How it All Started…
I was lucky enough to be introduced to meditation when I was only four-years-old, by my mother Kate James, who was an early adopter.
Whilst struggling with anxiety, depression and insomnia in my early 20s, I had the insight to return to a daily practice and have been meditating consistently ever since.
Out of all of the different healing methods I tried, returning to my meditation practice helped me the most. It was the one practice that allowed me to feel my feelings, listen to my intuition, develop my sense of self and manage the thoughts that were keeping me awake at night.
I knew it was my calling to help others heal with this life-changing practice, so in 2014 I quit my corporate job, completed an Advanced Diploma of Yoga and Meditation Teaching with the Australian Yoga Academy and began teaching.
How it Evolved…
In the years that followed, I completed a Bachelor of Psychology with Swinburne University and Certificate of Life Coaching with BYCA.
I went on to teach meditation and mindfulness within some of Melbourne’s most highly regarded studios, including Happy Melon Studios, Warrior One Yoga and A—Space, and alongside international experts on MindfulnessExercises.Com.
During this time I spent several years working as the Meditation and Mindfulness Lead at Happy Melon Studios, throughout which I developed and directed the inaugural 80-hour Happy Melon Meditation Teacher Training program.
I had the pleasure of speaking and teaching within a wide range of businesses such as Swisse, Mecca, WPP and the AFL, and schools, such as Melbourne Girls Grammar, Lauriston Girls School and Camberwell Grammar.
And as one of the leading teachers on the Insight Timer and Kic (Keep it Cleaner) apps, my guided meditations helped over 4 million meditators worldwide.
In 2018, I stepped aside from my professional commitments with the arrival of my son, Oscar.
And a few months later, my entire world fell apart.
Where it’s Landed…
My life was upended in early 2019 following the discovery of my then-husband’s infidelity.
At the time, I was a sleep-deprived, socially isolated new mother and the impact of the betrayal and subsequent separation was devastating.
I lost my marriage, my ability to work, my car, my home and tens of thousands of dollars. All of this, whilst navigating the tricky terrain of single motherhood and the COVID-19 pandemic, left me with crippling PTSD.
Over the past five years, I've worked on freeing myself from the clutches of anxiety, grief, trauma, and PTSD. Through extensive research and training on how trauma impacts the brain and body, I've come to understand that there was nothing inherently wrong with me for feeling so stuck and being unable to "let go" of this painful experience.
By meeting myself with compassion, processing my emotions more healthily, and learning to advocate for my needs without neglecting myself, I finally managed to reclaim the most valuable thing I’d lost all along; my authentic self.
I know what it’s like to have your life rearranged by heartbreak, failure, adversity, and trauma. But I also know that even with a painful past, it’s entirely possible to live a life of creativity, empowerment, freedom, and joy once again.
And now I’d love to help you do the same.
My Mission…
My purpose is to help people with painful past circumstances transform their hurt into healing.
The clients I work with generally find themselves trapped in patterns of shame, fear, and self-sabotage. In our work together, I aim to guide them in breaking free from the constraints imposed by their traumatic experiences and discovering pathways to inner healing, joy, and profound self-acceptance.
My work centres on how an understanding of our nervous system (& other self-protective) patterns can empower us to create safety, security and wellbeing in our lives and relationships. Having supported over 8,000+ people through my coaching practice, online course, and weekly Healing Circle, I can safely attest to the profound impact of this work.
Training and Qualifications
While much of my teaching and insight is drawn from my personal experience, I have had the great pleasure of learning from many industry-leading experts in the fields of psychology, trauma and nervous system regulation, through the following training and certification programs:
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) from Swinburne University
Current: Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy with the Cairnmillar Institute
Advanced Diploma of Yoga and Meditation Teaching from the Australian Yoga Academy
Certificate of Life Coaching, BYCA