Meet the Team
Steve Cole – Principal Osteopath
The Cole Practice with clinics in Epsom and Sutton – are run by Steve Cole, an experienced osteopath who graduated from The British School of Osteopathy (BSO) in 2005 with distinction. Since graduating Steve has worked at a number of well established clinics both locally and in the city before establishing his practices in Epsom and Sutton. He was also a senior lecturer and examiner at the University College of Osteopathy in London for twelve years and is often asked back to examine the graduating students.
Over the years Steve has gained a vast experience in treating a wide variety of patients and conditions in the local areas around Epsom, Banstead, Ewell, Sutton, Carshalton and Wallington. His passion is in the treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries. This passion comes from his own interest in sport of which he most enjoys football, golf and tennis. When he is not treating, teaching or playing sports he enjoys nothing more then spending time with his two children and dog Ralph!
Steve is registered with the General Osteopathic Council (the governing body of osteopathy) and a member of the Institute of Osteopathy and the Osteopathic Sports Care Association. He is also registered with all the major insurance companies.
Ruth Head – Associate Osteopath
Ruth graduated from the University College of Osteopathy (UCO), previously the British School of Osteopathy (BSO), in 2020 and is a fully registered osteopath. Her thesis focused on the current management strategies in manual therapy for children with Ehlers-Danlos/Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder.
Ruth uses both structural and cranial techniques, but she has a particular interest in cranial sacral osteopathy and how it aids the recovery of chronic issues relating to the neck and lower back.
Ruth is also an experienced sports massage therapist. She graduated with a level 5 diploma from the London School of Sports Massage (LSSM) in 2011 and has extensive experience in treating a whole range of conditions and injuries.
In 2012 she volunteered for the London Marathon working with the charity Meningitis and treated the runners as they finished the race and subsequently during their recovery.
In 2013 she was part of the Healing Exchange, in Bristol, where therapists come together and share ideas and volunteer for team events such as local races (at home and abroad).
In 2015 Ruth worked in The Alps treating skiers and instructors at all levels as well as locals and tourists. She was involved in preparing competitors for races as well as treating general injuries and will return for the winter season as an osteopath in 2023.
She also took part in the London to Monaco bike ride (2015) as the senior therapist and the London to Italy, 3-peak challenge (in 2017) bike race. She has worked on a regular basis at a private retreat twice a year since 2015 as the senior therapist alongside a Pilates teacher and personal trainer and worked at the Regatta boat race in the Isle of Wight.
She is a commissioned artist and piano teacher in her spare time.
Debbie Ashby – Massage Therapist
Following graduation from the London School of Sports Massage (LSSM) with a level 5 diploma in 2021, Debbie has gained experience in treating a range of conditions and injuries and developed a particular interest in treating migraines (having suffered from them herself) and running injuries (having also suffered from these herself!).
Debbie has experience in triathlon and running and knows what it takes to participate in long distance events, hence she volunteered for the London Marathon working for the charity Meningitis Now, treating runners as they finished the race and providing recovery and rehabilitation advice.
With her background in medicine, Debbie enjoys the similarities between the two roles and the ability to improve comfort and provide advice on a wide range of issues.
She is passionate about the benefits that massage can provide and wishes that everyone was aware of this, both in the short term in assisting the return to normal function from acute issues, and also in the longer term for sustained functionality with maintenance treatment where appropriate.
Debbie’s other roles are as a veterinary advisor and a mother to two girls.
