Meet the team

Kim Kakebe

As a Traditional Acupuncturist I help people to counter the problems and imbalances that our busy lives can create. Everyone handles stress differently; for some this may manifest as digestive issues or difficulty sleeping, for others it may be headaches, a sore back, high blood pressure or perhaps just that sense of feeling below par.

I believe health is more than the mere absence of disease and is also about the quality of life. I want to help you feel in greater control of your health goals and help you to make the best of your current circumstances.

My training and interests include a combination of TCM and 5-element styles of acupuncture which I can combine with Tui Na (remedial Chinese) massage. I also trained in a Japanese style of acupuncture called Toyohari – in this system very fine needles or sterling silver tools are used to make contact with the skin but are generally not inserted. Adjunct therapies including using small magnetic pellets, warming moxa and other tools are used.

I also volunteered for seven years as the resident acupuncturist at Terrence Higgins Trust in Bristol, treating patients with complex health issues.

I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council and adhere fully to its Code of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct. I am licensed and fully insured.

I am originally from San Francisco and am privileged to have an international background that includes languages and magazine publishing. My experience in these areas means I understand the pressures of working to a deadline, the ups and downs of working as part of a team and finding your feet in new surroundings.

Gemma Sperring

Gemma grew up in Portishead and graduated from Swansea University with a Masters degree in Osteopathy in 2015. During her masters, Gemma researched the relationship between mental well-being and chronic low back pain and this topic still remains a keen interest.

Since 2019 Gemma has had two children and this has sparked a new interest in womens health, particularly post natal care. With this in mind, she has decided to embark on a 2 year post graduate diploma into Osteopathic Care and management of womens health conditions which begins May 2022 and hopes, once qualified, she can assist in providing quality treatment for a number of female specific complaints.

Within the clinic Gemma treats using a wide variety of osteopathic techniques, she is also qualified to use dry needling (acupuncture).

Steve Harper  BSc (Hons) Ost
Osteopathy / Cranial Osteopathy

Steve grew up in Nailsea and as a youngster developed a keen interest in sports, playing for Avon County Basketball Team and gaining a black belt in Tae-kwon-Do, which he taught for two years.
Following school he went on to achieve a degree in Physiology and Biochemistry from Reading University. Still keen on sports he picked up the inevitable injury which led to an interest in sports medicine and osteopathy particularly. Steve qualified from The British School of Osteopathy in 2003.
Steven treats using both structural and cranial osteopathic approaches and also uses dry needling (western acupuncture). He also has a keen interest in how health technology can help improve our general well being.
Steve worked for Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club for 7 years heading up their medical team and has also spent 3 years looking after the first team players at Bristol City Football Club.

Kathryn Harper  BSc (Hons) Ost
Osteopath

Ruth Haskew M.Ost (Hons)
Osteopathy

Ruth graduated from the University College of Osteopathy in 2016 with Masters in Osteopathy having previously worked for five years as a sports massage therapist in London and Suffolk. She relocated to the west in 2019.

Taking a whole person approach, listening to your story, Ruth seeks to help you address the causes and contributing factors of your problem, not just treat the symptoms.

Ruth enjoys working with adults, older adults, pregnancy and postpartum, persistent pain and amateur sports people.

Ruth uses predominantly gentle osteopathic techniques, including soft tissue, medical acupuncture and cranial osteopathy to help ease your body’s strains. Ruth will work with you to create a management plan to help you move forwards.

A session can also involve a detailed movement analysis using the JEMStm approach to help you understand and address movement dysfunctions. Whilst this is suitable for most people, and of particular interest to active and sorts people, it is also incredibly useful for less mobile and older adults.

Ruth is available for appointments Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Robyn Ash
Osteopathy

Anthony Albertini
Osteopathy

Wendy Heath  RSHom
Homeopath

Wendy is a qualified Homeopath, registered with the Society of Homeopaths. She has been practicing in the Portishead and Bristol area since 1993.   Homeopathy is a gentle and safe way of treating the whole person – looking at the physical, emotional and mental state of the patient.

It is safe for babies, pregnant women and the elderly, working alongside conventional medicine.

Wendy treats a range of problems eczema, psoriasis, asthma, migraines, arthritis, period and menopausal problems to name but a few.

A very small amount of the diluted substance is given in the form of impregnated sugar pills.  It acts by stimulating the persons own healing system.

Wendy offers a free 15 minute consultation – to give you an idea as to whether Homeopathy can help you – ask at reception.

