Frequently Asked Questions
Who we work with
Does my child need a diagnosis to come to Brainstorm Health®?
No. A formal diagnosis is not a prerequisite for working with us. Many of the children we support do not have one, or have one that doesn't fully account for what the family is seeing at home.
What matters is the clinical picture - the pattern of symptoms, the history, the biology underneath. We work with children whose presentations sit across a wide spectrum of neuroimmune and neurodevelopmental complexity, including autism, PANS, PANDAS, and ADHD, as well as children with behavioural difficulties, learning differences, chronic health issues, and presentations that have not yet been given a name. If something isn’t adding up and nobody has yet been able to explain it, we would be glad to talk it through with you.
My child has already seen multiple specialists. Is it too late to come to you?
Not at all. Most families who come to us have already seen several clinicians, and that history is useful to us. What we offer is a different kind of assessment, one that looks across several systems at once rather than at each symptom on its own.
The discovery call and first appointment are where we decide together whether our approach is right for your child.
The clinical approach
What is functional medicine and how is it different from what we have already tried?
Conventional medicine is exceptionally good at identifying and managing conditions within its own specialisms. Functional medicine works alongside it, looking across several body systems at once and asking why a child’s biology is behaving the way it is.
We look at the immune system, the gut, infections past and present, the nervous system, mineral status, genetics, family history and what came before the difficulties began, and at how these may be interacting. From that we build a picture of the whole child, not just the presenting symptoms.
What does testing involve and does my child have to have blood tests?
Testing is central to how we work. But it does not have to be difficult or frightening, and we always work with families to find the approach that is realistic for their child.
Not all testing requires a blood draw. Many of our most informative tests are non-invasive - urine samples, stool samples, and cheek swabs can all yield significant clinical information. For children where blood tests are difficult, we can often start with these and build from there.
Where blood testing is appropriate, we use it to assess specific markers relating to immune function, inflammation and nutritional status, with specialist panels selected according to each child’s presentation. We also use targeted genetic testing to identify variants associated with methylation pathways, histamine metabolism and nervous system function. These findings are interpreted alongside the child’s history and other test results, and do not, on their own, establish the cause of a health condition. We work with specialist laboratories.
The testing we recommend is always led by what we are clinically looking for, not by a standard protocol applied to every child.
The team
Will we work directly with Stella?
Stella’s caseload is currently full, but every family at Brainstorm Health® works within the clinical framework she has developed over thirteen years. She personally reviews every new case allocation, and all practitioners - particularly in their first two years - have their reports and protocols reviewed by Stella directly. Complex cases are discussed with her regardless of a practitioner’s experience level.
The team works within a shared methodology, with ongoing mentoring and access to Stella’s clinical thinking on every case that needs it. Because of the number and complexity of children we see, the team’s collective experience is considerable.
Do you work alongside our existing medical team or other therapists?
Yes, and we actively encourage it. Our work complements your child’s existing medical care.
Where appropriate, we refer to an independent medical doctor who reviews laboratory results and our recommendations with the patient and considers any medical treatment needed. We also refer to specialist neurologists, immunologists and other therapists when a case requires their expertise.
If your child is already working with other professionals, we will work alongside them wherever possible and with your consent.
What to expect
How long does it take to see results?
It depends on the child, what is going on, and how much of the plan the family is able to take on, so we can’t give a timeline for any individual child.
Most families work with us for at least six months. The first follow-up is about six weeks after the initial appointment, and the plan is reviewed every six to eight weeks after that. At each review we look at what has changed, what hasn’t, and what needs adjusting.
During PANS or PANDAS flares, we work alongside your child’s doctor.
What does progress actually look like?
Progress in these children is rarely linear and rarely dramatic. It almost never looks like the before-and-after stories that circulate on social media.
More often it is small things adding up. A food list that starts to grow. A routine that becomes easier to manage. Parents who understand what is happening in their child’s body and feel more confident about what to do next.
We agree goals with you at the start and review them at every appointment, so you can see what is moving and plan the next step together.
Where a child is taking medication, any change to it is a decision for the prescribing doctor.
What affects outcomes?
Several things, and we are honest with families about all of them from the beginning.
Every child is different, so what is going on needs to be established through proper assessment rather than assumed.
Beyond that, the biggest factor is how much of the plan the family can take on: the dietary changes, the supplements, changes at home, and patience with a process measured in months rather than weeks. Testing helps us decide where to focus first.
We will always be clear with you about what is realistic for your child, and we adjust the plan as we go so that it stays workable for your family.
Getting started
How do we make an enquiry?
The best way to get in touch is through our enquiry form. This allows us to gather enough information about your child before we respond, so that when we do come back to you, it is with something useful rather than a generic reply.
From there, if our approach looks right for your child, we will arrange a free discovery call with the practitioner we feel is the best fit for your child. There is no commitment at that stage - it is simply an opportunity to talk, ask questions, and decide whether you want to proceed.