Compassionate clinicians with time to listen, clear explanations and a holistic approach to care. Our GPs, therapists and practitioners work together so you don’t have to repeat your story, bringing medical expertise and complementary therapies together under one roof.
Dr Riaan Swanepoel is one of the key practitioners, co-ordinators and Directors here at Idos and will often be the first port of call for clients with conventional health care needs. He see’s health advocacy as the way forward in helping people take control of their lives and wellbeing and places a strong emphasis on working in a multi-disciplinary team to create better outcomes for vulnerable groups in society.
With over 20 years of experience in the NHS working in paediatrics, as a GP, and in frailty services, Dr Swanepoel has an experience with all age groups and a wide breadth of health conditions. Over the last 12 years, he has also been the local Clinical Commissioning Group (ICB) lead GP for both child and adult safeguarding. He can help you with new and existing nonemergency medical issues and will collaborate and communicate with other practitioners at your request. He is also the lead on medical examinations for travel and work, as well as vaccines and in depth health assessments.
GMC 4143943
Dr Ceri Sutherland began her career in sleep medicine in 2001 at two London teaching hospitals while training to be a consultant anaesthetist. She is now qualified in both specialities and works as the lead Sleep Consultant in her NHS practice. She has a strong interest in Sleep and Circadian biology and has more recently extended this interest into the related topic of Fatigue.
With close family members living with long-term serious health conditions, Dr Ceri Sutherland believes in a holistic, complementary approach to health that centres on lifestyle and respect for the internal body clock. She helps clients harmonise their internal physiology with their external world, including the timing of light exposure, diet, and exercise.
A longstanding practitioner of yoga, meditation, and timed eating and exercise, Dr Ceri Sutherland believes that these practices—combined with good sleep and relaxation—create the foundation for all other aspects of health.
Michael O’Halloran works part-time at Idos as a counsellor, supporting a maximum of six individuals at any one time. This approach allows him to dedicate his full attention to each person he has the privilege of supporting. He specialises in Psychosynthesis counselling, a holistic approach designed to integrate and balance the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical dimensions of the human experience.
He seeks to truly understand each individual—what ignites their passions, drives their ambitions, and fills their days with purpose. He is interested in what inspires someone to rise each morning and embrace the world, and in what fills their heart with joy and meaning. He cares about a person’s past only insofar as it shapes who they are today, influencing their journey and the person they have become.
Qualifying as a Medical Herbalist in 2006 and a Registered Nutritional Therapist in 2011, Sarah’s aim is to get to the root of your health problem and start the healing process from there, through a nourishing, nutritious eating plan and herbal remedies that are specifically targeted to you.
Conditions that I see regularly include:
• Digestive problems such as IBS, reflux, bloating, indigestion, food intolerances, constipation, diverticulitis
• Hormonal problems such as menopausal symptoms, PMS, endometriosis, PCOS, prevention of osteoporosis
• Stress, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia
• Type II diabetes, high cholesterol & weight issues
• Recurrent stubborn infections such as coughs, colds, chest
• infections, sinusitis, cystitis, low immunity
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
Dip NT Nutritional Therapy
Tutor on the Foundation in PlantMedicine course at Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge
Nutritional Therapist at Breast Cancer Haven, Leeds (4 years)
Past lecturer on the Medicinal Plants & Functional Foods MSc - Newcastle University
Dr Vishaal Goel is a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry with a strong interest in integrated care, working at the interface of physical and mental health. He completed his medical degree at Newcastle University in 2000 and began psychiatric training in the North East in 2002, gaining broad experience across General Adult, Old Age, Forensic, and Learning Disabilities Psychiatry. After earning Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2006, Dr Goel worked in London in Rehabilitation and Addictions Psychiatry and held a Clinical Teaching Fellow post at St George’s, University of London, where he completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare and Biomedical Education.
