Maev Creaven is the director of Maev Creaven Nutrition (www.nutritioncentre.ie ) and director of studies at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in Galway. She divides her time among the college, her centre in Galway, running healthy eating and yoga weekends, and teaching yoga.
What do you do as a nutritional therapist?
I primarily work on a one-to-one basis, with an aim to improve a client’s health through changes in eating habits and by recommending dietary supplements. I deal with a variety of conditions: tiredness, obesity, migraines, digestive issues, cancer support, etc. Food intolerance comes up a lot; it is usually wheat and dairy, but there are a few other foods too.
Who comes to see you?
As well as seeing clients with chronic conditions, many of my clients are professional people who are not feeling right and know they need to change their diet.
What do you like most about your job?
There's a great sense of fulfilment in helping people, and it's wonderful to have the freedom of choosing when or where I work. I love the fact that you're actually empowering people to help themselves. I've had people come back a month later saying “I've never felt so good”.
If your clients could take away one thing what would it be?
I hope that people go away from my practice with lots of knowledge, integrate it into their lives, and start leading healthier lives.
Maev Creaven trained with CNM, the College of Naturopathic Medicine. You can meet Maev Creaven at an open evening on May 25 at 7pm in the Galway Cultural Institute to learn more about making a positive career change and training as a nutritional therapist in Galway. For more details see www.naturopathy.ie or call (01 ) 235 3094.