Abi Blakeslee, SEP, CMT, MFT, Ph.D., integrates Somatic Experiencing with clinical research, the psychobiological principals of attachment, psychodynamic therapy, and somatic bodywork in her practice and teaching. She has conducted original research on the role of implicit memory in Somatic Experiencing with a committee that included Dr. Daniel Siegel. Abi holds a Masters of Arts in Counseling and Depth Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Clinical and Somatic Psychology. She is interested in the intersection between neuroscience, current trauma research, and the psychobiological principals of Somatic Experiencing. Abi is faculty for the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute and teaches widely throughout the United States. She also leads workshops in Relational Repair Work. She has clinical experience with individuals, couples, children, and families and treats a broad base of issues. Abi currently resides in Bozeman, MT with her husband and two young boys. She focuses on providing faculty-level individual and group consultations to all levels of Somatic Experiencing students.

Berns's first professional incarnation was as an elementary teacher in New Brunswick and Northwest Territories, Canada. After 12 years of being in front of the classroom his focus shifted to psychotherapeutic group work. He studied various humanistic approaches and bodywork at PD Seminars, then earned a Masters degree from the University of Victoria in 1995. He has worked as a mental health therapist for a non-profit community agency, providing short term therapy to adults, training and supervising volunteers, and supervising graduate students. Berns also has a private practice. Somatic Experiencing entered his life in 2000 and has since been a major focus in his professional orientation. He completed the SE Touch Training for Psychotherapists and finds that incorporating SE bodywork/touch has deepened his experience and strengthened the impact of the therapeutic process. Early in this learning process Berns was privileged to be part of a gifted training team working with First Nations peoples on Vancouver Island. "The depth of the trauma and commitment to change foreshadowed the transformation through the healing process. I am grateful and humbled to have witnessed this. They reinforced how organic somatic work is, the power of connection, and the necessity of embodying the full range of life's energy. Collaboration and connection is key. We are not meant to go-it alone." Berns continues to marvel at, and be awed by, the continuous richness Somatic Experiencing offers...

Osteopath and Craniosacral instructor, Kavi is teacher and co-director of the International Institute for Craniosacral Balancing® and faculty member for Somatic Experiencing®. Kavi Gemin received his Master of Art in 1984 from Istituto d’Arte in Florence, Italy and worked for several years as a designer and art teacher. Trained as an art therapist he worked with adults, children and physically and mentally challenged people. He continued his training as a therapist in various somatic methods, such as traditional massage, deep tissue work, ayurvedic massage and craniosacral biodynamics. Kavi completed his education in osteopathy and received his CO from the Canadian College of Osteopathy. His further studies include NLP, inner child work, co-dependency and developmental psychology. He is graduated in pre- and perinatal therapy with Ray Castellino, CA, USA and is leading birth process workshops. He also trained in System Centered Therapy®, a method to work with systems and group dynamics developed by Yvonne Agazarian, PA, USA. Kavi holds a certificate in andragogy, adult education, from the SVEB Association (Switzerland) and is teaching fulltime internationally, loving to meet different cultures and language groups. Kavi’s fascination with Somatic Experiencing® brought him to study with Peter Levine and to receive his SEP certificate in 2001. Since then, he has been assisting and supervising students in Somatic Experiencing®, mostly in Italy, deepening and integrating his understanding of the method. The principles of SE are fully integrated in his teachings as well as in his treatments as a somatic therapist. As a teacher of the SE training, Kavi brings his experience and love for anatomy, physiology and neurobiology in his classes with clarity, passion and creativity.

