A Mind–Body Approach to Therapy
I offer an integrative approach in restoring a sense of safety in the body, so that change becomes possible without force.
Many of the patterns that drive burnout over-responsibility, pushing through, shutting down aren’t conscious choices.
They’re protective responses that developed over time.
In this work, we gently explore the different parts of you that step in to manage stress, hold things together, or keep you safe.
Some parts may over-function.
Some may feel anxious or overwhelmed.
Others may shut things down entirely.
Rather than trying to get rid of these responses, we work with them.
This parts-informed approach is influenced by IFS and the work of Janina Fisher, recognises that protective patterns often form through stress and trauma and that lasting change comes through understanding and integration, not control.
At the same time, we pay attention to how these patterns live in the body.
Approaches such as sensorimotor, Somatic Therapy and Polyvagal Theory help us notice…
when your system moves into urgency
when it collapses into exhaustion
when it’s trying to protect you
The aim is not to override these responses, but to create enough safety that your system doesn’t need to rely on them in the same way.
Many cultures have long understood that healing is not just cognitive it involves restoring rhythm, connection, and internal balance.
Modern neuroscience now echoes this, showing that when safety is felt in the body, new choices become possible.
This work is also informed by relational approaches such as person-centred counselling, attachment theory and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), supporting both internal change and shifts in relationships.
Creating space in the nervous system for…
Autonomy
Clearer needs
Steadier boundaries
…and a more sustainable way of living.
Not by pushing yourself harder,
but by working with the system that has been trying to keep you safe all along.
If you're curious about body-based approaches, you can learn more about the broader field here:
Influences & Approaches
My work draws from a range of relational and body-based approaches that understand how stress and burnout live not just in the mind, but in the nervous system and in our relationships.
Some of the key influences include
Janina Fisher – Integrating trauma-informed, parts-based approaches that help us understand protective patterns and restore internal safety
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors
Internal Family Systems (Richard Schwartz) – Working with the different “parts” of us that hold stress, responsibility, or overwhelm
https://ifs-institute.com
Sensorimotor & Somatic Therapy (Pat Ogden) – Understanding how stress shows up in the body and supporting regulation
https://sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org
Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine) – A body-based approach to restoring nervous system balance
https://traumahealing.org
Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges) – A framework for understanding how safety and connection influence our responses
https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org
Emotion-Focused Therapy (Sue Johnson / Les Greenberg) – Supporting change through emotional awareness and relational repair
https://iceeft.com
Person-Centred Therapy (Carl Rogers) – The foundation of relational, collaborative counselling
Carl Jung – Influencing the way we understand inner patterns, meaning, and the process of becoming more whole
