​​​
Professional Bio
​​​
Choosing to study Psychology at York University, my passion for understanding how our choices, behaviour and experiences impact our lives shaped my career working with people in various sectors and carrying out a variety of roles working across the UK.
In the primary days of my career, I started out in social work, and managed to gain a place in a highly renowned and respected therapeutic community for young people. where I worked as part of a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists and psychologists as well as specialist therapists. It was an invaluable experience for me.
I then migrated to London where I worked in a myriad of roles - with 'looked after' young people ; refugees; family therapy centres ; homeless and ex offenders hostels.
My experiences were diverse – all the time valuing people, gaining an understanding of the impact circumstance has on people’s life choices and the influences on us taking control of our lives and choices. With each person I met and supported, so my respect and appreciation of how diversity in our society contributes to it's richness.
One of my first roles in the NHS was in Health Promotion – back in the late 80’s. With a focus on mental health, I also worked with health trusts and GP practices around preventative medicine. Specifically, at that time, we worked closely with MIND and the larger mental health charities in creating awareness campaigns reducing the stigma and increasing awareness around mental health and being part of innovative projects around body dysmorphia and eating disorders. I was also hugely proud to be one of the first health promotion services in the UK to introduce exercise by prescription for people who would otherwise never engage with physical exercise and reap the benefits!
My career then took me into the 3rd Sector and advocacy, services that enabled, empowered and facilitated people to take control of their own lives and choices with the right support. This gave me the privilege of running and setting up a number of charities (mental health ; public sector services ; neurodiversity and learning disability) and working with so many diverse people all working to redress inequalities, disadvantage and disparity of opportunities through gaining a voice. I stayed in the 3rd Sector for many years, stepping out at times to work as a change manager and have some strategical influence within Local Authorities in terms of getting their delivery more tailored to needs e.g. Day services; SEND Agenda and employability agenda.
Throughout my career, I have worked with so many different communities and people – young people, older people, people with mental health concerns, people with disabilities and individuals who just needed some support in recognising their uniqueness, worth, value and purpose in life and in countering barriers they faced.
I qualified from the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in 2012 and have practised ever since and have a number of memberships and affiliations with several important bodies that keep me updated with my professional development, give me access to many and varied courses and ensure I keep in step with current research and development in my field.
Alongside this, I also set up escape rooms which has been a fabulous journey too, also because I love people. I recognised that laughter, fun and enjoyment are the very best ways to learn and create change for people!
Being a Naturopath, on my recent move to Wales, I decided to add a bit of drama to my branding and being The Naturopathic Detective is my way of wrapping every bit of experience that I have been fortunate to have into one role..
​
Helen Cahalane BSc (Hons) : ND (DipCNM) mGNC
