Breakthrough Counselling

What is trauma, anyway?

Trauma happens anytime events overwhelm our capacity to deal with them emotionally and physiologically in the moment that they’re happening.

Sometimes these wounds are caused by big, dramatic events and sometimes they’re created – even unintentionally – by the many smaller injuries that can result from not being fully seen, supported, or accepted by those around us.

The impacts of trauma may or may not lead us to develop PTSD or Complex PTSD (cPTSD), but either way they leave a lasting imprint on our brain and body through a deep form of subconscious memory called implicit learning.

These wounds can leave us feeling stuck, out of control, or unable to realise our full potential. We may feel easily triggered/anxious, numb/depressed, or spaced out. We may struggle with setting boundaries, low self esteem, substance use, self harm, or be targeted for relationship/narcissistic abuse.

They can even, over time, lead to chronic nervous system dysregulation, chronic pain or chronic illness.

Worst of all, we may blame ourselves for not being able to overcome our trauma responses, but these automatic emotional and behavioural patterns can’t be changed by understanding, willpower, or even talk therapy alone.

My Approach

Using evidence-based therapies developed for going beyond just talk & into deep trauma healing, we’ll work to calm and balance your nervous system, heal the memories that trigger pain, anxiety, & guilt, and build up your natural strengths/skills so that you can disrupt painful emotional and behavioural patterns and reclaim your body, your story, and your life.

I draw mainly from Polyvagal Theory, Hakomi and other somatic (body-based) approaches, parts work/Internal Family Systems (IFS), Imagery Rescripting, and elements of EMDR to help clients locate the source of their challenges, reprocess traumatic memories, and heal attachment wounds.

But the most powerful exercises often spring from your personality and interests, and that means the sky’s the limit! Clients have incorporated art, sculpture, nature, ritual, journalling, tarot cards, and more. Your instincts are always our best guide and your ideas and inspiration are honoured.

You’ll leave with a personalised set of tools and resources you can use to foster calm, resilience, self-compassion, and profound healing.

Finding the right fit

Your emotional safety is my primary concern and we’ll only ever move forward at your pace and with your full informed consent. There’s more than one way to work with trauma, so how can you know if my counselling style is right for you?

If you see yourself as “sensitive,” “quirky,” “imaginative,” “intuitive,” “creative,” or even “spiritual,” then you might enjoy my counselling style, which makes use of metaphor, visualisation, parts work, and your intuition and imagination.

But the best way to find out is just to get in touch by phone or email and ask me any questions that are important to you.

Neurodivergence is my other specialisation

I’m late-diagnosed AuDHD myself and my practice is LGBTQIA+– and Neurodiversity-Affirming. I welcome ADHD, Autistic, Gifted/2E, and Highly Sensitive (HSP)/Empath clients, as well as those who are self-diagnosed or questioning, and especially late-diagnosed/high-masking women and nonbinary folk.

I am not an expert in this area, but I can offer the understanding and acceptance that comes from having lived experience as well as a strengths-based perspective that values neurodivergent brains as part of natural human variation rather than a “disorder.” I’m continuing to train in this specialty.

About me

I’m passionate about helping women get in touch with their inner wisdom and step into their power because once upon a time a wonderful counsellor helped me do that and it changed my life.

I have a Bachelor of Counselling degree and am registered with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC). I’ve worked mainly with women who’ve experienced sexual assault or abuse through Nelson Sexual Abuse Support & Healing (SASH), Nelson Women’s Centre, and Perinatal Support Nelson.

My daughter (also neurodivergent) and I live in a tiny house where I read books, drink tea, and garden.