Our amazing graduates are working in all sectors of health and wellbeing.
On this page you can explore how rewarding our graduates are finding their careers. Could this be you, a year from now?
Click on an image and discover more about the graduate and their work.
Lyn Ebbrell CRM5, PR, MAR
Reflexology by Lyn
Wirral and Merseyside
07069201266
Lyn qualified with Gaia School of Natural Health in 2015. Previously she had worked in the corporate world for many years, and although enjoyable she came to realise she wanted to do something more fulfilling personally and professionally.
The level 5 course meant that she could study part time while working, and building up relationships during case studies meant that there was a base of potential regular clients after qualification.
Working from home in her spare room, Lyn considered herself very fortunate to have a few regular clients who returned each month, who formed the start of her business Reflexology by Lyn.
As well as working from home, and mobile visits, she now volunteers at Claire House Children's Hospice. She works with parents of bereaved children, giving them some much needed time out and special care with reflexology and other holistic treatments. She also volunteers at Wirral Holistic Centre which is a centre for patients living with cancer, or undergoing cancer treatments. Both centres are a way of giving back to the community as well as increasing knowledge of how reflexology can support different circumstances and conditions. Because she has family living overseas, owning her own business means that she can take a few weeks off at a time, then catch up with her regular clients on her return, she counts her blessings every day that she is able to do this!
Anna Rivers CRM5, MAR
I trained with Allison Walker in 2019. Due to the COVID pandemic I only started my practice in April 2022, so relatively recently (7 months at the time I am writing this). I am truly loving what I do and how I can help people with this amazing therapy.
I see changes to their feet and often feel shifts in their energies, often from tight/stressed feet to more relaxed, malleable and 'open' reflexes as they have further treatments, they gain familiarity with me and the reflexology. They start to trust the process.
This is a change of career for me (previously I was an accountant) and it is such a change for the better. I have learnt so much from my training, and I continue to learn with loads of great CPD courses on offer. I am much healthier personally as a result of my pathology knowledge from the course. It has really helped me navigate my PeriMenopause!!
I am drawn to working with women also experiencing the symptoms of menopause and women's health in general and can see myself specialising in this in the future. It is incredibly exciting to know I can make a real difference and to keep learning (there's lots of specialist reflexology courses to keep expanding my skills) and enable me to support these women.
I am very lucky in that I can work from home, which gives me the flexibility to work school hours and be in control of my working day, which is invaluable to me. It's been the best career change I could hope for.
Jackie Sexton CRM5, MAR
Jackie Sexton Limes Therapies
I have always had a keen interest in alternative therapies, particularly Reflexology, and this became even more fascinating to me after falling pregnant with my first child following Reflexology treatments. After the birth of my third child, I had what I can only describe as a calling to train as a reflexologist and chose to train to the highest level available (Level 5) with the Gaia School of Natural Health. Within 6 months of qualifying, I left my job as purchasing brand manager for an equestrian clothing manufacturer and set about pursuing my reflexology business as my sole career around my family life.
Since qualifying in 2017 I have completed many additional CPD courses including, Reflexology Lymph Drainage, Reflexology for Women's Health and menopause, Orthopedic reflexology, Advanced aroma-reflex, Bergman Method Facial reflexology and Hot stone reflexology. I have found these CPD courses in particular most beneficial with the growth of my business and clientele. I am also trained in Indian Head Massage which is a popular add-on to many reflexology treatments.
I have a beautiful treatment room at my home offering a safe, calming space for clients to take the time they need to heal. I also work in a salon one day a week which I really enjoy. Having regular contact with other therapists and also receiving referrals within the salon has enhanced me personally, and also my business. I have gained some lovely clients over the years and feel privileged to be part of their reflexology journey.
Making the decision to train as a Level 5 reflexologist was the best decision I made, both for my career aspirations and for my family work life balance, and I would whole heartedly do it all over again!
Jo Salomon CRM5, MAR
Jo Salomon Reflexology - Delivering Reflexology at home & in the workplace!
www.josalomonreflexology.co.uk
Jo has shaped a successful career after completing her level 5 course & qualifying as a Practitioner Reflexologist. Following a busy career Jo was able to choose to work part-time & has around 10 clients a week visiting her at home throughout the week.
After a long career working as a nurse in the NHS Jo appreciates how difficult it can be for people to actively look after their own health & well-being. Jo has set up her own practice in her garden room at home & also delivers treatments in the workplace for several companies including Tata Chemicals three factory sites. Having mostly focused on Women's health & finding that more women access services than men it was great to be able to take Reflexology into a predominantly male working environment, enabling them to easily access the benefits of treatment in the workplace. Upon evaluation feedback from the 30 employees was very encouraging with all employees stating they were 'very happy' with the treatment & expressing that it was 'Definitely' something they felt would benefit their overall health & well-being in the future. This type of positive engagement is key to helping close the gap on the health divide between men & women & it's fantastic to see more employers taking care of their staff in this way. This also demonstrates how versatile the role of a therapist can be!