Tracey has a Somatic Experiencing & Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy practice in Melbourne with a focus on both shock and developmental trauma symptoms. Her passionate interest in the cause and effects of trauma in the body led Tracey to enhance her trauma resolution skills by qualifying as a SE practitioner in 2009. This, plus additional qualifications in Natural Nutrition, Facial Reflexology, Emotional Freedom Technique and Brain Spotting have deepened further her understanding of the holistic nature of complementary healing and the body/mind relationship. SE based courses attended with Dr. Peter Levine include Working with Syndromes, Trauma and Memory, The Polyvagal Theory, Working with Diaphragms, Energy & Identity, The Eye of the Needle (near death states), Depression, Aggression, Triumph & Breath and Transgenerational Trauma. She has also completed both the Touch Skills for Trauma and Somatic Resilience & Regulation body-based courses with Kathy Kain, the NARM developmental trauma training with Dr. Larry Heller, the ISP Integrated Somatic Psychology training with Dr. Raja Selvam and Aline La Pierre’s Neuro Affective Touch. As well as assisting on all the SE Professional Trainings in Australia, she was previously a tutor assistant on a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy training. Tracey enjoys sharing her diverse experience and knowledge to support and encourage students throughout the training process.

Alison has completed professional trainings in Remedial Massage, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and Somatic Experiencing and has over 17 years experience in private practice. Alison became an assistant for SETI in 2012 and has assisted on trainings in Australia and Singapore.  Alison works with shock and developmental trauma - physical/sexual abuse, addictions loss and grief, medical and birth trauma, MV accidents and falls. Alison often works with clients who present with a complex array of physical and emotional symptoms, including chronic pain and other long standing health conditions or syndromal patterns. Alison also supports the integration of touch skills for therapists and clients (self touch) as a significant tool for reinstating regulation and establishing a deeper connection with the physiology and our own embodiment. Since becoming an SEP Alison has completed additional workshops and trainings : Kathy Kain - Touch Skills Training, Somatic Resilience and Regulation : Early Trauma and Somatics of Emotions also (ISP) Integral Somatic Psychology with Raja Selvam (Part 1). Workshops include The Polyvagal Theory and SE Languaging (Twig Wheeler) Trauma Through a Child's Eyes (Maggie Kline) and Dare1 Somatic Attachment (Diane Poole-Heller). Alison is passionate about the inclusivity of the body, mind and emotions in freeing the spirit from limiting patterns/beliefs/identity and a desire to be present and available for life in a connected vibrant life affirming way. Her work is deeply informed by ongoing personal sessions, continued learning, and a committed internal martial arts practice of Nei-Gong. Alison lives by the ocean in Margaret River, Western Australia. 

Anna is an experienced Counsellor and Gestalt Psychotherapist who works in private practice. Anna’s work has a strong focus on gaining a psychobiological understanding of developmental and attachment patterns. Anna invites clients to collaborate in co-creating optimal therapeutic conditions, it is in the safety of the relationship an opportunity presents to re-negotiate unmet attachment and developmental needs.  Anna also works as a Clinical Supervisor for Maternal Child Health Nurses in the City of Wyndham. Anna’s primary role there is to support staff and teams to be reflective in their work and to develop solid self-care plans to avoid vicarious trauma and burnout. Anna is passionate about bringing attention to the health and wellbeing of the practitioner and co-creating cultures where individuals thrive and flourish. Anna has attended the Eye of the Needle master class with Peter Levine and Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes with Maggie Kline.

Arnaud has a private practice in the Byron Bay region where he incorporates Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Touch, movement, mindful awareness and Self enquiry. He offers a heartfelt facilitation that encourages regulation and building our zone of resilience, whilst gently renegotiating traumatic experiences of shock and developmental trauma, the interplay between the two and their related symptoms. His somatic movement classes are infused with SE principles and incorporate Yoga, Stretch Therapy and other healing movement modalities that he has explored for over 30 years. He fosters a safe environment where all aspects of our humanness are welcomed while supporting regulation and transformation, allowing us to open and reconnect deeply to our life force and natural state of being in an embodied way. Arnaud continues to explore SE and other related modalities. He has completed the Touch Skills for Therapists and Somatic Narrative with Kathy Kain, Polyvagal Theory and Building Fluency in SE Language with Anthony Twig Wheeler, Trauma Through A Child’s Eyes with Maggie Kline, in training for Neuro Affective Touch and continues to assist in SE trainings Arnaud enjoys being in nature, connecting with friends and family, meditation, yoga, salsa, and surfing. He co-ordinates and plays with the House of Bliss, a chanting and sound healing event that facilitates community, healing, celebration and joy.

