Therapist Spotlight: Lorraine Oakley
In this special series our in-house therapists here at The Secret Space take the opportunity to tell us more about themselves and what brought them to where they are.
In this blog we introduce you to Naturopathic Nutritionist, Lorraine Oakley.
How long have you been at the Secret Space and what brought you here?
I’ve recently joined the secret space as a Naturopathic Nutritionist. I had been a yoga student at the Secret Space for many years, so it felt very familiar to me but, more importantly, the environment has a wonderful sense of peace and tranquillity and you instantly feel at ease, which is vitally important for holistic therapy.
Tell us about your career journey so far? How long have you been practising?
I have worked in the IT industry for many years and the change of work life balance that occurred during Covid gave me the opportunity to study and qualify as a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist. I have been in practice for almost two years and have had the pleasure of working with some amazing and inspiring clients.
What are your qualifications?
Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist Diploma (Level 6) with The School of Health.
Muscle Response Testing with the Classical Kinesiology Institute.
Bach Flower Remedy Training Levels 1 & 2 with The Bach Centre.
Yoga Teacher Training Certificate (300 hours) with the British Wheel of Yoga.
Pranayama and Mantra Teaching Certificate with Mindflowyoga.
I’m currently studying to become a Naturopath and therefore incorporate this learning into my clinical practice.
I also have a BSc (Hons) degree in Politics and Economics.
What does a typical session with you look like?
The first consultation is the most important and is why it takes the longest.
Nutritional Therapy isn’t looking to mask symptoms, it is looking to get to the root cause of health issues, and this requires meticulous case-taking that looks at every aspect of individual health and health history, including the health of the previous two generations.
Prior to your consultation you will be asked to complete a questionnaire and keep a food diary. The answers to the questions help me prepare for our session by giving me an idea of your health journey and what your areas of concern are. During the consultation we will talk through the answers to the questions and explore any other aspects of your health and lifestyle that might be relevant to your symptoms. I may also perform muscle response testing if this is helpful for your case. I will tell you what I think is going on from a naturopathic perspective and discuss practical and implementable options for initiating the healing process. Following the session I will send over my recommendations in the form of a programme which is valid for 6-8 weeks or until your follow-up appointment. At a follow-up session we would review your progress, wins, and challenges, enabling me to update your programme accordingly as healing begins to take place. Healing can take time, especially if the body has been under stress or significant burden for some time, and has adapted and compensated for years of nutritional deficiencies.
How long is a typical recommended course?
3 months is the recommended duration to begin with, which is why I developed my programme, Healing for Life, which is a package of 4 sessions - comprising an initial consultation and 3 monthly follow-ups. Healing is more effective when performed gently and slowly at the speed the body is able to cope with. Working 1:1 over a longer period of time with a practitioner who can steer and motivate you towards your end goal improves compliance and outcomes through accountability, encouragement, and progress tracking.
How do you create a supportive, safe space for clients?
Most people feel very comfortable chatting over a drink because we naturally do this with our friends, so I make this an important part of my clinic. A typical GP appointment lasts 5 minutes or less, whereas Nutritional Therapy sessions typically last between 60-120 minutes, because talking, sharing, reflecting, and emotional processing are an important part of understanding why symptoms have occurred and what treatments are likely to be most effective.
Do you have a specific philosophy or mantra that you live by?
The body never works against us; it has the knowledge and power to heal itself once we remove the obstacles to healing.
Tell us something surprising about what you do.
People may not be aware that lifestyle changes such as stress management, exercise, sleep hygiene, mindset and attitude activities, and naturopathic cleansing techniques, often form part of a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapy programme. I can also arrange full blood, urine, stool, and saliva laboratory testing to further explore symptoms and refer to GPs accordingly.
What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do?
Witnessing the relief and sense of empowerment that comes when people begin to heal and feel better.
What does life look like for you outside of work?
When I’m not transporting my children to their various activities I can be found running, cycling, swimming, or practicing and teaching yoga.
Your favourite thing about the Secret Space
Making yoga accessible to all and promoting holistic therapies within the community.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I completed my first ironman at the age of 48.
To find out more about how Naturopathic Nutritional Therapy can support you in your wellbeing, visit Lorraine’s page here.