Malcolm is a Trauma-Informed Health and Fitness Consultant.
He is a qualified Personal Trainer, Fitness Coach, and Massage Therapist with a keen interest in physical and mental health.
He graduated with a BSc Sport and Exercise Science (Distinction) from Edinburgh’s Napier University; he was also awarded the University’s ‘Medal of Excellence’ in recognition of outstanding performance. Malcolm gained experience as a Fitness Instructor working in the award winning, Fettes College, Westwoods Health Club. He then ran a successful Personal Training and Sports Coaching business before moving back home to the Highlands to become a full time Firefighter, where he served nine years. Malcolm is now a Coordinator for mental health charity Befrienders Highland, and a Health and Fitness Consultant based in Drumnadrochit, near Inverness.
He has spent many years studying exercise science and exploring the world of health and fitness. He has worked in the fitness industry helping people improve their physical fitness and progress towards specific goals. He has also worked for several years in the field of mental health where he has gained insight into the strategies and techniques that are used for mental health recovery and the enhancement of wellbeing. His roles in this field involved motivational interviewing, delivering Decider Skills (CBT), and guiding people through recovery based mental health programmes.
Malcolm uses a holistic, person-centred approach to help facilitate behaviour change and support personal development.
Malcolm says, across the board he’s a pretty average guy, but through intermittent hard work, a smidgen of habit control, and a sprinkling of blind optimism, he has managed to achieve some pretty amazing things. He has a love for adventure and tries to challenge himself regularly in order to spend time outside of his comfort zone.
Like most people, I can struggle with motivation, I procrastinate, I have commitments in my life that require constant time and attention, I find self-discipline a bit of a chore, I can lack energy, and I find all the modern day distractions so… distracting. There is part of me that wants to take the easy option, staying within my comfort zone, believing my own excuses, all in a bid to protect myself. I think we are all designed like this to a certain extent but staying within our comfort zone stunts our progress so we must take on the challenges that push us into becoming better versions of ourselves. Fortunately, there are strategies we can employ to help us, techniques we can learn that will make things easier, and support available to guide us through the tough times. My aim is to try and highlight some of these things, and show you don’t have to be perfect, you just need to put in a little bit of effort where it counts to get good results.
Qualifications
- BSc Sport & Exercise Science (Distinction)
- HND Sports Therapy
- Level 3 Personal Trainer
- Level 3 Advanced Fitness Instructor
- Level 2 Gym Instructor
- Fitness & Nutrition Diploma
- CIMSPA Personal Trainer Practitioner
- Cold Water Therapy Coach
- Advanced Cold Water Immersion Coach
- Kettlebell Instructor
- Nordic Walking Instructor
- Jog Scotland Leader
- Walk Leader
- Dementia Friendly Walk Leader
Other Certificates, Training, & Workshops
- REFOCUS – Promoting Recovery in Mental Health Services (King’s College London)
- Decider Skill Training (NHS)
- Trauma Skilled Practice 1 (NHS)
- Trauma Skilled Practice 2 (NHS)
- Trauma Skilled Practice 3 (NHS)
- Trauma Skilled Practice 4 (NHS)
- Motivational Interviewing Module 1 (NHS)
- Motivational Interviewing Module 2 (NHS)
- Health Behaviour Change – Module 1 (NHS)
- Health Behaviour Change – Module 2 (NHS)
- Outdoor First Aid (FOFATO)
- Scotlands Mental Health First Aid (Public Health Scotland)
- Psychological First Aid (NHS)
- Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme (NHS)
- Introduction to a Psychological Approach to Anxiety (NHS)
- Introduction to CBT for Anxiety (NHS)
- Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention (NHS)
- Promoting Young Peoples Mental Health and Preventing Self-harm and Suicide (NHS)
- Outcome Star (NHS)
- Distress Brief Intervention (DBI)
- Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity Plus (UK Coaching)
- Mental Health Training For Teachers (Scottish Association for Mental Health)
- Safeguarding Adults (UK Coaching)
- Vital Skills in Befriending (Befriending Networks)
- Introduction to Connecting Eating (NHS)
- Introduction to Well Now (NHS)
- Strength & Balance Training (Paths For All)
- Mental Health – Nature Prescription (NHS)
- Using Nature to Support Mental Health Training (Think Health Think Nature)
- Wim Hof Fundamentals Course
- Wim Hof Workshop