Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Melissa Smith?

I’ve personally experienced the devastating impact fatigue and poor health can have on your life. In 2004 I experienced burnout from living a fast-paced stressful lifestyle.

After this rude awakening, I decided it was time to start caring for my health. Once I experienced the benefits of naturopathy and nutrition – and how good it felt to feel energised and healthy in my body – I qualified as a Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist to help other people get their health back.

In 2015, I became a Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach, to help clients create lasting change around their eating habits and health through wellness coaching. I’m also a Nutri Advanced Metabolic Detoxification Practitioner, as detoxification is often the missing link when it comes to having good health (read the section below How can I benefit from a detox program?).

I offer online group programs and 1:1 support via webcam and phone to clients in Australia and beyond (find out more under Services, and below). As a passionate advocate of health, I also write health articles for a number of publications and speak in workplaces on workplace wellness. I also run local workshops in Melbourne on how to boost energy and well-being.

Through my work, I help people like you be their healthiest selves by empowering them with the tools and insights needed to be healthy in the modern world. Good health can be yours. You just need to know what works for you and your unique body!

If you’re curious to know more or are ready to work with me, book a free mini-consult. We’ll chat about your health and explore what it would look like to work together.

How do you approach health?

Being unable to solve health issues on your own can be frustrating and overwhelming. Eating a healthy diet alone may not fix these health problems, as often there are underlying factors at play. With chronic health issues like ongoing fatigue, and other niggling health symptoms, a thorough, comprehensive health assessment is the first step. Once we understand what’s going on in your body and why, we can formulate a plan that’s tailored to your needs, so you can start feeling better again.

In my 1:1 consults and fatigue treatment program the Energy Mastery Method, I’ll work alongside you to get to the underlying factors of your health challenges, such as:

• Nutrient deficiencies/insufficiencies
• Suboptimal digestion
• Food Intolerances
• Metabolic dysfunction
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Adrenal dysfunction (usually from stress)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• A high toxic chemical body burden
• Stress and inflammation

My approach involves using:
• Naturopathy – including an initial comprehensive health screening
• Nutritional Therapy
• Health Coaching to help you create lasting healthy habits and support you while you’re creating change (which isn’t easy if you’re doing it alone!)
• Functional testing (for nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, toxic chemical burden, liver function, food intolerances)
• Genetic and nutrigenomic testing
• Detoxification (see below)
• Stress management techniques like Mindfulness, Meditation and Positive Psychology
• Self-care and lifestyle medicine

 

I also run a group program, the MitoCleanse, which is a 90 day detox program to help boost your energy, burn fat, improve brain function and optimise health. Find out more here.

 

How is your approach different from conventional healthcare?

Conventional healthcare seeks to manage or suppress symptoms, and looks to find, diagnose and treat a disease. Maybe you’ve been to the doctor, and had a slew of tests come back with no clear issues. This is because doctors are looking for disease rather than imbalance.

In contrast, my approach is to understand what’s causing your syptoms, and look for imbalances. A long period of time exists where there’s a decline in function before the disease stage manifests. 

Where a doctor has limited treatment options for chronic conditions like fatigue, I have a wealth of tools, protocols and strategies to help you get better, by encouraging your body to heal rather than suppressing or managing symptoms like conventional practitioners do. 

In addition, I have an intimate understand of how the body works, in particular how each system works together. I use the latest scientific insights, whereas in conventional heathcare there’s a typical lag of 15-17 years in interpreting medical science into practice. 

So in working with me, you’ll be at the forefront of healthcare perfectly designed to solve chronic conditions like fatigue, brain fog and other niggling ongoing symptoms.

Why would I consider paying for naturopathy when I can get conventional medicine for free?

While the cost of the conventional healthcare system is mostly subsidised, as practitioners tend to have limited ability to manage chronic health conditions, if they can help at all, the value for money exchange is poor. 

The lifetime cost of chronic health issues, coupled with continual visits, loss of work and income, the mental and emotional stress on yourself and loved ones adds up. 