Lois Hansen is a registered psychotherapist and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in British Columbia, Canada. She has been an assistant at all levels of Somatic Experiencing trainings for over 10 years. Lois also has a thriving private practise, as a consultant and counsellor, specialising in working with those experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, parenting issues, relationship issues, brain injury as well as complex trauma. Assisting in the SE trainings to help therapists to learn the Somatic Experiencing tools is very exciting to Lois, as she sees how it can change peoples lives. She looks forward to supporting the learning process.

Mihoko is a NARM and Cranio Sacral Practitioner. Her strong interest in SE bodywork led her to Kathy Kain’s work and she has completed Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapist, Somatic Resilience and Regulation: Early Trauma. Her nervous system regulation work is complemented by her 20 years experience as a bodyworker. Mihoko also completed ISP Integrated Somatic Psychotherapy training with Dr.Raja Selvum and  Neuro-Affective Touch(TM) training with Dr.Aline Lapierre in USA.  She is currently attending Ray Castellino's  Somatic BlueprintTM training. Mihoko integrates all her learning, which include Shintoism, Mindfulness practice, Hypnotherapy, Brainspotting, Esalen massage therapy and various other knowledge gained from Japanese and Indonesian holistic healing cultures. Through her work she has been fascinated by Neuroplasticity and has enjoyed supporting client’s innate wisdom of movement towards coherence.  Mihoko has been assisting SE trainings in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Seoul and Tokyo. She feels really honoured to support participant’ learning and enjoys being a part of SE community. Mihoko works in a collaborative practice in Sydney and has a private practice on the NSW Central Coast. She has also worked as an interpreter, assisting at Esalen Institute courses and setting up well-being study courses in Bali and Tokyo.

Miles brings many years of experiential knowledge to SE. He works with people across several modalities: group facilitation/education, bodywork and SE Practitioner. He believes in learning through experience and is passionate about passing on knowledge in a way that is easy to absorb, understand and embody. In his group work, teaching people to become Ka Huna Bodywork therapists, he sees the organism of the group as one entity and thus integrates the principles of SE to the group, as well as individuals within it. He strives to meet people on their level, and helps them to identify and embody how to live life in a more expansive and comfortable way. As a body worker, Miles focuses on weaving the principles of SE into his sessions. He aims to bring his clients’ awareness and curiosity to how they can adjust from the inside and move towards a greater of a sense of well-being. Miles aims to include a sense of playfulness, sensitivity and gentleness into his work to support an enjoyable and liberating experience. Miles’ passion for SE filters into his work and being. He is based between Norfolk Island and Australia, and travels frequently with work and pleasure. He is creative, likes to garden and is a great cook.

Noel works as a psychologist and psychotherapist in full-time private practice and enjoys working with individuals and couples as well as providing supervision to allied and mental health professionals.  He has worked extensively in a wide variety of counselling and psychological services since 1995, including family counselling, drug and alcohol, sexual assault, problematic gambling, mental health, men’s behavioural change, and forensic Youth justice as a Senior Psychologist for 4 years.  Since 2001, Noel has been a gestalt psychotherapy trainer and faculty member of Gestalt Therapy Australia. Having also been trained and mentored as an equine psychotherapist Noel  co-facilitates and runs an Equine Psychotherapy training program with his wife in Daylesford, Victoria. Noel has a special interest in working with shock and developmental traumas, addictions and shame dynamics, integrating SE, relational Gestalt therapy, self-compassion and non-dual spiritual approaches into his psychotherapy practice. He  is a student of Castlemaine Zen Buddhist group as well as an ongoing student of  the Diamond Approach since 2003, a western psycho-spiritual school that integrates mindfulness, western psychotherapy, sufism and buddhist traditions into personal and spiritual development.

