Come back to yourself
Somatic therapy for women rebuilding after grief, relationship change and other experiences that have changed the shape of their lives.
You may be managing everything on the outside while privately feeling anxious, disconnected or unsure of who you are now.
You do not have to work it all out alone.
Sydney and online across Australia.
When life changes, we can lose our sense of who we are
Sometimes the crisis has passed, but your body is still bracing for what might happen next.
You may feel exhausted but unable to rest. You may be caring for everyone else while feeling far away from yourself. You may understand what has happened intellectually, yet still feel unsettled, numb or constantly alert.
These responses are not signs that you are broken or failing to move forward.
They may be ways your nervous system and protective parts have learned to help you survive.
Healing does not require you to forget what happened or return to the person you were before.
It can begin by creating enough safety to listen to yourself again.
You may recognise yourself here
- You keep functioning but rarely feel fully present in your own life
- You feel guilty when you rest, say no or put your own needs first
- You overthink decisions because you no longer trust your inner voice
- You feel anxious, numb, exhausted or constantly responsible for others
- You understand your patterns but still feel unable to change them
- Your body remains tense even when nothing is immediately wrong
- Your life has changed and you are unsure where you belong within it now
- You want support that includes your body, not only your thoughts
You do not need to wait until things become unbearable before reaching out.
Support that includes the body
Talking can bring important insight, but insight alone does not always change how an experience feels in your body.
You may know that you are safe and still feel tense.
You may understand why a relationship ended and still find yourself repeating the same pattern.
You may recognise that you need rest and still feel guilty when you stop.
My approach includes your thoughts, emotions, body, nervous system and lived experience.
Rather than asking only, "What are you thinking?", we may also become curious about what your body is communicating, what your protective patterns are trying to do for you and what helps you feel more supported in the present.
Depending on your needs, my work may incorporate:
- Somatic and nervous-system-informed therapy
- EFT tapping
- Parts work informed by Internal Family Systems
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Attachment theory
- Mindfulness and grounding
- Polyvagal-informed nervous-system education
- Gentle embodied practices
These approaches are offered as invitations. You remain in choice throughout the process.
Ways to work with me
Individual Somatic Therapy
A focused 60-minute online session for support with grief, anxiety, relationship patterns or something affecting your life now. This option may suit you if you have a particular concern, want to experience my approach or are not ready to commit to ongoing therapy.
$190 per session
Explore Individual TherapyReturn to Self Private Pathway
A personalised 12-session somatic therapy pathway for consistent individual support after grief, relationship change or another major life transition. One session can help us explore what is happening now. The pathway gives us continuity to work with the patterns that keep happening.
$2,160 upfront, or three monthly payments of $740
Explore the Private PathwayROOTED Group Program
An eight-week online somatic program for women rebuilding their sense of safety, identity and self-trust after loss or significant change. ROOTED offers education, embodied practices and the support of a small group without requiring you to disclose your whole story.
$1,200 or two payments of $625
Explore ROOTEDSomatic Yoga & Events
Small yoga classes, embodied workshops and supportive experiences designed to help you slow down, reconnect with your body and develop a kinder relationship with yourself. No previous yoga experience is required.
Explore Yoga & EventsWhich option might suit me?
Choose an individual session if:
- You want support with something happening now
- You want to experience my approach
- You are not ready to commit to ongoing work
Consider the private pathway if:
- You want consistent individual support
- You can attend weekly or fortnightly
- You want to work with a recurring pattern
- You would benefit from personalised practices and continuity
Consider ROOTED if:
- You value learning alongside other women
- You want a structured eight-week program
- You want a more economical option than private therapy
- You do not need individual therapeutic attention each week
Consider Somatic Yoga & Events if:
- You want a body-based practice rather than counselling
- You prefer gentle movement and embodied experiences
- You want to reconnect with your body in a small, supportive setting
Professional knowledge, personal understanding
I am a counsellor and somatic therapist with a background in psychology and more than 15 years of experience supporting people through emotional difficulties and major life transitions.
I completed my psychology degree in Brazil before moving to Australia in 2002. My experience of migration has shaped my understanding of identity, belonging and the emotional cost of building a life away from home.
My work has also been shaped by profound personal loss.
This deepened my understanding that grief is not only about missing someone. We may also grieve the future we imagined, the routines that gave our lives structure and the person we were before everything changed.
I know that rebuilding does not mean forgetting, replacing what was lost or returning to an old version of yourself.
Sometimes it means learning how to carry love and grief while slowly making room for life again.
I bring this understanding to my work with warmth and honesty, while maintaining clear professional boundaries. Our work remains centred on you and what you need.
A whole-person approach
You can expect a therapeutic space that is:
Warm and respectful
You will be met with compassion, curiosity and respect rather than judgement.
Collaborative
I bring professional knowledge and guidance, but I do not position myself as the expert on your life. We make sense of what is happening together.
Sensitive to the nervous system
We pay attention to pacing, choice and what helps you remain connected to the present.
Culturally aware
I understand that culture, migration, language, family expectations and belonging can shape emotional wellbeing and relationships.
Honest and grounded
Compassion does not mean avoiding difficult conversations. When appropriate, I will gently invite you to notice patterns and possibilities for change.
Practical
Alongside insight, we may develop practices that can support you in daily life.
Return to Self
A free 10-minute guided somatic practice for the moments when you feel overwhelmed, disconnected or unsure of what you need.
This practice will guide you to:
- Orient to the present moment
- Notice the support around you
- Reconnect with your body at your own pace
- Recognise what you may be feeling
- Identify one small thing you need
- Choose a supportive next step
You do not need previous experience with meditation, yoga or somatic practices.
Practical mental health education for real-world settings
I deliver engaging and culturally responsive workshops for universities, colleges, workplaces and community organisations.
Topics include:
- Nervous-system regulation
- Stress and burnout
- Procrastination and perfectionism
- Supporting people in distress
- International student wellbeing
- Grief in educational and workplace communities
- Mental health awareness
- Somatic mind-body practices
Workshops are available online and in person and can be tailored to the needs of your organisation.
Reflections for living through change
Explore practical and thoughtful articles about grief, nervous-system regulation, relationships, protective parts, migration, identity and embodied healing.
Featured article categories:
- Grief and Life Transitions
- Nervous System and Somatic Healing
- Parts, Attachment and Relationships
- Yoga and Embodied Practice
- Migration, Identity and Belonging
You do not need to know exactly what you need before reaching out
If you are considering working with me but are unsure where to begin, you are welcome to book a free 15-minute introductory call. We can briefly discuss what you are looking for, answer your questions and consider which option may be most appropriate.
You do not need to share your complete story during the call, and there is no obligation to continue.