Julia McLaughlin graduated with an honours degree in Osteopathic Medicine and a Diploma in Naturopathy from The British College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999. After gaining experience working in multidisciplinary clinics in Oxford, Bristol and Northern Ireland she set up her own clinic in Comber Co Down in 2003. She is currently the only Osteopath in Northern Ireland to have completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy at the Osteopathic Centre for Children in London. The Diploma provided unparalleled Paediatric training and comprehensive clinical experience working in such locations as the Neonatal Unit at Barnet Hospital.

A huge part of this course centres round treating patients cranially and Julia uses both structural and cranial techniques tailoring treatment specifically for each patient. She has developed a wide range of skills over her years in practice that have enables her to successfully treat a wide range of conditions in people of all ages.

Julia has completed the Children's Teacher Meditation Course with Connected kids and has an interest in Retained Primitive Reflexes and how they affect our body and emotions.

She has completed Level 1 and 2 of Douglas Heel's Be Activated Course looking at how compensation patterns in our body affect our biomechanics and emotions.

Julia is a member of the Sutherland Cranial College (SCCO) and is continuing her professional development through post graduate courses with the SCCO and the Biodynamic Osteopathy phase 9 courses.

Dirk has extensive training in Neuro-musculoskeletal medicine and human movement science. He initially qualified with a National Higher Diploma in Health and Fitness Science and Personal training in South Africa. During his ten-year employment with Nuffield Health (London), he completed his Corrective Exercise Specialist Diploma with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He trained as a Master Myoskeletal therapist and in Biokinetics with the Pain and Freedom Institute. Dirk has trained and treated many patients participating nationally and has extensive experience in exercise prescription for the young, elderly, elite athletes and those with certain medical conditions, injuries and disabilities.

Dirk furthered his studies at the University College of Osteopathy in London and obtained a Master's in Osteopathic Medicine. All registered health professionals must continue demonstrating ongoing learning and development to keep their skills and knowledge current and promote evidence-based, safe, effective and legal treatment.

To meet this criterion, Dirk has completed postgraduate studies with distinctions in Sports & Exercise Medicine at the University of South Wales and Medical Education at the University of Dundee. Further advanced and extended scope postgraduate qualifications include joint and soft tissue injection therapy, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection therapy, Medical Acupuncture, Kinesio-taping and Neuro-Linguistic Training.

Dirk treats a broad range of conditions and patients using mainly structural Osteopathy and Sports Medicine, looking to improve the function and mobility of the Musculoskeletal system. As an Osteopath and Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation Therapist, he employs a diverse range of techniques appropriate for degenerative spinal conditions, soft tissue injuries, muscles, ligaments and joints in order to restore function therefore improve the posture of your body and alleviate symptoms to help you reach your body's optimum potential.

Dirk strongly emphasises exercise rehabilitation as he believes it is vital to longevity and self-preservation. This treatment approach can help identify dysfunctional compensation patterns from pre-existing injuries or reduced function; treatments aim to keep you supple and improve muscle tone, restore functional movement, reduce the risk of injury through improving core and joint stability and postural awareness, and is appropriate for recreational participants and professional athletes. Movements in the spine, such as rotation, are fundamental in golf, swimming, hockey, cricket and tennis, amongst so many other types of sports and fitness regimes; we can help improve your mobility and restore functional movement, therefore reducing the risk of injury through prescribing sport-specific exercises and stretches to suit your ability. Dirk is Registered with the GOSC and a member of the Institute of Osteopathy.

Osteopaths are highly trained healthcare professionals recognised by the British Medical Association (BMA) as a discrete clinical discipline and fully qualified to diagnose and treat independently. We are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOSC) and form part of the Allied Health Professions group.