ABOUT

Meet Margaret

Dr Margaret Lepke is a highly trained (now retired) professional who has a wealth of experience in natural medicine, counselling, mediation, mentoring and adult education. She enjoys helping people find physical, emotional, and spiritual health and happiness. As a committed Christian with qualifications in theology, her ministry is based on Christian principles and ethics.
Margaret started her practice in 1980 and has mostly worked as an independent consultant. She has provided natural health services, counselling and mediation services, managed research projects, mentored university students, provided crisis counselling to the commercial sector, and developed numerous training packages.
Since her retirement, she devotes her time to writing, Internet evangelism, family and CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.
Margaret also loves to encourage women in their walk with God and is available as a SPEAKER and group facilitator.
In her TESTIMONY she shares how two clients talked to her about her need for Jesus, and how she turned from New Age beliefs to the living God.

Qualifications

Australian Traditional Medicine Society - Fully accredited in Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Remedial Massage, Herbalism and Counselling with ATMS (Member 0618) from 1983 to 2011, continuing Associate Membership.

National Herbalists Association of Australia
Fully accredited in Western Herbal Medicine, holding full membership until 2008.

• Diploma of Naturopathy
• Diploma of Natural Medicine & Nutrition
• Certificate of Colonic Lavage
• Certificate of Remedial Massage
• Diploma of Professional Counselling
• Diploma of Theology
• Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling & Mediation - Human Relations & Communication)
• Honours Research in Counselling
• Master of Education (Adult Education)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Biblical Studies)
  

Professional Life

Margaret says...
I became a naturopath because I had grown up with natural medicines in Germany, and because my husband and I intended to build a health retreat. As it turned out, the health retreat didn’t eventuate, and I remained in private practice as a naturopath and medical herbalist. You can read more about my approach to natural medicine on the natural NATURAL HEALTH page.
Three years after starting my practice, something huge happend. I had been deeply involved with New Age philosophies and parapsychology, but one day two clients talked to me about a different God. Not the New Age god within, but the God of the Bible. The passages Jan showed me from her Bible convicted me of sin (by the way, 'sin' is an old marksman's term and means 'falling short of the designated aim'). As painful as it was, I had to admit that I was a sinner and humbled myself before the great creator of the universe. I finally found what I had been looking for all along: true love and unconditional acceptance. If you are interested, you can read my TESTIMONY.
But please don't worry; I am a professional therapist, not a Bible-basher! When I became a Christian, I simply re-evaluated the tools I used in my clinic, retaining those that were based on empirical and scientific evidence and discontinuing those that were based on ‘intuition’ and New Age philosophies.
I also started to notice that many of my clients had emotional and relational problems, and that these problems not only caused them a lot of stress but at times also physical symptoms. They needed someone with whom they could talk about their issues, which taught me the value of counselling. You can read more about this side of my work on the COUNSELLING page.
Because I love to help others improve their health, take charge of difficult situations in their lives and become as independent of therapists as possible, I am an avid advocator of adult education and life-long learning. This is why I have developed training courses and facilitated workshops on so many topics: natural medicine, communication, relationships, attitude, self-image, happiness, and getting on with difficult people. Enjoy some of my articles on the AUTHOR page.

Personal Life

I have reached the magnificent age of retirement and have had the privilege of being married to the same wonderful man since since I turned nineteen. Together, we have raised two children (both active in the Lord's service) and survived a somewhat prolonged owner-builder’s project (not always easy). Besides working as a consultant, I have enjoyed many hobbies, home-schooled our children, and taught Scripture at schools. But above all, I have learned to be content and thankful for my life, to appreciate the little things along the way, and to give God the glory in everything I do.

Margaret with Husband Henry

Our favourite Bible verse:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."   Prov. 3:5-6 [NKJV]

I hope that this website will assist you in some way, whether you are browsing for information, looking for a practitioner, or wanting some questions answered.

Wishing you health and happiness!
Margaret