Jo is passionate about Reflexology & enjoys helping people look after themselves she said 'It's amazing & a privilege to be involved in helping people take better care of their health & well-being' in comparison to her previous career she said 'I loved being a nurse but at times the role was very stressful & demanding. When giving a treatment you automatically feel calm & relaxed, so you benefit as much as your client does! Working for myself as a therapist means I am in control of my own diary & can dictate how busy I am. I've achieved the perfect “work/life balance” and have never been happier!'.
Claire
Clinical Reflexology by Claire
clinicalreflexologybyclaire.co.uk
Since qualifying in Level 5 Clinical Reflexology in 2020 with Allison Walker I have gone on to set up my own practice at home. I found the Level 5 qualification very in depth and gave me all the information and training I needed to set up my own practice. Over the last two years I have built up a great client base and I am now working full time as a reflexologist and I absolutely love it! I see a range of clients including those struggling with menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, anxiety and stress related symptoms and I also offer treatments to clients going through cancer treatment and palliative care. I have volunteered at a local hospice and treated both patients and carers and gained valuable experience. I knew as soon as I enrolled on the course that I would love giving reflexology treatments and I have been amazed at the results that I have had with clients. I love being able to help clients relax, unwind and rebalance through the treatments that I offer.
Since qualifying I have also gone on to do further training in facial reflexology and Zone Face Lift with Ziggie Bergman and Menopause reflexology and Maternity reflexology with Sally Earlam.
Hannah Tappenden
Hannah qualified as a Clinical Reflexologist in September 2018. Since then she has established a private practice in Manchester. Her work is focused on supporting women with their journey to motherhood, through fertility, maternity reflexology and postpartum care.
In addition to her reflexology practice, she has also trained to be a certified coach and supports women holistically with health and life coaching.
Hannah enjoys research and has spent the past four years exploring birth and recovery. She has created a birth course in partnership with Helen Davenport-Peace who is a Doula and has extensive education experience. This course was also informed by years of working alongside master Hypnotherapist Siân Quipp to deliver holistic hypnobirthing courses.
Birth Course Link - www.goldenbirthing.com
Hannah hosts a podcast dedicated to recovery after birth. Created for new mothers and invites other wellbeing practitioners to share their experience and advice. The podcast is called The Fourth Trimester and is available for download on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Sarah Storey
http://www.valeroyalreflexology.co.uk
My name is Sarah Storey and I graduated in 2018 and launched my business Vale Royal Reflexology in April of that year.
I have my own lovely cosy and relaxing treatment room at Rosebank Well Being Centre within the centre of Northwich, Cheshire where I work evenings and weekends alongside many other amazing therapists.
I have built up a good client base over the last few years and I treat a mixture of both men and women who have a variety of issues from stress and anxiety to quite debilitating chronic pain issues. It never ceases to amaze me how reflexology continues time and time again to work its magic and helps to improve their overall health and well-being.
I have also had some very positive feedback from clients when using auricular reflexology particularly with the use of ear seeds. I have had clients refer to them as 'Magic Seeds' and one of my clients regularly sends me photos of herself on holiday walking up mountains in far flung places and thanks me for helping her.
It is also very rewarding when I have also been able to provide some comfort and relaxation to breast cancer clients that are undergoing treatment or who are terminally ill.
Lisa Smith CRM5, MAR
Wellbeing and Healing with Lisa
Crosby Close
Upton, Wirral
CH49 4PA
Mob: 07759250579
Email: lisaasmith7231@gmail.com
I qualified with the Gaia school of Natural Health in March 2017, previously working from a dedicated Therapy room at my home on the Wirral offering Reiki and Indian Head Massage. While I really enjoyed offering these therapies, I felt the call to practice more clinically and specialise in another therapy.
After researching the Reflexology Level 5 course at Gaia School I met with Carolyn and felt this course was going to be great, very informative and liked the extra modules it covered. It suited me to attend college the two days a month to fit in with family and work commitments. I truly enjoyed every minute of studying, the set out of the course, various ways of learning, the tutor, mix of new skills learnt, adaptions and the case studies. All the hard work and study ensured I was trained to a high standard and felt totally confident in my role as a reflexologist.
Since qualifying in Reflexology Level 5 I have offered Treatment from home, mobile visits and corporate work. I have treated fertility and pregnant clients and found this very rewarding and worked as a volunteer at a local Children’s Hospice for a short while.
Reflexology has become my most popular treatment and brought a whole new wave of regular clients, through word of mouth mostly. This has meant I have enough clients to mostly work from my home-based room now. Family commitments changed and to be able to work from home meant I could still pursue my career and the love of offering wellbeing treatments.
I feel this Level 5 course gives you the professional expertise and skills to stand out!
I feel being a self-employed reflexologist and running my own business has been very empowering and fulfilling, the freedom to arrange a career around my home and family life.
