How I got here
I began my working life with eight years in the Australian Defence Force before transitioning to the construction industry. A life marked by instability left me feeling dysfunctional and struggling to cope. In my 30s, I embarked on a journey of recovery, piecing together various services that addressed my needs. This path led me to study and become a drug and alcohol worker, eventually moving into mental health and suicide prevention.
Following a battle with cancer, I shifted from community services to health work, dedicating a decade to studying various natural health modalities. This journey culminated in a degree in Health Science with a focus on Myotherapy. During this period, I also became a natural therapies teacher, instructing in remedial and traditional Chinese massage.
As a young soldier, I was naturally fit and active. However, years of using alcohol as a coping mechanism took a toll on my body, leaving me in a less-than-optimal state when I left the army. While my coping mechanisms evolved during my time in community services, stress continued to impact my already compromised metabolism.
For years, I pursued high-frequency, high-intensity training. Although it improved my fitness, I struggled to significantly alter my body shape despite trying high-protein, plant-based, and fasting protocols. Testing revealed I had sleep apnoea and hyperinsulinemia, despite normal blood sugar levels. This led me to question whether my condition was a side effect of my coping mechanisms or if my coping mechanisms were a result of my medical conditions.
As a member of Generation X, mental health is an integral part of my daily life. It has been a lifelong journey involving counselling, psychology, and psychiatry to better understand myself and my interactions with others. Over the years, I have been diagnosed with various conditions, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis. I always felt these diagnoses addressed my acute symptoms but not my underlying condition. At 52, my diagnosis has settled on borderline personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is safe to say I have a lived experience with both physical and mental health challenges and the dedication required to address them daily.
Today, I follow the path of a natural therapist. Rather than focusing on changing my shape, I work on my metabolism and strive to live in harmony with my environment. My training emphasizes metabolic health, maintaining a natural self-generated pace, and aligning with the rhythms of life and the changing seasons.
From a natural therapist’s perspective, humanity is out of alignment with nature. Our pace is frantic, our stress levels are abnormal, and we are overstimulated by media, social networks, and issues that would not have existed in our tribal origins. We are constantly urged to do more, try harder, and reach the next level.
Our planet is signalling that this approach is unsustainable. It is time to listen—to our breath, the sounds of nature, and the food we grow in our gardens. We need to reconnect with ourselves and our relationships with people, animals, and the earth.
We are not machines, and a one-size-fits-all approach to health, nutrition, and exercise is neither realistic nor beneficial. Each of us is an accumulation of environmental, generational, and stimulus effects that have evolved over time. We each have our unique pace and rhythm, which health treatments and exercise need to accommodate.
My goal is to help people restore themselves to their natural rhythm, become more attuned to their motor sensory nervous system, and connect with themselves in thought and feeling, expressed through their unique healthy movement.
I have professional association memberships, private health fund rebates, hold a blue card to work with youth, and a yellow card for NDIS. The line item I work under for NDIS coverage is 15_056_0128_1_3 Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training - Other Professional.
With a background in health science, my assessments go beyond sore joints or muscles. I focus on how you integrate with your environment and what can be restored in your physiology to create a more harmonious you. While there are times when a simple rub-down or relaxation is needed, my focus is on partnering with you for long-term health and well-being.
My treatments integrate breathwork, stretching, and movement, supported by manual therapies to restore movement quality. I have a private clinic and movement space and, as an independent therapist, I offer the flexibility to adjust my schedule. We start with standard one-hour sessions but can accommodate longer or shorter appointments as needed. You can book online or contact us through our social media channels to discuss further.