Phyllis integrates Somatic Experiencing with Gestalt therapy in her practice. Phyllis develops and delivers researched workshop incorporating Somatic Experiencing in programs for pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools and high schools; she is a clinical counselling supervisor and works in private practice. Phyllis holds a Masters degree in Counselling and has been an industry trainer for 30 years. She is interested in the application of the Gestalt therapy approach and the psychobiological principals of Somatic Experiencing. She has clinical experience with individuals, children, youth and families and treats a broad base of issues. She focuses on providing individual and group supervision, counselling sessions. SE Master Class: Embodied practices for healing attachment trauma in children combining Somatic Experiencing and Integrated Attachment Family Therapy. Phyllis’ work is aimed to help people and families feel understood and accepted in their experience, safe and connected. Phyllis currently resides in Melbourne Australia.

Tania is an Art Psychotherapist and SEP with training in Kathy Kain’’s Touch Skills, modules 1 & 2, Neuro Affective Touch by Aline LaPierre and online webinars in the Attachment and Trauma Mastery program by Diane Poole Heller. Her private practice in Melbourne offers individual consultations for children, adults and couples who seek therapy for change, repair and regulation in their life. Art therapy is available for self exploration working with the Expressive Therapy Continuum, the Clayfield, Guided Drawing, Sand-tray and Dream exploration in conjunction with SE principles and SE touch. Workshops on offer from her studio are, Drawing for Regulation, Expressive Play with Collage, Art as Process and trauma informed Mindfulness and Tai Chi classes. Since completing ‘Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes,’ with Maggie Kline, she facilitates SE groups for children who have experienced family violence to help children increase their body awareness and access healthy self protective and defence responses to recovery from shock trauma. Tania also works as a clinical Art therapist and SEP in Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol within a hospital setting where she runs Art psychotherapy groups to increase patients' capacity to embody an experience of safety and the authentic Self. Over the past 10 years Tania has worked in the Family Violence sector where she initiated the Children’s Therapeutic Program using art therapy and has had the opportunity to co-facilitate the Peek-a-Boo program, which was designed for mothers and their babies to repair attachment ruptures caused by family violence. Tania has also worked with war veterans, sex offenders and refugees.

Vanessa is trained as a Holistic Counsellor and Psychotherapist, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, a Family Constellation Facilitator, a NARM Therapist and holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She has trained with Kathy Kain in Touch Skills for Trauma as well as Somatic Resilience and Regulation with Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell. She has completed several masterclasses with Dr. Peter Levine including Eye of the Needle I & II, Depression, Aggression and Life Force and Chronic Pain and Syndromes. She has completed studies with Kate White in Pre and Peri Natal Dynamics and assisted her trainings. She is currently completing her training in Neuro Affective Touch with Aline La Pierre and is undertaking her Masters level training as a NARM Therapist. Vanessa works with healing all forms of trauma with her main client base being those who have experienced complex trauma and live with chronic illness. She has supported the healing of many clients who were once living limited lives to ones where they now have choice and a much greater capacity to engage in what they truly want for themselves. Personally, Vanessa is committed to her own spiritual practice and integrates this as well as what she has learned and experienced into her own way of working. She works in partnership with her clients to support them to release all that is in the way of their connection with their blueprint, their own divine presence and the gifts they have to share with the world. Vanessa works in private practice on the NSW Central Coast.

Wanda Brothers, MFT, SEP, DARe is a Senior Assistant, and has been Lead Assistant for various trainings. She has been an SEP since 2008 and has been assisting since 2010. She loves Somatic Experiencing, as it revolutionised her life and private therapy practice. She is also trained in DARe and assists at DARe trainings (Somatic Attachment work), and has studied Kathy Kain’s Somatic Touch work for the past 16 years. Wanda has run her own private psychotherapy practice for the past 22 years. She blends therapy, SE, and her expertise in Attachment theory to support students in a deeply meaningful way for sessions and consults. She is grateful for the opportunity to help students deepen their understanding of SE, improve their practice, and gain more freedom and joy.

