2012 are a constant source of inspiration, in terms of their commitment to study (even in sometimes the most difficult of circumstances) and their confidence and motivation to go out and make things happen after qualifying.

My perception is that our student body are committed to the belief that we are on to a good thing in terms of a new paradigm of healthcare, often learning through personal experiences of resolving and supporting their own health issues, and they are prepared to follow that conclusion into what is at times a controversial industry and commit their time, energy and money to something that they are passionate about. Hat’s off!

Do you have any tips, hints, things you’d done differently?

Be confident, trust yourself, remember you will never know everything, and that you can always look it up! Get as much practical experience as you can, both clinical or in other ways through work experience. Look for and engage with mentors in the industry and build meaningful relationships with your peers and other colleagues during your course, these networks are so valuable.  Of course, when you transition into the workplace and want to make some changes, get a business coach!