Meet Our WellbeingTeam

Service Lead - Natasha Dawson

Tasha is a passionate about mental and physical wellbeing, and an active sports person herself, Tasha has extensive experience of coaching young people in sports and physical activity.  After supporting her sister through cancer, Tasha has added to her qualifications by becoming a Level 4 Cancer and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor and a Health & Wellbeing Coach for people with long term health conditions. Tasha is also qualified in Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation alongside being a Mental Health First Aider. 

Alongside her work, Tasha sits on the NHS West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance Board as a Patient and Public Representative (Lay Member) ensuring patient experiences are at the heart of strategic decisions.

In her coaching, Tasha aims to support people to make long-term healthy lifestyle changes, through behaviour change techniques, goal setting and taking part in physical activity that is both beneficial and enjoyable to them. 

Tasha is also interested in research about physical activity and young people with cancer, she says "I completed my research project on physical activity and multi-modal interventions in young adults with cancer which gave me invaluable knowledge that I have now applied to developing our services. I am very grateful to have been mentored by leading academics in the field and receive and award for my project."

Clinical Psychologist - Dr Nicky Bould

Nicky has worked with young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer, for the last 15 years. Alongside her private practice, she is a Senior Clinical Psychologist in the NHS and is the lead Clinical Psychologist in the Young Adult Cancer Service in Leeds. She completed her Doctorate at the University of Leeds and her doctoral research examined the impact having cancer can have on the developmental period of ‘emerging adulthood’. She also co-chairs the UK Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Psycho-Oncology Network. 

Nicky is hugely passionate about providing the best possible psychological care to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. She in trained in and uses a number of different therapeutic approaches in her work, including Compassionate Mind Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and also Eye Movement and Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR). 

Oncology Dietitian - Hazel Watson

Hi, I’m Hazel! 

I’m a specialist oncology dietitian with over 10 years of experience working in the NHS and I’m passionate about supporting people through every stage of their cancer journey. With 8 years of focused experience in cancer care, I specialise in helping individuals manage the eating challenges caused by cancer and its treatments.

I’ve undergone extensive training to guide people in making meaningful changes to their nutrition and lifestyle, helping you reach your health goals and feel your best. Whether you're in treatment or recovery, my goal is to support both your physical and mental wellbeing through personalised nutrition.

As a member of the Health Care Professions Council and the British Dietetic Association, I stay up to date with the latest research and evidence-based practices to offer you the best care possible.

When I’m not talking about food, you’ll probably find me at the gym or walking my dog – staying active helps me unwind!

I’m thrilled to be part of the Ella Dawson Foundation team and I’m excited to continue helping people eat well and feel supported through their cancer diagnosis.

Yoga – Katy Szarko, BWYT Qualified Yoga instructor 

Katy has over 20 years experience in yoga having trained and qualified with the British Wheel of Yoga Teachers.  Over the past 20 years Katy has shared and delivered her practice with thousands of people, through her own groups, private classes, Women Centres, prisons, and schools. 

Katy is highly experienced in supporting people through life-altering experiences, supporting and empowering them throughout treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, and being with them as they navigate their way through the next phase of their lives. Katy is also qualified in palliative care and support through mindful movement, meditation and bereavement support. 

Katy is a passionate believer in the 'I can' philosophy focusing on what CAN be achieved in your body, thoughts, breath at this very moment by anyone, anywhere and at anytime.

Clinical Psychologist – Dr Gita Robson

Since qualifying Gita has worked exclusively with people struggling with physical health problems which include long term conditions and cancer. She draws on a range of psychological therapy models which include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) and psychodynamic therapy to support people to adjust and live well with their conditions. 

Gita works in the NHS for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust across both psycho-oncology and gastroenterology psychology services and has experience of working with young adults across both services. Alongside her NHS work, Gita works in Private Practise where her focus is on providing psychological therapy to people with long term health conditions, including functional and medically unexplained symptoms. She has a strong interest in the gut-brain axis and how emotions are expressed in the body.

Clinical Psychologist - Dr Rachel Attfield

Rachel has worked as a qualified clinical psychologist in the NHS for 15 years. Throughout this time, she has specialised in working with people with a range of health conditions (including cancer, cystic fibrosis and blood disorders). Rachel has a lot of experience in working with young adults and has worked with people around issues such as managing difficult treatments, living with uncertainty, preparing for end of life, low mood and anxiety. 

Rachel draws on a range of different therapeutic approaches and has had post-qualification training in Motivational Interviewing, Compassion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and EMDR.

Exercise - Kelly Dodds, Cancer and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor 

Kelly is a Cancer & Cardiac Rehabilitation specialist, with 16 years overall experience in the Health & Fitness industry. She has a passion for wanting to help make a difference to people’s lives. Kelly is a huge advocate of physical activity and the benefits it can provide at all stages of a diagnosis, and even a small amount can have a positive impact.

She has worked in the Cancer field for 6 years and worked with various communities providing classes & 1-1 sessions with funding provided by Sport England. The Move More Feel Better Programme implemented by Surrey Heath Council being one example.

During Covid she was privileged to work on the SafeFit Trial, which was setup for anyone with cancer, providing physical, nutritional & emotional support online. 

Kelly also works with people with Parkinson’s and provides classes for Parkinsons UK. In 2022 she also completed an Advanced Level 5 Nutrition & Disease qualification.

She completed the BACPR Cardiac Rehabilitation qualification to help bolster her knowledge in this area, especially with cardiac side effects from treatments, and reducing the risk of CVD post cancer.

Counselling - Julie Armitage, MBACP Accredited Counsellor

Julie has over 12 years’ experience in MBACP accredited counselling, Master NLP and specialist in EMDR.

Julie works online or in person, whether that’s from the comfort of your own home, on a walk, over coffee or in a safe space in Julie's practice in the beautiful village of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

Julie's mission is: 

• To honour the instinctive ability of the body to heal.
• To care for the patient and not the problem.
• To find the cause and not suppress the symptom.
• To make a positive difference.

Julie says “Sometimes we reach a point where we simply need someone to talk to. Someone who will listen and accept us for who we are. Someone outside our circle of friends. Someone without judgement or disapproval”.

Nutrition – Jo Gamble BA (HONS) DIP CNM AFMCP FELLOW ICT, Nutritional Therapist, Functional Medicine Practitioner & Fellow in Integrative Oncology 

Jo Gamble is a UK trained nutritional therapist, her passion to understand WHY. Jo went to America to graduate as a fellow in Integrative Cancer with The Institute for Functional Medicine and become the first UK trained Functional Medicine Practitioner in 2013. Her desire to work in the field of cancer came after her own daughter was treated with chemotherapy for her auto-immune diseases. Jo went to America to graduate as a fellow in Integrative Cancer. Jo uses many tools along the way.  She has a great respect for functional testing, uses her skills as a behaviourist and love for food to devise an individualised plan to meet the needs of her clients.

Learn more about functional medicine