About Lucy Harper: Nutritional Therapist & Wellbeing Coach in Bristol
Because “Normal” Test Results Aren’t Always the Whole Story.
There is nothing more frustrating than knowing something is deeply out of kilter, only to be told your results are “fine.” I help you look beyond the lab reports to find the root cause of your symptoms.
A Journey of Lived Experience: Nutrition, Mental Health, and Root-Cause Healing
For over a decade, I’ve been fascinated by the power of food. But my real education didn’t happen in a classroom—it happened at my kitchen table.
I watched my husband battle a chronic autoimmune condition that doctors couldn’t quite pin down. Later, I navigated a terrifying mental health crisis with my daughter. Despite her suffering from auditory/visual hallucinations and deep anxiety, every GP clinical test came back as “normal”.
That was my turning point. I realized that if I didn’t dig deeper into the connection between the gut, the brain, and the nervous system, my family would stay stuck. We found the root cause through private testing (it was a non-coeliac gluten sensitivity), repaired her gut, and within six weeks, she had her life back. I do this work because I know that hope is a strategy, and you shouldn’t have to be an expert just to get your health back.
Who I Work With:
Specialist Support for Food Intolerance, Trauma, and Chronic Fatigue
You might feel like you’re doing “all the right things,” yet you still feel completely out of kilter. My clients often come to me when they are navigating that difficult space where their body feels like a stranger.
As a trauma-informed Nutritional Therapist and Chrysalis Effect Trained ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Specialist, I’m here to support you if you are experiencing:
- Persistent Gut Issues: You’re tired of the bloating, discomfort, and the constant stress of never knowing how your stomach will react to a meal.
- Suspected Food Intolerance & Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivities: You have a nagging feeling that something you’re eating—like gluten—is making you feel unwell, even if your GP tests came back “normal.”
- Disordered Eating: You want to heal your relationship with food and your body, moving away from the “love-hate” battle and back toward nourishment and peace.
- Anxiety and Low Mood: You feel “flat,” overwhelmed, or constantly on edge, and you’ve realized that your mental wellbeing and your physical health are inextricably linked.
- Chronic Fatigue: You are struggling with a deep, persistent exhaustion and need a structured, supportive way to rebuild your vitality.
- The “Normal” Trap: You are fed up with being told your test results are fine when you know things are not right. You’re ready to move past the confusion of the internet and find real, hopeful clarity.
More than your average Nutritionist in Bristol: A Holistic Approach to the Root Cause
I’m Lucy Harper—a Nutritional Therapist, Wellbeing Coach, and EFT Practitioner.
My aim is to help you uncover the root cause of your symptoms using a truly holistic approach.
While my work today is deeply rooted in science and psychology, my path here was a journey of following my passions and observing how the world works.
The Psychology of Health
I have always been passionate about travel and a very broad range of foods. For many years, I was fascinated by the link between what we eat and how we feel. However, after obtaining my degree in languages and working around the world, I was actually quite reluctant to go back to school for another three years.
I knew even then that in order to really help people, you need to understand how their brains work, not just what they need to be eating. I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to training as both a Nutritional Therapist and a Psychotherapist at that stage, so I decided instead to follow my values into the world of Fair Trade.
My Turning Point
The jump to finally retrain came from a moment of clinical clarity within my own family. A close relative of mine was suffering from a severe Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) flare-up. We decided to try the low-FODMAPs diet—a protocol that was gaining traction elsewhere but that very few people in the UK were familiar with at the time.
The link between their diet and their symptoms was so clear, yet it had taken many years of conventional medical treatment before a gastroenterologist even suggested looking at food to alleviate the struggle. Seeing that transformation was my turning point. I realized I couldn’t stand on the sidelines anymore; I needed to be the person helping people bridge that gap.
More Than Just Nutrition
Today, I use that same “detective” mindset for every client I see. Because I understand that your physical symptoms are often intertwined with your psychological wellbeing, I don’t just hand over a meal plan. I incorporate multiple modalities to support you effectively:
Nutritional Therapy
We use functional testing and targeted protocols to fix the physical foundations of your gut and energy.
EFT and Tapping
We work with the nervous system to release the emotional blocks and trauma that often mirror physical illness.