In 2010, he began Higher Specialist Training in Liaison Psychiatry at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, including work at the National Psychosis and Mother and Baby Units. Since 2013, Dr Vishaal Goel has led a multidisciplinary team as a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
His clinical interests include self-harm, chronic pain, functional neurological disorders, maternal mental health, and the treatment of a wide range of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and complex trauma.
Dominic Cleary arrived in Newcastle in 1995 and immediately joined a shiatsu project providing free sessions for people living with HIV and AIDS, funded by a local Health Authority over a three year period.
He has been a member of The Shiatsu Society for 33 years, the umbrella organisation for shiatsu professionals and practitioners in the UK, and is now registered as FwSS – Fellow with the Shiatsu Society.
Shiatsu, meaning “finger pressure” in Japanese, is one of the East Asian health modalities that understands good health as a unique combination of balance across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels of experience. Disharmony, and therefore symptoms, can originate at any one of these levels or combinations of them. It is the role of the shiatsu practitioner to diagnose, treat, and assist the body’s innate self-healing abilities to promote a sense of relaxation and wellbeing. Dominic Cleary aims to help clients rediscover their “free flow”, a state where everything functions smoothly, without tension, constriction, or obstruction, allowing them to feel alive and at ease.
Dr Freda Summerfield has been a qualified yoga instructor since 2021 and has a background as a medical practitioner in Diabetes and Endocrinology. She now combines her expertise in both fields in her current role.
Dr Freda Summerfield believes yoga can benefit everyone, but emphasises finding what works for each individual. Her yoga practice is inclusive of people of all ages, levels of fitness, and mobility, whether or not they have previous experience. Her sessions incorporate a mix of movement, reath work, mindfulness, strength work, and balance, all designed to bring positivity to the space, with the added element of fun.
She understands that every day is different for each individual, so her one-to-one yoga sessions are tailored to her clients’ needs and how they are feeling on the day. Dr Freda Summerfield works with clients with varied medical histories, including anxiety, ADHD, asthma, and chronic conditions, with the goal of improving general health and wellbeing.
Sayuri M. Naruse has been practising Clinical Aromatherapy in the UK for more than 16 years. Originally a qualified teacher, she turned to aromatherapy massage following an unexpected life tragedy, experiencing its profound benefits firsthand. Inspired by this, she became an aromatherapist with the goal of helping people facing physical and emotional difficulties.
Her clients have experienced a wide range of benefits, including relief from muscular pain, aches, and stiffness; reduction of tension-type headaches and stiff neck; recovery from conditions such as fibromyalgia; assistance with emotional pain, grieving, and anxiety; maintenance and romotion of well-being; and restoration after intensive work, including postnatal care.
The effectiveness of her approach comes from her expertise in Acupressure and Trigger Point Massage, combined with the use of selected high-quality pure essential oils blended for each session. Massage is Sayuri M. Naruse’s passion, and she has trained in ten different massage styles while studying the evidence intensively as an academic massage researcher. She is dedicated to promoting holistic health and well-being.
Dr Ahmed Jaafar is a consultant geriatrician who obtained his primary medical degree in Baghdad in 1997. He began his postgraduate training in the UK in 2000 and completed his specialist training in 2009. Since then, he has been working as a consultant geriatrician in Newcastle (Freeman/RVI), with a subspecialty interest in falls and syncope. With over 12 years of experience as a consultant, he also contributes to acute medical admissions, manages rehabilitation beds, and serves as the named Adults Safeguarding Doctor for Newcastle Hospitals.
Throughout his career, he has taken on various roles in education and training, including serving as a Royal College of Physicians tutor, associate clinical lecturer at Newcastle University medical school, medical appraiser, and chair of the North East Orthogeriatrics Network.
Having completed most of his postgraduate training in the North East, he chose to settle in Newcastle. He and his wife have three daughters, all born in the region. As a family, they enjoy outdoor walking and value staying connected with their roots abroad. They are proud dual nationals and feel a deep affection for the region and its people.
