Hi, I’m Lauren, a senior physio with years of experience working with a wide range of injuries and illnesses. I am proud to provide evidence-based, holistic, and patient-centered care.

After many years in the clinician’s chair, I suddenly found myself in the patient’s chair. In March 2023, my health suddenly and significantly deteriorated, after getting two viruses back to back. I went from running 30km every Saturday, and cycling 70km before work, to using a wheelchair, with Mum moving in to look after me. Despite seeing many doctors, I was shocked at how little support or guidance was available for someone in my position. It took myself, and my family, a very long time to find health professionals with knowledge in these conditions. Eventually, we did, and their help was absolutely invaluable — they gave me the tools and support I needed to start living again.

I feel privileged to be part of my patients’ journeys because I know how important, life-changing, and difficult this journey is. I want to be the health professional who listens and helps you on your own journey. My lived experience shed invaluable insight into the reality of life with poor health. I learned how incredibly overwhelming and scary it is. I learned that patients are not always listened to. It was deeply confronting to see how my voice — once sought after and respected as a physio — was suddenly ignored and dismissed when I became a patient. My experience inspired me to dedicate my career to helping those also living with a chronic illness. I feel that people with chronic symptoms are let down in our health system, and deserve far more help and recognition than they do. I feel proud, and privileged that I have the skills to help these patients.

I am a passionate advocate for post-viral illness research and improved patient care. I provide educational talks to patient and professional groups on post viral illness, MCAS, dysautonomia, POTS, ME/CFS, HSD, EDS. My journey, as a physio, an athlete and exercise lover, to severe illness and recovery, has given me unique insight and knowledge into the body and illness.

Outside of work, I spend as much time as I can exploring beautiful NZ. I come from a hiking family, and have been in more hiking huts than hotels (something I’m proud of!). My recovery time has given me the opportunity to explore my other passions: art, pottery, reading, and playing guitar. I live with my husband Adam in rural Southland. I’m a huge nature lover, and am passionate about NZ conservation.

A good health professional can make all the difference - I hope I can make that difference for you.