About Me
Hi, I’m Laurel. I’ve been a Registered Occupational Therapist for 25 years, but am now also a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, qualified Personal Trainer and a #Moderation365 Nutrition Coach. I’m a wife, a mum of two amazing adult children, and grandmother to an adorable baby girl (oh, as well as three granddogs and two grandcats - all very cute). I love the beach, walking, strength training, adult ballet classes, and coffee, but not coriander! I help busy women take back control of their health and wellness so that they can thrive!
It all started when…My career as an Occupational Therapist (OT) reached a turning point when I realised I wanted to start using my passion for health and wellness to help people be the best version of themselves, including making lifestyle changes aimed at preventing the health conditions I often treated as a therapist. My clinical experience involved helping people with a disability, injury or health condition to set and achieve goals to assist them improve their health and/or manage their condition, and build their capacity to engage in the community, return to work, or maintain employment.
Through my own personal health challenges and wellness journey, I’ve also experienced first hand how important movement, mindset, nutritious food and taking small steps are to future proofing wellness, as well as helping to manage medical conditions, having been diagnosed with polyarthritis at age 38, then post-viral fatigue 15 years ago. I am now committed to helping you live the most fulfilling version of your life.
My vision is to empower you to take charge of your own health and wellness and proceed on a path towards optimal health, purpose and happiness, now and into the future, BUT without obsessing over it!
Occupational Therapists ask “What matters to you, not what’s the matter with you?” (a quote by Ginny Stofel, AOTA Past President), and I carry this into my coaching, so I view you as a whole person and work with you to focus on the things that matter to you.
My mission is to partner with you to provide individualised programs in holistic health and wellness coaching, functional movement/exercise, or lifestyle occupational therapy, tailored to meet your unique lifestyle and needs. I recognise you are the expert in your own life, so I help you create and achieve your unique wellness vision aligned with your values and purpose, work with you to discover your own solutions, take step by step actions, be accountable and celebrate your successes.
I offer a unique service by integrating Health and Wellness Coaching with my clinical skills and professional experience as an Occupational Therapist, plus my Fitness and Nutrition qualifications, to support women who want professional guidance in making positive lifestyle changes, including improving their relationship with food, movement, their body and mindset.
I welcome clients of all ages and backgrounds, but have a special interest in working with women in the 40 to 65 and beyond age group, to help them ‘future proof’ their wellness, enhance quality of life and improve longevity through coaching and lifestyle modification.
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
Level 1, 2 & 3 in Wellness Coaching – Wellness Coaching Australia
Certificate 3 & 4 in Fitness – Fit College
#Moderation365 Certified Nutrition Consultant
BSc (Occupational Therapy) - Curtin University
Post Graduate Diploma Health Science – Edith Cowan University
Registered Occupational Therapist - AHPRA and member of OT Australia
Registered Exercise Professional – AUSActive
Certificate in Pain Management – Edith Cowan University
Professional Development
Training Seniors Certificate - Fitness Education Online
Bootcamp Level 1 - Fitness Education Online
Applied Psychology of Eating, Weight, and Body-Image course – Australian Psychological Society
Food As Medicine - Monash University
Food and Mood: Improving Mental Health Through Diet and Nutrition - Deakin University
Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance - Monash University
Maintaining a Mindful Life - Monash University
Sleep Deprivation: Habits, Solutions and Strategies - University of Michigan
The Science of Wellbeing - Yale University
Preventing Dementia - Dementia research Education Centre, University of Tasmania
