A Nervous-System-Aware Approach

A nervous-system-aware approach means working in a way that helps your body feel safe, supported, and understood, rather than rushed or pushed.

It recognises that long-standing gut symptoms are often influenced not only by food and biology, but also by how the body responds to stress and ongoing pressure.

Instead of asking “What’s wrong with you?” this approach begins with a more helpful question:

“What might your body be responding to?”

When the nervous system is under strain, digestion can become more reactive and unpredictable. Supporting regulation alongside nutrition often allows symptoms to settle more effectively.

Why it Matters

Stress doesn’t have to be extreme to affect the body.

Long periods of:

  • feeling under pressure

  • struggling to fully switch off

  • putting others first

  • carrying tension

  • or feeling constantly “on edge”

can all place extra load on the nervous system and digestive system over time.

This work is about understanding how the body adapts to everyday demands, and how that can influence digestion.

How this is reflected in my work

Alongside nutritional therapy and functional testing, I draw on principles from Compassionate Inquiry, a framework developed by Dr Gabor Maté, to guide how I listen, pace sessions, and support nervous system balance.

In practice, this means:

  • working gently and at a pace that feels manageable

  • noticing when stress may be contributing to symptoms

  • supporting digestion and nervous system regulation together

  • creating a calm, non-judgemental space to talk through health concerns

It is not psychotherapy, and it does not replace medical or psychological care. It simply shapes how I support clients as a nutritionist working with complex, long-standing gut symptoms.

About My Compassionate Inquiry Training

I hold a Certificate of Completion for one year of Compassionate Inquiry training (200+ hours), alongside my work as a registered nutritional therapist.

This supports my ability to work thoughtfully with clients whose symptoms are influenced by stress and nervous system patterns, while remaining firmly grounded in evidence-based nutrition and gut health support.

You can learn more about what this qualification involves and how it’s accredited here
And more on the Foundations of My Work here