Love Local with The List: Natural Health Clinic

Grace Galliott, Director of the Natural Health Clinic & Shop, has always been drawn to the world of natural therapies. She spent time travelling and training in a range of holistic treatments, before returning to Guernsey to balance part-time therapy work with a finance job.

But a near death experience with the birth of her son changed everything for her. It was the beginning of her spiritual awakening. She left her job in finance to focus fully on healing and holistic therapies, which led to the opening of the Natural Health Clinic in St Martin.

Read Grace’s story here.

 

 

'During my teenage years, I often felt lost and unsure of my career path, however a transformative discovery ignited my passion: the world of natural therapies.' 

 

How It All Began.

From a young age, I've always been drawn to the art of healing and nurturing others. During my teenage years, I often felt lost and unsure of my career path, however a transformative discovery ignited my passion: the world of natural therapies. Fascinated by the power of holistic approaches, I knew I had found my true calling.

I began my training in Thailand with a local physio called Taweep. He taught me Traditional Thai Massage and once I returned from my travels I began seeing clients. I was keen to learn more so I moved from Guernsey to Bristol where I trained in massage, aromatherapy and reflexology for a year. While we were in the UK, I also trained in Nottingham in colonic hydrotherapy.

 

'I had a very traumatic birth and near death experience and everything changed for me. It was the beginning of my spiritual awakening and I completely changed as a person.'

 

My Spiritual Awakening.

Once I was settled back in Guernsey I began treating clients and found that I was learning so much through experience as I honed my skills. I was balancing part-time therapy work with a finance job. My ultimate goal was to turn my passion for holistic healing into my full-time career. 

In 2012, I fell pregnant with my son Isaac. I continued seeing clients until I was about 6 months pregnant and then focused on resting and nesting. I had a very traumatic birth and near death experience when having him. That's when everything changed for me. It was the beginning of my spiritual awakening and I completely changed as a person. I started experiencing all sorts of weird and wonderful things, like seeing energy, auras and feeling suppressed emotion and energy in others.

The Highlights So Far.

When Isaac was 9 months old, I was finally able to quit my finance job and started working from my treatment room at home. I did this for around 2 years and then decided I wanted to expand to having my own holistic therapy clinic. We opened the Natural Health Clinic in St. Martin in 2016. 

The clinic has 4 treatment rooms and we have the most amazing practitioners to work alongside. My own business developed to offering lots of different therapies and programmes for clients depending on what they needed. I'm now trained in massage, reflexology, nutrition, health coaching, chinese medicine, emotional freedom technique, baby therapy and reiki. I actually tend to incorporate lots of different modalities into sessions and work very intuitively to provide bespoke treatments dependent on people's needs.

 

 

'I wanted to have a space where people could come and ask questions about any ailments or issues and we would recommend natural treatment options.'

 

Challenges Along The Way.

In 2021, we opened the Natural Health Shop in Trinity Square. I wanted to have a space where people could come and ask questions about any ailments or issues and we would recommend natural treatment options. We also ran workshops and children's parties. Unfortunately, due to costs and economic challenges, we had to close the shop in June 2024. 

In fact, the big shift we've seen with inflation and the cost of living recently has become the most frustrating and challenging thing about my business. It means that more customers are unable to afford holistic services and quality natural products. It is so disappointing, for both clients and local practitioners. I know it's not just me who is affected by this.

 

 

'I now also work part time at Bright Beginnings as a Family Wellbeing Practitioner, which I absolutely love.'

 

The Future Is Bright.

Whilst I was very sad to close the physical shop, it had become the source of so much stress and loss that it was definitely the right thing to do. We have now moved online and are able to continue to offer our customers’ favourite products this way without the overheads & day to day time involved.

I continue to offer holistic treatments, therapeutic massage and healing sessions at the Natural Health Clinic and I now also work part time at Bright Beginnings as a Family Wellbeing Practitioner, which I absolutely love. I see around 15 clients a week at the clinic and I really love what I do. I am truly so grateful for everything I have learned on this journey.

 

It Might Surprise You To Know...

Something that might surprise you about me is that I have recently become obsessed with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I really enjoy how it makes me feel.

 

Why The List Loves Natural Health Clinic.

Grace's commitment to helping people through her extensive knowledge and experience shines through in all that she does. Turning a traumatic moment into a life's purpose (and a love of helping children & babies) is a gift that she has given the island. Her resilience in switching online from a local store whilst still offering products is to be commended. Grace has a special way of knowing how to heal and make people feel immediately calmer. The Natural Health Clinic also offers local wellbeing practitioners the ideal space to do similar work and continue to make a difference to the Island's wellbeing.