Hyeran’s areas of expertise are Emotional, Relational, Developmental, Intergenerational, Medical, Sexual, and Social trauma, LGBTQ+, BIPOC.  Hyeran has been working as a psychotherapist  at the Department of Psychiatry and International Medical Team at Gumi CHA University Medical Center in S. Korea.  She provides Pro Bono sessions to the association of Queer teachers, and also to the Gimcheon Juvenile Correctional Institute.  She teaches chaplains  practitioner's alignment and self regulation skills for hospice care in CPE center, Diocese of Uijeongbu  and also, teaches pregnant couples co-regulation skills, healthy attachment in Pre/post partum class in CHA Medical Centers.  Hyeran  has been assisting and learning from Abi Blakeslee, Ariel Giarretto, Dave Berger, Dea Parsanishi, Efu Niyaki, Russell Jones, Joshua Sylvae, Kavi Gemin. She has attended SE Master classes with Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills, Peter Levine and Diane Heller’s Healing Sexual Trauma, Somatic Interventions for Chronic Pain, Efu Niyaki’s Intergenerational Trauma, Ariel Giarretto’s Sexual Trauma and Sexuality.   Outside of SE she also has training in Janina Fisher’s Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment for Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors, Gottman Couple Therapy, DBT, ACT, and MBSR.     All these have  contributed to and influence her practice.  Hyeran loves playing Gayageum, pan Flute, and listening to music. Watching stars, ocean, autumn sky. Rosewood scent, cappuccino w/ cinnamon, pesto oil pasta, exercise Chen-Taijiquan, and her beloved people are her great resources.  “I am honored to walk with you, support you in exploring SE and your healing journey.”

Catherine Allen is an experienced practitioner drawing on 20 years of experience working in remote Arctic communities as a nurse, 16 years as a Structural Integration/Rolfer (form of body work to realign) and Somatic Experiencing and Counselling for the last 6 years. She has studied multiple courses in early childhood trauma under Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell, amongst other trainings, and has a keen interest in attachment therapy. Catherine uses her creativity, humour, movement, sensitivity and body awareness to explore trauma, behaviour patterns and how to move through them. This is done in a safe and titrated manner as she has a comprehensive understanding of preverbal, epigenetic, shock and attachment disruptions that may have occurred. Her connection to Australia are her 3 beloved kelpies; Macy (who made the long journey years ago to run cattle and gives Catherine the stink eye when she pretends sheep are nearby), Jack her son who has gone from barn floor to the couch in one smooth move and Dizzy who is in his happy last days.

As a professional and practicing therapist, his wisdom on the human psyche runs deep. His passion for his work has him constantly expanding the breadth of his understanding of people, and how they tick. Operating in the Wide Bay region of Queensland, Daniel delivers stress- and trauma-therapy for a range of clients via the practice he co-owns, Wide Bay Counselling and Psychotherapy. He has extensive experience supporting emergency services personnel, and currently works closely with the Queensland Ambulance Service. He has a Masters Degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy, a modality that is centred on increasing a person's awareness, freedom, and self-direction. Daniel also spent three years becoming qualified in Somatic Experiencing in Sydney, and is honoured to be able to bring this powerful work to the community. He has worked as a Community Recover Officer within flood areas, has spent six months supporting those experiencing houselessness, has conducted psycho-education within Family Relationship Services and prior to all this spent twelve years building a career within the Australian Defence Force. Those close to Daniel describe him as very funny, with a dry sense of humour. He has a rock-like energy and is grounded and direct, while bringing warmth and compassion to everyone he meets. Daniel has built a solid reputation in his community as a knowledgeable and capable therapist, helping a range of people to create really positive outcomes, and he looks forward to continuing to do so, for many years to come.

David has been a full-time Feldenkrais practitioner since 2001 and an Assistant Feldenkrais Trainer since 2016. He completed his SE training in 2018 and Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills training in 2019. David works in private practice in Auckland and focusses on a range of trauma symptoms but in particular chronic pain. He is passionate about supporting people’s own innate self-restorative processes and helping them return to a felt sense of being safe, whole and complete. Having lived with chronic back pain for over a decade from the age of 16, he is a testament to the fact that through awareness, we can learn alternatives to our habitual patterns. David aims to bring a gentle and stable presence to his sessions. He loves the creativity of finding different ways to support the nervous system and allow space for the unknown to emerge. When he is not working he will be outdoors hiking.

