top ten FAQs

What is the food&being™ approach?

I’ve always found cooking to be therapeutic. This lies at the heart of my approach, which is why I call myself the Cooking Therapy Coach. I believe that the sensory experience of food and cooking can help us access parts of ourselves that we don’t often visit and this, in turn, helps us get unstuck and rise to reach our full potential more holistically and authentically. We’ll cook together and we’ll talk about who you want to be. I might recommend a session to tackle a specific area that may take us out of the kitchen environment but all our exploration will happen in the lovely safe space of the kitchen. The food&being™ approach is a concoction that I developed over the last few years, through my own experience, coupled with my numerous qualifications and certifications.

Here, I want to take the opportunity to say that my approach is not about nutrition, weight loss, or managing your relationship with food, though the ‘whys’ behind similar themes may be explored more deeply if you choose to. It’s worth mentioning that I do not champion diet culture. I come from an intuitive eating and intuitive movement school of thought and I favour body neutrality over body positivity.

How does it differ from therapy and mentoring?

Great question! I want to start by clarifying that although cooking can feel therapeutic and, we’ll absolutely harness the utmost healing properties from this sensory experience, this process is not a replacement for talk therapy. In my approach, we explore your ambitions, behaviours, and perspectives to understand what is serving you well, or not, in being who you want to be. Unlike talk therapy, we do not delve deeply into your past or traumas, however, we do honour and validate them, and we’ll pay visits to them to gather all the wisdom and learnings that you’d like to bring into the present and future. That’s the space we’re concerned with specifically.

In terms of my contribution, I will be here to listen, hold space, and guide you through gentle and timely questions, pauses, and reflections to help unlock your own answers, because as a coach, I inherently believe that you are a whole, resourceful being, who has everything you need within you already.

As much as I might share some stories with you, or possibly make a few suggestions to help you think about all the options out there, I do not believe in giving advice. And this is why I am not a mentor. I want you to connect with yourself so deeply that you can really hear yourself, your gut, your intuition and follow that.

What do we do in our Cooking Together sessions?

The simple answer is we cook and talk. For me, cooking creates a safe space. I feel that I can really have a good chat with someone, especially if I have to talk about hard things or feel a little vulnerable because it means that I don’t have to make eye contact all the time, which may occasionally feel uncomfortable. Cooking is also grounding and that allows us to manage our state so we can be more receptive and in tune with what’s happening around us and at the same time let go of any inhibitions that may be coming in the way of us expressing ourselves fully. You’ll often hear me tell you to say what comes to mind first - we validate whatever comes through, unpack it, and then frame it in a way that is helpful and relevant to you. Remember, the kitchen is a judgement-free zone.

How much do your programs cost and how do I book a chat with you?

Every program I offer is tailor-made for you, be it as an individual, group, or team. This means that for the majority of services I offer, unlike the wonderful lunch offer at Côte, I do not have a ‘prix fixe’. Once we’ve had our initial coffee&chat, I’ll come back to you with a proposal that includes the number of sessions or structure we discussed and an accompanying cost. I firmly believe that investing in oneself is not only an act of self-care, but it also holds us accountable to follow through, which is what we ultimately look for. It’s worth mentioning that I hold a few spaces (at my discretion) for beings who may still be on a journey to financial independence. These could be individuals as well as groups, such as social businesses, charities, or voluntary organisations. In these instances, the agreed payment plan will be based on what can be comfortably afforded.

Do I have to travel to come to the sessions?

We can cook together virtually so, in short, no. I am based in Northwest London, so if you’re based around here, we can also have the sessions in your kitchen. The most important thing is that you have a distraction-free environment and time allocated to yourself to engage wholly in the process. Get in touch and let’s talk about what works for you. I’m certain we’ll find a way to make it work.

Does everything we discuss remain confidential?

You and I both agree to keep each other's confidential information in the strictest confidence. You can trust me with your innermost thoughts. This means I won’t share your private information with anyone else, and I expect the same courtesy in return. Once you make the decision for us to cook together, you’ll receive a short contract that outlines everything clearly, including the full confidentiality clause. It is accepted practice that topics arising during our sessions may be anonymously shared with other coaching professionals for the purpose of training, supervision, mentoring, evaluation and professional development. However, no details that could identify you will be shared. I’ll always ask for your consent to share things like testimonials or photos of the food that we cook together - you will always have the final word on it.

I’m not great at cooking but I enjoy it. Is this for me?

Yes, yes, yes!! Cooking together is not about skill. I’m not interested in how well you cook or how proficient you are in the kitchen - if it brings you joy, relaxation, and comfort, you’re in! Though I’ll be guiding you on the themes/meaning of the recipes to choose, just like the process relies on your agenda, it will rely on your recipes. This is why I say I’ll meet you where you are at. You can rest assured that we’ll only move at the pace you set, both with the food and the being.

I have food allergies or specific dietary requirements. Will your recipes be good for me?

You’re in great company. I have my own set of allergies and dietary requirements and I grew up around family members who also had specific dietary requirements, so I’m very comfortable in situations that require me to adapt. This being said, I tend to recommend that if you have a severe allergy, with a possible reaction to minimal exposure, we go with a virtual program to keep you as safe as possible. We’ll also cook your chosen recipes, so unless you ask me for one of mine, there won’t be any issues there. I can also help make suggestions for adjustments to the desired recipes so that we can make them you-friendly when we cook, always with your guidance and sign-off. You’ll buy your own ingredients, so I’ll always recommend that you buy them from places or sources that you have either tried before or fully trust.

Are you a trained chef?

I have never been to professional culinary school, though I’ve been cooking with my grandad from a very young age and he was a chef to Her Late Majesty the Queen when she resided in Malta, so I’ll leave you to make up your mind on that (a story for another time). For me, cooking is about soul and heart and I was never interested in working in professional kitchens, so that wasn’t a path I wanted to take. Having said this, I hold my certifications for Food Safety Level 1 and Introduction to Allergens, which I keep refreshed and up to date.

How can I find out when you launch the Cooking Together group workshops or programs?

There are various ways you can stay in touch. The most reliable way is to sign up for the newsletter below, that way, you’ll get the latest updates first and get all the information on any special launches or offers before anyone else. I promise to only send relevant content and no spammy things. You can also follow me on Instagram, where I’ll be posting about all the workshops and programs and direct you on how to sign up for them. If I were you, I’d do both things, just to be safe. Plus you always get access to a freebie when you sign up to the newsletter!