Investing in working with me is for the short term. My vision is to help you heal, give you the tools you need to maintain your health, then send you on your merry (and healthy) way.  For that investment into your health, you get your health and your life back. 

There's so much information on the internet about how to fix my problems. I've tried a few things and they haven't worked. Why is that?

There are many reasons why this may be the case. It could be that the advice wasn’t right for you, the protocol wasn’t effective, or the duration you applied it wasn’t enough. The truth is that biochemically, you’re unique, so a one size fits all approach to health can fall short in improving your health. 

Being assessed by a healthcare practitioner will help you understand how your unique physiology works, and what it needs to get better. 

What are your programs and services?

I offer programs as well as ongoing naturopathy and wellness coaching support and workshops. All consultations are held via webcam or phone.

MitoCleanse
The MitoCleanse is a 12 week group detox program for those who want to double (or triple) their energy levels, lose 5-10kg and improve their overall health. The MitoCleanse includes supplements and 4 1:1 sessions together. You’ll discover the right way to detox, and the latest science-backed strategies you can use for the rest of your life to help maintain your health.

Energy Mastery Method
The Energy Mastery Method is a 3-6 month program for those with adrenal fatigue / burnout (fatigue typically caused by an overly busy lifestyle – ending in all day fatigue, jitteriness, poor sleep, low mood etc.) who want to increase their energy, improve their resilience and get back to themselves to they can enjoy their life. The program takes a holistic approach to fatigue, by addressing your nutrition, stress, and lifestyle, and is completely personalised to you. Includes 1:1 coaching and support to get you the results you’re seeking.

1:1 Support
Outside of these programs, I offer 1:1 support, working closely with you over a 3-6 month period or more – as much time you need to achieve your health goals. You can choose a monthly subscription, which usually involves 1-2 sessions per month (sometimes even weekly), plus regular contact in between to answer any questions so you can keep progressing forward with confidence and ease. The monthly investment is $150-$750 depending on the level of support required.

Any fees for supplements or functional testing will be quoted on an as needs basis, keeping your budget in mind.

What are your fees?

Getting your health back on track takes time. This is why I’ll work closely alongside you over a 3-6 month period or longer – however long is needed to achieve your health and well-being goals.

As such, I offer a monthly subscription so you get all the support you need, which usually involves 1-2 sessions per month (sometimes even weekly), plus regular contact in between to answer any questions so you can keep progressing forward with more confidence and ease. The monthly investment is $150-$650 depending on the level of support you need. Supplements and lab testing fees are in addition.

The Energy Mastery Method is $295 AUD per month, plus any supplements or functional testing fees.

The MitoCleanse is $997 plus supplements, around $400 AUD.

Please check out specific program pages for more details on the Services page.

Are you the right practitioner for me?

If you’re looking for someone with the clinical knowledge, empathy and support needed to help you through this time of change, then I’m right for you.

However, you must be open and willing to take action to get the results you desire! When we work together, I become just as invested as you in achieving your health goals, and will give you all the clinical insights, time and support you need to get there.

I know that putting your health in the hands of someone else, especially when you have to put money on the table, can feel like a big gamble. That’s why I suggest booking a free mini-consult with me first. In this call, you can ask as many questions as you like, and explore whether we’re a good fit to work together.

If I can help you, and it feels right for you, I’ll suggest a plan to help you move forward, which will be a program for a 3 – 6 month period (this is how long it takes to get results, even though you’ll start seeing improvements in your health fairly quickly.).

If you want to know what past clients have said about working with me, go here.

If you’re ready to start getting your health back, i’d love to hear from you and help you get your energy and healthy body back, so you can squeeze the most out of life! Book a call here. 

What kind of lab testing can you do?

The lab testing I do is different from what your doctor has access to (and they’re typically far more comprehensive). I use the best labs in the world to understand how pathways in your body are functioning. 

