Who is Chef Lorraine, and why the ITAL Life?

A Nutritionist, A Farmer, An Agriculturalist, A Diner  .... What's the Connection?

..... A Plate of Food :-) 

Somatic Therapist | EMDR Practitioner | Trauma Specialist | Certified Nutrition & Wellness Coach | CHEF

I started in Healthcare nearly thirty years ago in Medical Informatics. After participating in a research project funded by the Japanese Government, focusing on the causes and rise of Lifestyle diseases from 1998 to 2001, my interest in and work on how our food and lifestyle affect our bodies and lives became my purpose.

I am now a holistic healing professional with a unique blend of somatic therapy, trauma treatment, and integrative nutrition expertise. As a certified Somatic Therapist and EMDR Practitioner, I specialise in addressing the physiological and emotional impacts of trauma, anxiety, and stress. My certification further enriches my work as a Nutrition and Wellness Coach, complementing my advanced studies in plant medicine and plant nutrition from Cornell University. This multidisciplinary approach allows me to support clients in healing on all levels—mind, body, and spirit.

Core Competencies:

Somatic Therapy: Utilising body-centred techniques to address trauma, anxiety, and stress stored in the body.

EMDR Therapy: Facilitating the processing and resolution of traumatic memories to promote emotional and psychological healing.

Trauma Treatment: Specialising in complex trauma, developmental trauma, and the neurobiology of trauma.

Nutrition & Wellness Coaching: Guiding clients toward optimal health through personalised nutrition, lifestyle changes, and holistic wellness strategies.

Plant Medicine & Nutrition: Leveraging evidence-based knowledge of plant-based medicine and nutrition to support healing and vitality.

Stress Relief & Resilience Building: Helping clients develop tools to manage stress, restore balance, and cultivate resilience.

Education & Training:

NICABM  ( National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine )

Advanced Master’s Programme in Trauma Treatment and Neurobiology of Trauma

Expert Strategies for Working with Anxiety

Identify and Treat ADHD in Adults

Expert Strategies for Working with Traumatic Memories

Working with Sustained Depression

Treating adult children of Narcissistic Parents

Expert Strategies for Treating Narcissism 

Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Practitioners

How to Help Reduce Chronic Pain

Trauma of Racism

Master Class Workshops  Dr Gabor Mate  - Treating Trauma, Stress and Addictions

Master Class Workshops - Bessel Van Der Kolk -  How the Body Keeps the Score: Intensive Trauma Treatment Course

Master Class Workshops - Dr Peter Levine - The Path to Healing Trauma

Trauma Solutions - Awakening Aliveness - Somatic Approaches to Healing Attachment Trauma 

Unyte Health 

Certified Safe and Sound (SSP) and Rest and Restore (RRP)  Protocol Therapist

Advanced Training Certified - Neurobiology of Regulation in Practice 

The Embody Lab - Certified  Somatic Anxiety Therapist  

The Embody Lab - Certified Somatic EMDR Therapist.

NASM -Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach.

IIN (Institute for Integrated Nutrition) - Certified Health Coach

PESI    

Emotional and Disordered Eating - Trauma-Informed Clinical Tools 

Advanced Grief Counselling Certification Training

Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD- CCSP)

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)

Gabor Mate Compassionate Inquiry Masterclass

Autism and Trauma

Suicide Assessment and Intervention

ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Ed. - Case by Case: Practical Management for Psychiatric Cases

NACE  

Exercise Your Brain - Stepping Away from Depression

Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain - Addressing the Gut-Brain Axis

APA CEP 

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change

Black Men's Mental Health Matters

CTRI (Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute) - Suicide Intervention Skills 

Cornell University - Certificates in Plant Medicine and Plant Nutrition 

Professional Affiliations:

Practitioner at The Elephant Rooms in the Turks and Caicos Islands, 

Listed on The Embody Lab Therapist Directory, a platform for connecting with skilled somatic and trauma-informed practitioners.

Unyte Health - Certified RRP and SSP Therapist

International Affiliate of APA  (American Psychological Association)

Member   Association of Occupational Health and Wellbeing Professionals 

Member of The Caribbean Association of Behavioural Analysis (CABA)

Approach:

My therapeutic approach is integrative, client-centred, and rooted in the understanding that healing is a multidimensional process. I combine somatic practices, EMDR, trauma-informed care, and nutrition coaching to address the interconnectedness of the mind and body. By incorporating plant-based nutrition and wellness strategies, I help clients nourish their bodies, reduce inflammation, and support overall well-being. I aim to create a safe and empowering space where clients can heal from trauma, release stored emotional and physical tension, and thrive daily.

Mission:

To empower individuals to heal from trauma, restore balance, and achieve holistic wellness by integrating somatic therapy,trauma-informed care, and evidence-based nutrition practices. I am passionate about helping clients reconnect with their bodies, embrace the healing power of plants, and cultivate a life of vitality and resilience.

I am a wellness speaker and Retreat Host who loves gardening, photography and spinning vinyl music.