Children's Health & Wellbeing

Gentle, personalised naturopathic support for children and teenagers.

When your child isn't quite themselves, it can sometimes feel like you're trying to put together a puzzle.

Digestive symptoms, food reactions, sleep changes, anxiety, skin concerns, frequent illness, low energy or changes in appetite can all leave parents wondering what else they can do to support their child's health.

My approach is gentle, practical and child-centred. I take the time to explore your child's health history, nutrition, digestion, sleep, nervous system, environment and lifestyle while considering their individual personality, temperament, stage of development and family life.

Appointments are relaxed and supportive, with parents and caregivers involved throughout the process.

Support for Children & Teenagers

I commonly work with children and teenagers experiencing:

• Digestive concerns, including constipation, diarrhoea and bloating

• Reflux, nausea or tummy discomfort

• Food reactions or sensitivities

• Fussy eating or low appetite

• Anxiety, worry or feeling overwhelmed

• Sleep difficulties

• Low energy or fatigue

• Frequent colds or infections

• Skin concerns, including eczema and dermatitis

• Nutritional or mineral concerns

• Recovery following illness

• Menstrual concerns in teenagers

• General health and wellbeing

I also welcome neurodivergent children and teenagers, with care adapted sensitively and respectfully to their individual needs.

If you're unsure whether your child's health concerns fit, you're always welcome to ask.

A Gentle, Whole-Child Approach

Children aren't simply smaller adults.

Their nutritional needs, development, sensitivities and ability to communicate how they're feeling can all be different, which is why their care needs to be individualised.

Depending on your child's needs, their naturopathic care may include:

• Gentle, thorough case-taking

• Age-appropriate nutrition support

• Herbal medicine where appropriate

• Targeted nutritional supplementation

• Digestive and gut-health support

• Nervous-system and lifestyle support

• Functional testing where clinically useful

• Parent education and family-centred strategies

• Collaboration with your child's GP, paediatrician or other healthcare professionals when needed

I prefer to keep treatment as simple and manageable as possible, with age-appropriate recommendations that can realistically fit into family life.

Functional Testing for Children

In some cases, functional testing may provide useful additional information when we're trying to understand ongoing symptoms or nutritional concerns.

Testing isn't automatically required and is always discussed with you first.

If I recommend a test, I'll explain what it looks at, why I think it may be useful, the cost and how the results may influence your child's treatment before you decide whether you'd like to proceed.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

Minerals are important for many normal functions within a growing body, including energy production, development and normal nervous-system function.

HTMA measures mineral levels and selected heavy metals in a small sample of hair and can provide additional information about mineral patterns over time.

I may consider HTMA when we're exploring concerns such as:

• Nutritional or mineral intake

• Fatigue or low energy

• Sleep concerns

• Stress or feeling overwhelmed

• Fussy or restricted eating

• Digestive concerns

• Skin concerns

• Growth or appetite concerns

HTMA isn't used as a diagnostic test or interpreted in isolation. Results are considered alongside your child's symptoms, health history, nutrition and any relevant medical investigations.

Microbiome & Other Testing

Microbiome testing may sometimes be considered for children or teenagers experiencing persistent digestive concerns such as constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal discomfort or ongoing changes following an infection.

Other functional testing may also be considered where appropriate.

The aim isn't to test for the sake of testing. We choose testing when the information is likely to be useful in guiding your child's care.

Working Alongside Your Child's Medical Care

Naturopathic care is complementary to your child's medical care and does not replace appropriate assessment or treatment from their GP, paediatrician or other healthcare professionals.

I'm very happy to work alongside your child's existing healthcare team.

If you have recent blood tests, specialist reports, previous testing or other relevant health information, you're welcome to bring or send these through before the consultation.

What to Expect at Your Child's Appointment

Children and teenagers are seen with a parent or guardian present.

For online initial consultations, I encourage your child to be present for at least part of the appointment where appropriate. This gives me an opportunity to meet them and helps me gain a better understanding of their individual needs.

I aim to create a calm and supportive environment where your child feels comfortable and included without feeling that the appointment is all about what's “wrong” with them.

Follow-up consultations may sometimes be attended by the parent or guardian, depending on your child's age, needs and whether they would like to be involved.

I hold current Blue Card and Yellow Card clearances.

Consultations Available

Children's and teenagers' naturopathy consultations are available in person in Springfield Lakes and online Australia-wide.

Whether you're looking for support with digestion, nutrition, sleep, skin, low energy or your child's general health and wellbeing, we can start by looking at the bigger picture and deciding together what may be appropriate.

BOOK YOUR CHILD'S CONSULTATION