The Optimum Health Centre (OHC) recently opened its doors in Howick. It welcomes anyone in South Africa seeking to overcome persistent health concerns that conventional (Western) medical approaches cannot resolve. It was inspired and founded by local psychologist Alistair Chadwick who has also experienced ongoing health issues, but the conventional approaches left him without lasting results and very little understanding of what he could do to resolve the underlying causes.
The Optimum Health Centre’s unconventional route makes it different and more effective in helping individuals achieve sustained resolution of their health concerns. Along with its team of multidisciplinary health professionals, it offers various health services and interventions. These range from a self-guided mindfulness course to their flagship Personalised Treatment Programme, which includes a completely personalised set of inputs focused on restoring the body’s self-healing capacity. This involves a multi-pronged team approach that identifies the root causes of the chronic health condition(s). This is followed by practical actions to reset the nervous system, reverse chronic inflammation, and guide and support any necessary lifestyle changes.
Meet the Optimum Health Centre’s Team
Alistair Chadwick – Psychologist
Alistair has been a practising psychologist since 2008. He holds a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and a Master’s in Adult Education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Master’s in Environmental Science at the Lund University in Sweden. Alistair is a scientist at heart, specialising in providing scientifically supported psychological/neurological interventions.
Dr Irwin Friedman – Medical Doctor
Irwin, as he prefers to be called, holds an M.B.BCh degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and a postgraduate qualification in public health (Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health—UK). He was Medical Director at the Valley Trust Socio-Medical Project for Health Promotion from 1979 and pioneered initiatives that integrated personalised primary care focused on community engagement to improve mother and child health.
Helen Gatley – Occupational Therapist
With over 18 years of experience, Helen holds her Master’s in Public Mental Health and a Certificate in Pain Management. She works with patients with CRPS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune conditions like SLE, and other primary pain conditions. Her area of expertise revolves around helping patients restore their normal day-to-day activities.
Lisa Glaister – Health Coach
Lisa holds a Science Honours degree in Environmental Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town. She is also a qualified Neuroscience Hardwires Interpretation Coach and a qualified Health Coach from the Health Coaches Academy in the UK. She specialises in whole-life balance, supporting clients in understanding their nutritional needs and how food affects the body and mind.
Kathryn Millar- Health Coach
Kathryn is a qualified health coach through the Health Coaches Academy in the UK. She specialises in helping women between the ages of 35 to 55, notably, women who exercise without visible results. Her experience includes working with pre-diabetic and Type-2 diabetes patients. Additionally, she can assist patients who would like to adopt a more plant-based diet.
Mandy Rawlins – Physiotherapist
A practising physiotherapist for over 30 years, Mandy holds a BSc in Physiotherapy from the University of Cape Town, an Honours in Psychology from UNISA, and she attended a Coaching for Development course through the UCT Business School and is registered with the ICF- International Coaching Federation. She specialises in sports injuries and orthopaedics. She also offers a more holistic approach as a stress and burnout coach.
Keri Strachan – Dietician
Keri has almost 20 years of experience in private practice. She holds a Master’s from Stellenbosch University, a BSc in Dietetics, and a postgraduate diploma from UKZN. She worked in the UK for seven years gaining clinical experience. She specialises in sports nutrition and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction to manage metabolic disease.
Dr Stephan Vosloo – Functional Medical Practitioner
Stephan is a qualified medical doctor who also trained through the Functional Medicine University. He specialises in helping individuals manage and improve conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, hypertension, diabetes, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety disorders, Hashimoto’s disease, and other chronic autoimmune illnesses.
Addressing root causes and providing personalised care is at the heart of the Optimum Health Centre. The team prioritises the identification of a client’s underlying root causes, such as chronic infections, nutrient deficiencies and chronic dysregulation in the nervous systems to understand exactly what is contributing to chronic health issues. They will then assist in finding practical and tailored steps to restore the body’s innate healing capacity. Alistair explains, “The aim is to empower individuals with ongoing health issues, including pain conditions, to achieve their best health. We consult with clients in-person and online to accommodate busy schedules and those who are unable or do not wish to come to the health centre.”
Alistair’s vision for the Optimum Health Centre is to be the South African leader in providing an evidence-based model for the cost-effective treatment of persistent health conditions that involves personalised care, guidance, and support from an integrative and multi-disciplinary team. Here’s to empowering you towards vibrant health.
Website: http://www.optimumhealth.co.za
Telephone: 066 269 8229
Email: info@optimumhealth.co.za or alistair@optimumhealth.co.za