Change and transformation
I believe meaningful change doesn’t come from trying harder or judging ourselves more harshly. It comes from slowing down enough to understand ourselves with kindness. When we bring mindful awareness to our experience, new choices often become possible.
I work with the psychological impact of health issues and I help people find safety in themselves again.
My approach is collaborative, gentle and tailored to your needs. I work at a pace that feels manageable for you, creating a respectful and compassionate space where we can become curious about your experience together. Alongside counselling, my work is strongly informed by Hakomi, a mindfulness-based somatic approach to psychotherapy. “Somatic” means we include the body and hold that there is no separation between mind and body. This approach meets health-related difficulties directly. Rather than trying to “fix” you, we explore your experience with curiosity, allowing new understanding and lasting change to emerge naturally.
What is Hakomi?
Hakomi is a gentle form of psychotherapy that combines mindfulness with an awareness of the body. Rather than analysing problems from a distance, or just through thinking, we slow down together and notice what is happening in the present moment. This often helps us understand the beliefs, patterns and protective strategies that developed for good reasons, but which may be getting in your way now. Hakomi has its origins in psychodynamic therapy and systems thinking and was at the forefront of integrating a mindful approach as integral to the process of change. It is practised around the world. You can read more about Hakomi. I continue to deepen my practice through advanced supervision with the Hakomi Institute, as I work towards certification.
I was drawn to Hakomi because it honours the wisdom of both the mind and the body and because it is gentle and welcomes protective or defensive strategies with kindness and curiosity. There is nothing to “push through” or “snap out of”. Lasting change can emerge from mindful curiosity within safety that is developed relationally together, rather than force or judgement.
What to expect
- We begin by understanding what brings you to therapy and what you hope might be different
- Together we decide what feels most important to focus on
- Sessions are conversational, with opportunities to gently notice thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations
- Overtime, we begin to notice the stories, beliefs and patterns that shape how you experience yourself, people in your life and the world. This is where things can change
- You don’t need previous experience with mindfulness. We simply begin wherever you are.
- Therapy moves at your pace. We don’t force insight or difficult conversations or topics before you are ready. There is no pressure to share more than feels comfortable
- We regularly review how therapy is progressing and adapt our work as needed
Practical information
- I offer weekly or fortnightly appointments on the same day and time. It can work very well to commit to a six-week block of sessions, weekly and then review. In our first session we will agree on your focus and preferences for the first six weeks.
- You can work with me face-to-face at the Magenta Place practice in Leichhardt, or via tele-health, using zoom.
- I offer (and recommend) a free 15-minute meeting with me on the phone or zoom to help us both decide if we are a good fit. After that, you will have access to my client portal to review my information for new clients.
- I uphold PACFA Code of Ethics and Hakomi principles and comply with legislative requirements regarding your privacy, confidentiality and personal information (record keeping).