Tom Riddell  BSc Sports Rehabilitation

Sports Rehabilitator and massage therapist

Tom graduated in 2012 from The University of Salford with a degree in Sport Rehabilitation and joined Walnut Grove in 2013.

Tom works with a full range of patients with both acute and chronic injuries and works with them to help facilitate getting them back to doing what they love.

He also has a keen interest in injury prevention, by creating exercise plans based on the demands of sports to help reduce the risk of injuries. Also providing sports massage treatment to help manage muscle tightness and improve recovery.

As well as working at Walnut Grove he works with Nailsea & Tickenham Football Club and in the SGS college Sport Academy working with younger athletes looking to break into professional sport.

He also recently started working at F2 Functional Fitness providing 1:1 suspension training.

The main sport he enjoys is swimming, previously being a competitive swimmer and still works as a swimming teacher, as well as playing squash and golf. He also plays bass guitar and keyboard in a band.

Becky Hobbs
Personal Trainer Specialising in GP Exercise Referral, Pre and post-natal Exercise & Exercise for Peri and post-menopausal

Becky’s journey in the fitness industry began over a decade ago after having both her children when her own ‘return to fitness’ journey began. Her curiosity to learn and her own experiences have led her to expand beyond personal training into the ‘prehab’ and ‘rehab’ space within her PT customer base, as well as teaching a variety of fitness and wellness classes.

She is a Personal Trainer Specialising in GP Exercise Referral, Pre and post-natal Exercise & Exercise for Peri and post-menopausal. CIMSPA registered, Becky also teaches Fitness Pilates, Chair based Fitness and Aqua Fit classes. She is highly motivated to help people achieve their own goals using functional exercise to help her clients rehabilitation and Independence.

“What I love about my job is seeing my client’s journey. Whether it’s seeing them through from prep to the recovery of a Knee replacement, changing their anxiety about exercise to their love of it, or building their functional strength to help with their well-being”

Tatiana Mirren

Yoga and Pilates Teacher, Life and Well-being Coach

Tatiana has been practising yoga for over 25 years and has been teaching it since May 2019. She is an insured and certified yoga instructor, having completed a comprehensive 16-month-long teacher training with the YogaCampus.

Tatiana incorporates the elements of different yoga styles and techniques in her teaching and offers appropriate variations to students depending on their level of experience and the specific goals they are working towards. She feels comfortable working with complete beginners more experienced yogis and a variety of age groups. Additionally, she offers yoga therapy sessions that can help address specific movement patterns or help recover from injuries/manage pain.

Tatiana has also practised Pilates for many years and added it to her teaching repertoire in June 2022 when she completed Pilates Matwork Level 1 course with APPI, the world’s leading provider of Physiotherapy and Pilates education. Tatiana loves helping her students to build core strength in a fun and safe environment. All of her classes are accessible and can be done on a mat or using a chair and other props. 

Tatiana is also a Life and Well-being Coach and offers a unique blend of mind/body techniques that can support people in achieving their health and personal goals, alleviating stress and anxiety, and living their lives to the fullest.

Rebecca Candy

Hi, my name is Rebecca and I have been a holistic therapist for nearly 20 years.

Mind, body & spirit is very important to me after suffering from severe anxiety and agoraphobia in my 20s. I got into holistic therapies after the treatment I received and since then it’s always been my passion in life to help people with their mind, body & spirit and guide them on their journey of living the life they desire. The services I offer are Massage, Reflexology, Reiki and Crystal Healing. I also run guided meditation classes & workshops to guide you if you are feeling stuck.

Tanya Hewitt. BSC (Hons) MCSP HCPC MSc 
Chartered Physiotherapist, Pilates instructor, Acupuncture trained

Tanya Hewitt has been part of the Walnut Grove team since 2012. Having previously worked for NHS Physiotherapy Services at North Somerset and Bristol, and also at the University of Bristol, where she carried out research into healthy ageing, Tanya has developed her Physiotherapy skills for over 20 years.

Ageing well is one of Tanya’s key interests, originally developed during her Masters in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health. Techniques to support successful ageing weave through the Physiotherapy manual techniques, Acupuncture, tailored exercise, including rehabilitation Pilates that Tanya uses.

Having an interest in sport and physical activity, Tanya guides patients with their rehabilitation to enable return to activity. This includes self-management strategies to minimise risk of injury recurrence.

Tanya teaches Pilates; seated, matwork and rehabilitation classes at Walnut Grove’s Studio and also online.

