Who I am

I am a Somatic Therapist with a background as an Occupational Therapist, beginning my career in mental health. My professional journey has been shaped by both clinical practice and personal exploration. Growing up in a family marked by alcoholism, I often felt like an outsider. This experience sparked a lifelong search for truth and belonging, as well as a deep curiosity about how early experiences shape who we are.

During my travels, I developed a strong connection with Buddhism and meditation, which opened the door to a lasting interest in the body–mind connection. Living in New Zealand for nearly 15 years gave me space to deepen this inquiry through meditation, psychodrama, and further personal development. Yet it was when I discovered Somatic Experiencing (SE) that something essential clicked into place. SE helped me understand what meditation alone had not offered: the relational importance of being witnessed by another’s regulated presence. This experience of co-regulation continues to shape how I work and the safety I aim to create with clients.

Professionally, I feel privileged to have trained with leading teachers in trauma and attachment work, including Eadaoin Bhreathnach, Lael Keen, Abi Blakeslee, Deb Dana, Bonnie Badenoch, Frank Anderson and Aline Lapierre. Their influence continues to guide my practice, alongside the growing fields of neuroscience, somatics, and attachment-informed therapy. I am committed to ongoing learning through supervision, advanced training, and peer development programs, ensuring that my practice remains attuned, informed, and responsive to each person’s needs.

Drawing on many years of child and family work, particularly within adoption and fostering services, I understand how vital it is to establish safety in relationships as the foundation for emotional regulation and trauma healing. In my practice, I invite kindness, curiosity, and playfulness into the work, integrating insights from polyvagal theory, relational neuroscience, and mindfulness.

At the heart of my practice is a commitment to provide attuned, safe, and collaborative support that empowers individuals to take steps toward healing and integrating past experiences into the present. I work with you to befriend your nervous system—learning to notice cues of safety and danger, connection and disconnection, and tracking the subtle shifts that arise in the body. From this place, we can listen more deeply to the inner world and discover new possibilities for resilience, connection, and healing.