GMC 5203491
Marina Oliveira de Carvalho has six years of experience in private practice and is currently training as a Jungian Analyst with the Guild of Analytical Psychologists (GAP) in London. Originally from Brazil, she now lives in Newcastle and specialises in sexual problems, sexual pleasure, and sexual diversity (LGBT+). She is an open-minded therapist who provides an empathic and nonjudgmental environment, working with clients in either English or Portuguese.
Marina helps clients explore how sexuality can be fully lived today, with non-judgmental thoughts, pleasure, and connection. She supports individuals who may feel disconnected from themselves, helping them find ways to reconnect. As a Jungian therapist, she works with dreams and incorporates mythology as archetypal metaphors for behaviour and emotions.
Chartered psychologist (CPsychol 726977) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Master in Clinical Psychology in a Jungian approach
PhD Course in HumanSexuality
Nigel Issa helps clients focus on their health and longevity, enabling them to perform, feel, and look better as they age, leading to a healthier and more fulfilling life. His services cover mobility, strength, conditioning, nutrition, performance coaching, and rehabilitation. He is a qualified personal trainer, nutrition advisor, and exercise therapy specialist, with expertise in chronic health conditions and back pain.
Nigel Issa works with clients who have busy lives and recognise the need to prioritise their health and longevity but struggle to do so, as well as those who have developed a health condition or injury that limits their activities. He offers expert support to help clients rebuild physical strength and mobility, perform at their best, and improve their overall quality of life. He is also 1/4 of our Back Pain Clinic Team.
Level 4 PT Exercise Therapy & Back Pain exercise specialist
Level 4 nutrition advisor for weight loss
Age related and sports performance nutrition
Founder of LongevityPerformance Coaching
Senior advisor to startups and consultancies on Artifical Intelligence
Amita Godse is a Specialist Kidney & Diabetes Dietitian with over 15 Years of NHS Experience as well as experience of dietetic practice in India. She is now based in the UK, Offering Specialist Dietetic Support for Kidney & Diabetes Care.
Amita is a registered specialist kidney dietitian with over 15 years of experience working in acute NHS services, delivering expert nutritional care to individuals managing complex kidney and diabetes-related conditions. With a dual specialisation in renal nutrition and diabetes management, she provides patients with comprehensive, personalised dietary strategies that support long-term health and help slow the progression of kidney disease.
Balancing the dietary needs for both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes is uniquely challenging. Amita's extensive clinical background enables her to guide patients through this complexity with confidence, helping them make sustainable lifestyle changes that protect both kidney function and blood sugar control.
Having qualified as a dietitian in India, Amita brings an additional four years of clinical experience from her early practice there. This gives Amita a deep understanding of the dietary habits, cultural preferences, and traditional cuisines of South Asian communities. She is fluent in Indian dietary patterns and adept at providing culturally relevant guidance to Indian-origin patients in the UK, helping them navigate renal and diabetic nutrition without giving up their cultural food identity.
Her goal is to empower patients with the knowledge and support they need to take control of their health. By offering compassionate, culturally informed, and evidence-based dietary advice, Amita helps individuals with kidney disease and diabetes live healthier lives while enjoying their food.
If you're navigating kidney complications, diabetes, or both, Amita is here to provide clear, practical guidance tailored to your unique health needs and lifestyle.
Specialist Expertise
• Renal Dietetics (CKD stage 1-5, dialysis, kidney health maintenance)
• Diabetes Nutrition Therapy (Type 1, Type 2, pre-diabetes)
• Managing coexisting Kidney Disease & Diabetes
• Individualised dietary plans tailored to lifestyle, culture & medical needs
• Culturally competent dietetic care for South Asian patients
Contributions & Collaborations
• Kidney Kitchen (Kidney Care UK): South Asian recipe magazine and African and
Caribbean recipe magazine
• British Journal of Diabetes (2025): Author of a review article on kidney-diabetes
dietary management- bridging the gap between dietary guidelines and patient
experiences.