Wellbeing Coaching
I provide the partnership and mindset shifts you need to actually implement these changes and reach your full potential.
My 6 Core Principles
These are the values that guide every session we have together:
- Integrity: I will always be honest about what the science says and what your body needs.
- The Root Cause: We don’t just “mask” symptoms; we find out why they are there.
- Kindness & Care: You will always be heard, seen, and supported in a safe space.
- Authenticity: I bring my real self—and my real experiences—to our partnership.
- Empowerment: My goal is to give you the tools so you feel back in control of your health.
- Bio-Individuality: There is no “one size fits all.” Your plan is as unique as your DNA
In Her Own Words...
Nutritional therapy has been transformational to my life. I have consulted many doctors and was becoming more and more ill. All my symptoms have either greatly improved or disappeared, just by changing and adapting my diet.
I am now able to live a ‘normal life’ and not feel sick, have pain or be exhausted.
One of UK’s Few Trauma-Informed Nutritional Therapists and Wellbeing Coaches - now based in Bristol
I believe that deep compassion must be backed by deep expertise. My training has been a continuous journey to fill the “missing gaps” in traditional healthcare, ensuring that when we work together, no stone is left unturned.
The Missing Piece: Addressing Trauma and the Nervous System
While I have been fascinated by health since my 20s, being married to a psychotherapist for the last three decades has given me a front-row seat to the complexities of human psychology. I understand the “why” behind our behaviors far more deeply than I did in my younger years.
To bridge the gap between what we should eat and what we actually do, I added Wellbeing Coaching and trained as a Trauma-Informed Practitioner.
Finally, I incorporated Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
I saw EFT as the vital missing link in Nutritional Therapy; it allows us to address the nervous system and emotional blocks much more rapidly than traditional talk therapy alone.
Clinical Research into Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity
My commitment to the gut-brain connection isn’t just theoretical. I have seen first-hand the transformative effect of nutritional protocols on children. I supported one child through a Candida overgrowth that directly impacted their behavior, and another whose mental health was seriously affected by gluten.
These experiences led me to carry out my Research Masters on the impact of gluten on health. This work resulted in the publication of my academic paper: ‘An exploration into the motivation for gluten avoidance in the absence of coeliac disease’ (2018).
Qualifications:
Your Accredited Chrysalis Effect Practitioner & BANT Nutritional Therapist
By choosing a practitioner registered with BANT and the CNHC, you can be confident that I am a highly trained, fully insured Nutritional Therapist in Bristol held to the highest professional standards in the UK.
- MSc in Nutritional Therapy: University of Worcester.
- BANT & CNHC Registered: Member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council.
- Trauma Informed Specialist: Trauma-informed Nutritional Therapist and Chrysalis Effect Trained ME/CFS Specialist.
- Accredited Wellbeing Coach: ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management).
- EFT & Matrix Reimprinting: Level 2 Practitioner (EFTMRA).
- Fully Insured: Professional indemnity insurance provided by Balens, specialists in health and wellbeing.
How I Work: Integrating Nutritional Therapy, EFT, and Wellbeing Coaching
Nutritional Therapy
Focuses on the “fuel.” Using functional testing and gut-repair protocols to fix the physical foundations.
EFT & Matrix Reimprinting
Focuses on the “nervous system.” Releasing the emotional weight of trauma.
Wellbeing Coaching
Focuses on the “how.” Providing the accountability and mindset shifts to reach your full potential.
What my clients say about working with me....
I’m really grateful for your help. I’m overall eating and drinking far better than before which has resulted in a lot less pain and therefore I’m taking less painkillers. I’ve also lost a little weight and I really don’t think I’d manage to do all I am doing without the tools you’ve given me to manage my fibromyalgia & possible arthritis. And most of all, I have learned to adopt a different mindset, a more positive and proactive approach to solving any problems. All of this is due to your help and guidance, so thank you very very much!
I was extremely impressed by the fact Lucy bases almost everything she recommends on current scientific research. Her wealth of knowledge and experience in nutrition is formidable yet she clearly also keeps up to date with current research. The inflammation in my hip and shoulder joints has been reduced significantly. I still need to determine whether it’s the nutritional supplements that have made the difference, or the elimination of certain foods; or a bit of both. Yet without a doubt, the inflammation/pain has now receded into the background.