About Patti

A smiling woman with blonde hair in a green and white floral dress standing at the entrance of Optimum Health, holding the door handle.

Acupuncture, Health Screening & Therapy in Harrogate

Hello, I’m Patti.

I am a caring and enthusiastic Acupuncturist, Counsellor & Well-being Therapist based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

I have been in full time therapy practice since December 1999.

I offer a confidential, non-judgemental and supportive therapy service to every individual regardless of their age, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation or disability.

My aim is to offer you a bespoke & confidential support service that is based on your needs and specific preferences using the most appropriate and effective treatment or on occasions by using a combination of therapies.

If you are experiencing or struggling with pain, anxiety, stress, low mood, self worth issues, difficulty conceiving a baby or maintaining a pregnancy  or are experiencing side effects after having treatment for Cancer I can help.

Having initially embarked on training to be a Physiotherapist in Bradford, I realised then that I had a great passion to help people improve their health and their sense of balance & well-being.

I have been very fortunate over the last 25 years to have gained invaluable experience working with a wide age group of people from teenagers to those in their later years.

Although, I am now in private practice, I have worked over the years as a therapist & Pilates/Yoga teacher in community based health projects, taught Pilates to women in an open prison, offering therapy at a specialised head injury unit, in nursing homes and in the business world offering support to individual employees who were experiencing pain, stress, burnout, anxiety, post traumatic stress or have needed support to change a habit or fear that is holding them back.

I was also the Yorkshire based tutor for the Northern College of Clinical Hypnotherapy for several years.

I will do my very best to help you.

I use a number of Complementary therapies such as Acupuncture, Aromatherapy massage, Counselling, Emotional Freedom technique, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, Havening Technique, Reflexology and Yoga to help you.

My particular areas of expertise is in two areas helping individuals who are either in pain or are experiencing anxiety, stress or feelings of being overwhelmed and individuals/couples that are experiencing fertility issues.

For individuals with anxiety, the priority here is for me to support you, so that you can really begin to value who you are and stop judging yourself so harshly. Together we will work on increasing your sense of well-being and positivity, so you can relax more and get on to lead a happier & have a more relaxed mindset.

I have worked in both national British television and on Radio Leeds in connection with my therapy and teaching work.

I regularly attend conferences and seminars to keep up to date with the latest medical research and as a means of extending my skills and knowledge.

I have completed  & passed the NHS Palliative Care for Complementary Therapists and the NHS Certificate in Complementary Therapy and I have also various courses on Acupuncture for Fertility support.

I am a full member of the British Acupuncture Council, Federation of Holistic Therapists.

As I am a full member of the British Acupuncture Council if you have a health insurance policy (this is often provided by employers) you may be able to reclaim a percentage of the cost of your Acupuncture treatment. A formal receipt can be provided for these purposes.

A woman with blonde hair wearing a red blouse, sitting on a teal couch, smiling and resting her head on her hand, with a beige cocker spaniel dog sitting next to her.

My story & journey.

Prior to commencing my career as a Acupuncturist, Counsellor & Well-being Therapist I worked for nearly a decade in the Voluntary sector. During that time my role involved supporting & training volunteers at a domestic violence service.

I also worked as a Development Manager (for five years) for a well respected national older people’s charity, developing projects & supporting staff, volunteers & carers. My final role in the voluntary sector was as a director of a community based development charity which involved managing the staff, a counselling service & other community based projects in West Yorkshire.

Having been a busy working mum of 2 daughters, I am fully aware of the many conflicting demands that life can make on us and the stress that this can create.

I first became aware of Acupuncture when I was experiencing monthly stress and hormonal imbalanced headaches, (I was working as a Director of a community based charity at the time). After a few treatments my headaches stopped. I was so impressed that I took my then 9 year old daughter for Acupuncture to help with her Asthma. Natasha went for 4 treatments (one a week) and has never experienced Asthma symptoms since (she is now 35).

After this very positive experience I decided to give up my full time job in the charitable/third sector and train full time in Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture at the prestigious Northern College of Acupuncture in York, qualifying in 2006.

In 2010 I continued my studies in Acupuncture by studying for a MSc in Acupuncture & Chinese medicine at Middlesex University in London.

Having always had a interest in human psychology and mental health (having studied counselling and social psychology at Bradford University)  I have since trained in Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, Havening Technique and Yoga.

I also teach Emergency First Aid training courses and Pet first Aid training in the Harrogate & the local area.

Please see my website at www.firstaidtrainingharrogate.co.uk for further information.

My interests and hobbies include walking Harley my cockapoo, socialising with my family and friends (daughters living in London & Sydney), lifting weights, playing Padel (not very well), swimming, Yoga, travelling and personal development.