Idi is a clinical social worker, counselling in public service agencies in the areas of addiction, interpersonal violence and abuse, and sexual trauma since the late 1990′s.  Idi trained under Maggie Kline and Berns Galloway in the inaugural Australian SE training in Melbourne.  
Idi is currently in private practice. She believes that relationships are everything; transforming relationships and the way we love is her passion and her specialty. Idi is also trained in PACT and RLT. She is keenly interested in how early relational experiences are encoded, and how these forces may shape our adult love relationships. Idi is passionate about using SE for relationship issues and with couples.

Lisa brings to her SE trauma work a strong background in bodywork including physiotherapy and the Feldenkrais Method. She enjoys helping people to develop a safe and compassionate connection to their body and an understanding of their nervous system, so they can build capacity and resilience. She works with all types of trauma, in person and online, with particular expertise in helping reduce chronic pain and other somatic symptoms. She has worked in hospital, rehabilitation and community health settings and for the last 20 years has run a busy solo practice in Bayside Melbourne. Further SE trainings include: Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills for Therapists; NeuroAffective Touch with Aline LaPierre; Peter Levine’s Masterclass on Syndromes and Eyeo of teh NEedle 1 & 2, also with Peter Levine.

Louise (Lou), a masters trained Counselling Psychologist. Lou is trained in EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting, Trauma sensitive yoga and is registered with the National Disaster Response Network APS. As well as having a private practice, Lou has assisted and supervised clinicians for many years. Her expertise has allowed her to not only help her community with trauma related issues, but future professionals as they study in some of Australia’s universities. Lou intricately weaves SE into her specialised teachings in University courses such as ‘Introduction to Trauma Counselling’, ‘Experiential Group Therapy’ and ‘Group Supervision’. Lou has also facilitated training for the Blue Knot Foundation. Courses including - Foundations for Building Trauma Awareness, Managing Wellbeing and Recognising Vicarious Trauma, and Trauma Awareness: Supporting People with a disability. With a profound understanding of how the body and brain work in unison, her underlining principal in therapy is to “Help people reconnect with their inner wisdom, and to grow in the trust of their own healing capabilities hidden within.” Her studies in the field continue and are guided by the work of people such as Peter Levine Phd, Dr Abi Blakeslee, Twig Wheeler, Stephen Porges and more. Lou is an SEP, and an approved provider assistant. She brings to the SE Community and her private practice a rich blend of knowledge, skill application and humanity along with a deep understanding of trauma related issues and how our body-brain can unobtrusively heal.

Moniquea is a qualified Somatic Psychotherapist and SEP with over 15 years’ experience working in the mental health and trauma related fields. Underpinning her Advanced Diploma in the field of Somatics is Bio Energetics and Core Energetics with Dr John Pierrakos.
 
Before moving into private practice, she was working in forensic mental health and established a number of programs and initiatives for the Dept of Corrections in Victoria whilst establishing the Partners in Recovery (PIR) program and co-ordinator under the Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative (MACNI)

Having always believed that the mind and body are intrinsically connected to our overall health and well-being Moniquea continues to expand her knowledge and practice in the body mind space taking a keen interest in early developmental trauma and attachment theory. This has led to completing further training with Kathy Kain in Somatic Practice, Ray Castellino online Prenatal and Peri-natal Healing and the online Attachment & Trauma Mastery Program with Diane Poole Heller and more recently becoming an NATouch Foundation Graduate of Dr. Aline La Pierre’s NeuroAffective Touch Foundation training.

Moniquea would describe her body-oriented practice as holistic, intuitive, and relational, with a focus on healing developmental and relational trauma through the incorporation of somatic touch work, SE, characterology, Reichian theory and Poly Vagal theory.
 
