My Journey So Far…
Over the past twenty years, I have worked in youth and community development. This includes my 12-year tenure as CEO of Project 507 CIC, a social enterprise I established to reduce violence. Throughout this journey, I have developed a keen interest in understanding trauma, both in myself and in others, and becoming a specialist in this area.
As a neurodivergent woman of mixed heritage, it has also been crucial for me to understand myself and my place in the world whilst also learning how the world and its systems harm individuals like myself. This discovery process has enabled me to consider the wider picture while paying attention to the intricate details. Within my professional practice with clients, this has led me to understand individuals within their unique social context.
I have an extensive background, trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy and the neuroscience of mental health; I have an MSc in the Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development, and most recently, a Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition. I have two TEDx Talks, written for The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Forbes and contributed and been featured in several books. I have also been an active member of social and racial justice movements for as long as I can remember, working with others on Inquiries, Reports and political campaigns. It has been a full life.
However, whilst having a flourishing career, I was still dealing with more trauma than anyone should ever have to. I have experienced so much death that friends used to jokingly call me the Grim Reaper. I have lived decades in a state of traumatic stress and cared for loved ones through the experiences of cancer, illness and mental health breakdowns. It has been a full life.
It is for all of these reasons that I wanted to pursue nutritional therapy. To be able to support individuals in detail and context, supporting the healing from trauma, the many co-occurring conditions with neurodivergence, the pushing back against the systemic harms within the medical fields, and the social injustice of poverty and oppression and how that intertwines with food and health.
For me, this hasn’t been a career change as much as it has been about refocusing my energy in an area that allows me to be more precise in my actions. I am taking my years of experience and getting back to working face-to-face with clients, creating the mental space needed to think more about systemic change.
