Nicole Hargreaves
BHSc, BAppSc, BA, MCMA
Clinical Nutritionist
Nutritional Medicine Practitioner
Safe and Sound Protocol Practitioner
Have you ever reached a point where your doctor had no idea how to help you?
I think I was born at this point. A lifetime of apparently inexplicable health problems that stumped the doctors led to my great interest in the workings of the human body. The birth of my children, all of whom had their own issues, drove me even more strongly to find out how to help myself and my family. One of the practitioners I saw as part of my search for wellness insisted that I enquire about studying nutritional medicine – and the rest is history.
Having been there myself, I have a lot of empathy for people with chronic ill health, and for mothers of sick babies, especially when no one else seems to know how to help. I am so grateful that I came to this career area as someone with health challenges, as those challenges taught me so much.
Practice focus
My practice specialty is in paediatrics, with an especially strong focus on babies and very small children, especially those with food intolerances, spectrum disorders and complex medical problems. I also treat adults with complex chronic multi-system disease.
I really enjoy treating babies and young children, and I especially enjoy the aspect of supporting their mothers (and fathers) through the emotional rollercoaster that can be chronically unwell children. I have been privileged to successfully treat many patients who have seen the top paediatric immunologists in the country. While I am always happy to provide treatment to children with less severe issues, it is the sickest of the sick children that I have a real passion to help.
As you can tell, I like complex. My brain switches on best when a new patient tells me that the last 3 naturopaths and 7 doctors they saw shrugged their shoulders. This is probably because I am a bit of a biochemistry nerd. If there’s a weird link between eating pistachio nuts and fainting when exposed to the sound of thunder, then I probably know about it. (There’s no such link by the way. I just totally made that up). On the other hand, I generally do not take adult patients with more straightforward or single issues, such as simple fatigue, arthritis or high cholesterol on their own.
I am also really excited about the new modality that I have trained in – the safe and sound protocol. This really simple intervention has the potential to fix (not just manage) a number of conditions that are rooted in the nervous system, especially when trauma has been a part of the cause. I have seen really significant health benefits from doing the protocol myself.
Above all this however, the thing that excites me most in practice is working with patients on a spiritual and emotional level. I have learned that the mind and spirit are just as important in health as the body – if not more so. I have witnessed and personally experienced fast and dramatic healing when people have aligned their emotions and beliefs with God’s design. If this is something you are interested in exploring with me, then please let me know when you book.
Qualifications and Training
I have three Bachelor degrees, which seems like overkill really. In addition to my Bachelor of Health Science in Nutritional Medicine, I also have a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Arts (in Mandarin Chinese), and have completed university-level studies in French. I have recently completed training with Integrated Listening Australia to administer the Safe and Sound Protocol, and will complete full certification shortly.
I have past experience working with people with disabilities, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, having spent eight years training and placing assistance dogs with Canine Helpers for the Disabled Inc. During this time I did significant study in applied behaviour modification in humans and animals. I have been the principle practitioner at Abundant Life Natural Health for just over two years.
Perhaps my most significant qualification comes from the school of life as the mother and educator of three young children.
I am a full member of the Complementary Medicine Association of Australia and rebates for my services are available from health funds that cover the modality of nutrition.
I would love to be able to help you on this journey towards an abundant life.