Beth Wallis BSc (Hons) HCPC
Physiotherapist

Beth is an experienced Chartered Physiotherapist. Qualifying in 2002 she has worked in a variety of settings in the NHS and private sector, specialising in musculoskeletal outpatients for most of her career.
Beth uses manual therapy to reduce your symptoms as well as advice and specific exercises to promote self management. She will work with you to support your recovery and return to normal physical activity and lifestyle. A bespoke exercise programme to improve strength and mobility can be used to help reduce the risk of an injury reoccurring.
Beth trained with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI) in 2009, completing their matwork series. She uses Pilates as part of her exercise rehabilitation programmes, and has experience in teaching Pilates for during and after pregnancy, and with children who struggle with low tone and poor core strength.
Alongside her private work Beth also works as a specialist children’s community Physiotherapist in Bristol. She supports the development of children who are not reaching their milestones, or who have diagnoses such as cerebral palsy or a genetic condition.

Alan Mcferran. MCSP HCPC AACP

Joint Injection specialist

Having graduated from The University of Manchester in 2005, Alan spent 6 years working as a Physiotherapist in Ireland, where he practised in a variety of clinical settings including orthopaedics, neuro and stroke rehabilitation and musculoskeletal outpatients. He is also able to use his skills as an injecting clinician by administering corticosteroid injections.

Prior to this role, Alan was under 21 and first team Physiotherapist at Bristol City Football Club for 11 years. As such, he has worked with hundreds of professional athletes which involved diagnosing, treating and overseeing the rehabilitation of injured footballers. He also played an active role in preventing injuries, assessing players’ wellbeing and developing personalised programmes to help improve their performance.

Lea Shrubshall

From a young age Lea has always been scientifically and medically minded and by
nature, a caring and compassionate individual. In her early 20’s, Lea took a different
path and set-up a successful estate agency with her husband in South Wales, a
rather different field to healthcare but the aspiration to help improve one’s quality of
life remained. Through a good friend, Lea was introduced to the world of foot
healthcare and from that point on made it her mission to train and qualify with the
prestigious College of Foot Healthcare Practitioners.

Lea is a highly qualified individual and works within the community and local sports
clubs. Lea’s passion lies in improving the quality of life for every patient she meets,
regardless of their age. Her practice is a safe and confidential space for all patients,
somewhere embarrassment is not necessary and there will never be any judgement.
You will only find the highest level of attention, care, compassion, and a friendly face
in her clinic. No matter the difficulties experienced, Lea can help and where
necessary, refer to a GP for assessment. Lea particularly loves it when she can
remove pain for a patient. Her most frequently heard phrase is ‘I feel like I have new
feet!’.

Lea loves a strong hot coffee, strength training and a good hike up a mountain with
her dog, Fred. As a Mum of young, sporty, footballing boys, and the wife of a football
coach, Lea has learnt to love football (it wasn’t an easy transition for a rugby loving
Welsh girl). You can find her cuddling her travel coffee mug pitch-side most
weekends, travelling all over for her son’s matches and various tournaments.

Lisa Williams

Lisa trained as a Physiotherapist at Coventry University graduating in 2001 with a BSc (Hons).

She became interested in the profession during her childhood and teenage years because of the multitude of injuries she sustained while playing a variety of different sports.  In fact, her GP suggested she “hang up her hockey stick” if she wanted a career in Physiotherapy after a hockey ball clashed with her hand.

A simple injury, made serious by an altered posture, which she had learned and adopted to mask and compensate for other injuries throughout her lower limbs led Lisa to Orthotics.  She has worn them since age twelve, so had first hand experience of a wide variety of orthotics and casting techniques; both good and bad.

After working for eight years in the NHS covering all aspects of Physiotherapy her passionate interest in Biomechanics led her to work for a private company for two years developing her specialist techniques and then she started working for herself providing biomechanical therapy both in Cardiff and with us in Portishead.  She has access to the market leaders in the provision of custom made orthotics, and uses state of the art equipment to assist in the diagnosis, analysis and monitoring of the forces and pressures exerted throughout each step.  This together with her extensive experience of injuries and compensations allows her to provide a full biomechanical assessment for each individual patient.

Orthotics can be prescribed for a number of different problems from your toes all the way up your spine.

Lisa Williams

Lisa works with babies with flat head syndrome, also known as cranial head remoulding. She is also a trained physiotherapist who works with orthotics. Read more about Lisa here.

Andrew Bird Hearing Ltd.

Rob Bird is usually the audiologist who works at WG from Andrew Bird hearing. 
He qualified with Aston University to become an Audiologist and has worked at WG since 2019. He also works with Andrew Bird hearing at other locations in the SW. He lives in Gloucester with his family and enjoys swimming and rugby.