• UK Kidney Association (UKKA): Contributor to the development of a national
teaching module on the kidney-diabetes diet for healthcare professionals
Dr Badri Bechlem is a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist and a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) psychotherapist based in Newcastle. He has extensive experience working within the NHS, supporting individuals experiencing a wide range of psychological difficulties. Alongside his clinical work, he is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Newcastle University.
In his private practice, he is a specialist in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and works in line with NICE guidelines and the strongest available evidence for the treatment of common mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression. CBT forms the core of his clinical work, with a focus on practical, collaborative, and structured therapy that supports meaningful and lasting change. He also draws on a range of complementary, evidence-based psychological approaches to tailor therapy to each individual’s needs, including attachment-informed approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness-based interventions.
He has particular expertise in working with trauma. Having spent four years in a specialist trauma service in London, he is passionate about supporting individuals affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD. He is trained in Trauma-Focused CBT, EMDR, and Narrative Exposure Therapy, and has also supported people experiencing OCD, social anxiety, depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorder, health anxiety, work-related stress, postnatal depression, phobias, and sleep difficulties.
He understands that being human is complex. None of us choose our family or life circumstances, yet with the right support, meaningful change and recovery are possible. Many difficulties are maintained by habitual patterns of thinking and coping that once served a purpose but may now increase distress. In therapy, he works collaboratively with clients to understand these patterns and to develop new, more compassionate ways of responding, supporting people to live more authentically and in line with their values. He aims to offer a safe, warm, and supportive space in which change can feel possible.
Therapy begins with a comprehensive assessment to develop a shared understanding of the difficulties (formulation). Together, an approach is agreed that best meets the client’s goals and needs. Since completing his Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) teacher training in 2020, he often integrates mindfulness into his clinical work where helpful.
He also brings experience in supporting racially minoritised individuals and LGBTQ+ clients as they navigate complex transitions, workplace challenges, and family or community dynamics. He is committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative therapeutic space in which all aspects of identity are welcomed and valued.
Dr Riaan Swanepoel is one of the key practitioners, co-ordinators and Directors here at Idos and will often be the first port of call for clients with conventional health care needs. He see’s health advocacy as the way forward in helping people take control of their lives and wellbeing and places a strong emphasis on working in a multi-disciplinary team to create better outcomes for vulnerable groups in society.
With over 20 years of experience in the NHS working in paediatrics, as a GP, and in frailty services, Dr Swanepoel has an experience with all age groups and a wide breadth of health conditions. Over the last 12 years, he has also been the local Clinical Commissioning Group (ICB) lead GP for both child and adult safeguarding. He can help you with new and existing nonemergency medical issues and will collaborate and communicate with other practitioners at your request. He is also the lead on medical examinations for travel and work, as well as vaccines and in depth health assessments.
GMC 4143943
Dr Ceri Sutherland began her career in sleep medicine in 2001 at two London teaching hospitals while training to be a consultant anaesthetist. She is now qualified in both specialities and works as the lead Sleep Consultant in her NHS practice. She has a strong interest in Sleep and Circadian biology and has more recently extended this interest into the related topic of Fatigue.
With close family members living with long-term serious health conditions, Dr Ceri Sutherland believes in a holistic, complementary approach to health that centres on lifestyle and respect for the internal body clock. She helps clients harmonise their internal physiology with their external world, including the timing of light exposure, diet, and exercise.
A longstanding practitioner of yoga, meditation, and timed eating and exercise, Dr Ceri Sutherland believes that these practices—combined with good sleep and relaxation—create the foundation for all other aspects of health.
Eirik has been a non-executive director of Idos for the last 2 years. He has a background in commercial property management where he has owned and run several businesses over 30+ years and brings to Idos experience and knowledge of business management practices. He has particular focus on the property strategies for Idos.
Gerard Bartley has been a non-exec director at Idos for 2 years. He has a strong background in finance, IT and data management after working for a wide variety of global organisations including KPMG, Tesco, Asda, Sodexo and FrieslandCampina. He brings a wealth of experience to the board with a specific focus on finance, marketing and IT.
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