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earth lover, shape shifter, gardener of sorts

ABOUT ME

What does it mean to be human?

In the unstable world we live in, being human is complex, dimensional, riddled with challenges. Much of my life has been in exploring and confirming my belief - that it is possible to inhabit a changing body and mind with understanding, appreciation and ease, despite, or perhaps because of unique and sometimes difficult circumstances.

My interest is in aiding the process of knowing oneself - through touch, movement and dialogue. I invite you to come as you are to unearth the truth about who you are: to rebuild connections which may have been lost over time; to acknowledge your completeness and to enhance the onward journey.

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ILLNESS AND RECOVERY

The context of my life.

At three years old I was diagnosed with an auto-immune digestive disease. Uncertainty associated with illness was a cornerstone of my youth, and has been a guiding force behind my lifelong interest in healing. In 2013 I had a liver transplant as a result of long-term chronic illness. Due to the complexity of my case, this resulted in a 59-day stay at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Eventually I recovered physically, but it took me longer to understand that the PTSD I left the hospital with was not only due to living through the extraordinary situations that unfold over several months on a high-dependency ward, but from childhood trauma.

Over the ten years since my transplant, I have processed loss, grief and gratitude many times over, and now understand this is an ongoing process of being in relationship with life experiences, even and especially the earliest ones that fade, but with an imprint that never truly disappears. The challenges and joys of raising an autistic child magnify my gratitude for the enormous blessing of participating in life.

More recently, I had a proctocolectomy, removing the site of auto-immune disease. After 47 years of living with a fear of cancer and a belief that I would die young, overnight I went from being a success story of recovery, to being a cancer patient, when they discovered a lymphoma as a result of the surgery.

People often ask me about my health, and the short answer is that everyone of us is in a changing body. Life experiences evolve us, and my experience is that everytime we cross a fork in the road, it acts as a pivot point; we don't go back, and most often our direction and perception changes. Whether it is an organ transplant, an invasive injury, chronic illness, or raising a neurodiverse child, our systems have an opportunity to become more intelligent, more sensitive. Wisdom emerges, and with it, a different navigation system. Learning to live with what presents itself to me now, with the knowledge and experiences provided to me along the way, has been integral in healing, self-acceptance and moving forward. It has also informed how I live and work, and is why I am so very passionate about guiding people through change.

(Please become an organ donor. Dare to care and save lives.)

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HOW I SEE YOU

There is nobody else like you.

Each of us have our unique history, experiences, inhibitions and creative spark. My work is in creating a safe space so that you feel supported exploring and realising your human potential.

For some people, the entry point is through the body, where a movement practice or bodywork like Rolfing can provide the link to orienting and connecting with the self through synchronic breathing and increased mobility. For others, a forum for being heard is key: talking through held assumptions, traumatic imprints and a mental exploration guide a change process.

The nature of all this work is seeded in awareness. Many people might not know how to begin a journey of change — and the truth is, there is no one ‘right’ way. The first step begins in showing up.

 

Degrees & Certifications

Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner Certification (2023)

Compassionate Inquiry Year-Long Program and Mentorship with Gabor Maté (2021/2022)

InnerMBA Certification (2020)

IFC Certified Coach (2020)

Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher (2007/2015)

Rolfer® + Rolf Movement® Practitioner (2013/2015)

Craniosacral Therapist (2010)

Ayurveda 4 Year Course (2004)

MA, Communications and Design (1997)

BA, Philosophy and Psychology (1994)

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