Examples of tests are:

– Microbiome and digestion analysis (including parasitology)

– Organic Acids Test (nutrition, liver function, neurotransmitters)

– Comprehensive hormonal profiling

– DNA profiling

– Cardiometabolic profile

– Neurotransmitter profile

 

Unfortunately these tests are not covered by Medicare at the moment. 

How can I benefit from naturopathy?

Rather than focus simply on symptoms, a naturopath will work with you to pinpoint the root cause of your health issue to fully resolve your health challenges.
This approach involves comprehensive health screening by completing an in-depth health questionnaire before our initial 90 minute session together, as well as functional testing to pinpoint underlying factors that are contributing to your health issues (if needed).

Through this process, you’ll discover what your body needs to thrive – such as what diet is right for you, and how you should live to work with your body rather than against.

How can I benefit from wellness coaching?

Most practitioners will give you a list of steps to take without helping you work out how to implement them, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and unsupported, therefore unable to get results which is a waste of your time and money.

Wellness coaching is about finding what approach works for you, while removing any barriers or challenges you may face in achieving the results you’re after, to create lasting change to your health. This means you have my full support and guidance so you can find ease and joy in implementing health strategies.

How can I benefit from a detox program?

Just in the last few generations, 70,000 new manmade chemicals have entered our environment – from pesticides to cosmetics, cleaning products, personal care products, household items, and industrial pollution like heavy metals that contaminate our food, air and water.

Our bodies aren’t designed for this level of exposure to these chemicals, many of which are linked to chronic fatigue syndrome as well as diseases like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Our body accumulates these toxic chemicals that disrupt the function of cells, our mitochondria (our energy batteries), hormones, neurotransmitters, and so much more – even causing inflammation, impacting your metabolism and how much fat your body holds on to. Hence detoxification is essential for maintaining or restoring your energy, weight, brain function and preventing chronic disease.

Many detoxification programs on the market aren’t effective at removing these toxic chemicals from our bodies.
My detox program, the MitoCleanse, supports all the detox organs (liver, kidneys, intestines, skin, lymphatic system, lungs) and includes high-quality supplements that bind to and remove toxic chemicals like heavy metals, xeno-oestrogens and pesticides effectively.
We can even measure and monitor your exposure to a variety of toxic chemicals using functional tests. This is especially helpful if you experience chronic fatigue, cognitive problems (poor memory and concentration), anxiety, depression and have had high exposure to toxic chemicals (especially heavy metals).

All sessions are held online via video and phone calls, so you can save time and stress travelling and enjoy each session from the comfort of your own home or office.

What workshops do you run?

Topics Melissa speaks on are:

• How to Eat for Energy and Peak Performance
• Mental Effervescence: Maximise Your Mental Energy
• Creating Emotional Resilience To Prevent Burnout
• Cold and Flu Season: Strategies to Boost Your Immune System and Keep The Nasties at Bay
• Detox: The Key To Awesome Energy and Resetting Your Metabolism
• The Morning Mastery Workshop – Set Yourself Up For an Energised Day
• Sleep for Success: Secrets to Sleeping Well Every Night
• The Secret to Making Healthy Eating Habits Stick
• Prevention is Better Than Cure: How to Prevent Chronic Diseases
• The Keys to Happy Hormones for Women
• Transform Your Relationship With Food: End Emotional Eating and Dieting for Good
• Busting Myths in Nutrition: What You Really Need to Know About Diets & Nutrition

Rather than just provide theory, Melissa uses memorable stories and anecdotes to convey information to have a bigger impact on her audience.

She also makes each talk interactive through fun exercises that attendees can apply to their lives, so they walk away armed with knowledge and steps to improve their health.
Most workshops also include a handy resource attendees can take away with further information on the topic.

Each workshop is a 30-minute presentation of theory and instructions on the main exercise, followed by a 20-minute exercise, concluding with a 10-minute Q&A/reflective discussion. This timeframe is perfect for ‘lunch and learns’ as well as evening workshops. Each workshop is appropriate for 20-30 people to ensure attendees receive the support they require to complete the exercise and get the most value from the session.

Want to know more or would like to book a workshop? Contact Melissa here.