Become an Osteopath | Meet Elliot Furlong!
MEET
ELLIOT FURLONG!
FROM ESTATE AGENT TO OSTEOPATH
CHOOSING OSTEOPATHY
I originally discovered osteopathy through my dad; in fact, I was brought up with osteopathy. My dad has been a registered osteopath since 1999 and started his training at Oxford Brookes University when I was one. My dad would show me bones on his skeleton as he was training, and I would spend a lot of time in his clinic (Balance Health Centre).
STUDYING OSTEOPATHY
I qualified from The College of Osteopaths in 2024. This was a four-year course with further training at the college’s Stoke on Trent clinic. I enjoyed this course as I met so many people from all different aspects and stages of life who would go on to become friends for life and have become fantastic osteopaths also.
“Every day is different, when you meet new people you never know what to expect. Creating that relationship with your patients is important but in many ways one of the best parts of the job and can be very rewarding.”
MY CAREER PATH
I originally studied Tourism & Leisure Management when I left college and went on to complete a Master’s degree in Business and Entrepreneurship. I found myself in the property industry for nearly 8 years. I worked in every aspect from sales to lettings and property management. I knew this was not what I wanted to do in the long run, I always wanted to be an osteopath.
WHO I WORK WITH
I am lucky enough to say I am now currently working with my dad at our clinic Balance Health Centre. Our practice is a family run business, with my dad Michael as Principal Osteopath, his wife Nicola as our Gut and Nutritional therapist and myself as the newest osteopath at the clinic. We now have a wide variety of patients coming to us from all over the North West of England. We always try to make our practice a warm and comforting environment which brings the local community to us.
THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING AN OSTEOPATH IS...
Every day is different, when you meet new people you never know what to expect. Creating that relationship with your patients is important but in many ways one of the best parts of the job and can be very rewarding.
Being an osteopath also gives you the opportunity to pick your own working schedule; you can work whenever suits you and you are not feeling trapped in a 9 to 5 office job, allowing for a better work life balance.
MY ADVICE TO THOSE WANTING TO STUDY OSTEOPATHY
Do it! Don’t let anyone stop you from carrying out your potential. I have seen many student osteopaths train from all walks of life, from a businessman running their own construction firms, to a farmer’s daughter who wanted to help her local community who have gone on to become amazing osteopaths. Whether you have manual therapy experience or not, your course will be there to assist you!