Moniquea appreciates the work of SE and body-oriented practices and is grateful for the personal changes experienced along her own journey and is excited to be on this training with you. “Life is about movement, states of expansion and contraction - we breathe, we eat, we walk- we move and we keep moving together”   Moniquea appreciates the work of SE and body-oriented practices and is grateful for the personal changes experienced along her own journey and is excited to be on this training with you. “Life is about movement, states of expansion and contraction - we breathe, we eat, we walk- we move and we keep moving together”

Sophie is a gestalt psychotherapist informed by attachment and developmental approaches. Sophie works in private practice where they enjoy working with clients from diverse cultures, backgrounds, sexualities, ages and abilities. Sophie commenced working in the health sector in the mid-90s at Vivaids and Kirketon Road Centre, undertaking health promotion with injecting drug users and street workers. They then moved into arts development for people with disabilities and a range of other arts and therapeutic endeavours before becoming a psychotherapist around 10 years ago, beginning with 5 years in Community Health working with complex, at risk and vulnerable clients.  Sophie’s work is fundamentally holistic, relational and body focused, they have a special interest in trauma and their work engages people with acute, chronic and complex trauma, including developmental and relational trauma. Sophie incorporates somatic touch work (trained with Kathy Kain) and is passionate about the value of this work for survivors of trauma. Sophie is grateful for the personal changes experienced along her SE journey and aims to bring attunement, sensitivity and creativity to her practice. In addition to individual work with clients Sophie has run therapy groups and has developed therapeutic arts and video projects, including recent film projects Celebrating Strength & Resilience, made with women who have experienced experienced family violence and Gratitude made with Phillip Maisel OAM, survivor of the Jewish holocaust.

Alex is a clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and Medicare Mental Health rebate provider. He has trained in Art Therapy, Buddhist Informed Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, and has studied various mindfulness practices over the past 35 years. He is an experienced mental health professional who has worked in clinical, management, policy and research roles over the past 25 years in the Health and Community sectors. Alex has worked extensively in a wide range of counselling and therapeutic services since 1996, including most recently in the role of Lead Clinician in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Previous to this he has worked in individual and family counselling, drug and alcohol, problem gambling, men's behavioral change programs and in the mental health field. Alex provides assessment & treatment for children, adolescents, parents and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, autism, eating disorders, trauma, grief and loss, life changes, attachment and relationship difficulties. He also provides mindfulness training to groups and organisations.

Alyson is a Counsellor and Existential Psychotherapist with a particular interest in grief, loss (including non-death loss) and trauma. She has a private practice in the Geelong region of Victoria utilising drums, percussion and other creative modalities to support people to identify and cultivate an embodied sense of ‘home’ inside themselves.  She has many years experience in community settings, and currently works part-time in a community health setting supporting recently arrived refugees, and people with persistent health conditions, she volunteers in palliative care as a Dignity Therapist and facilitates regular conversations on death and dying. She brings SE into her life and work through embodied explorations of existence themes of life, death, meaning, choice and response-ability. She is currently undertaking training in Neuro Affective Touch: Healing developmental trauma with Aline LaPierre. 

Dr Amar Dhall supports the blossoming of human potential by integrating body-based approaches to trauma release and self-knowledge with post-Jungian psychotherapy, counselling and coaching modalities. He works with people from all walks of life, from first nations people “on country” to business owners and executives in boardrooms. Amar’s scope of practice covers two streams: trauma-release work and supporting business people and executives to flourish. This is possible because, at core, he believes that trauma’s depths are the seeds for an empowered and meaningful life. Once their reactive trauma responses no longer steer people, they face the delightful challenge of building their new and resonant lives. Amar is Centre Director for The Canberra Trauma and Well-Being Centre and partner of emotional intelligence company Primal Intelligence.

Taking the best from her Diplomas in Craniosacral Therapy and Remedial Massage and her experience as a Yoga Teacher, Anita works to assist people in their deepest healing. Her training in Biodynamic or Stillness Touch has honed her skills as a touch practitioner, giving her the capacity to effectively work with people’s physical, mental and emotional conditions, via the body. She completed the three year Somatic Experiencing Practitioner training and Touch Skills for Trauma Therapists in April 2019. Anita enjoys and is committed to working with anyone who is ready and willing to commit to themselves.

Becky is a Gestalt Psychotherapist and Art Therapist working full time in private practice. She has extensive experience working with wide range of client groups and ages. She has a background working with children and adolescents who have experienced family violence and she also has a background working with adolescents and adults who are experiencing an eating disorder. She has worked extensively with Eating Disorders Victoria in various roles, running art therapy groups and as a facilitator for their online support groups. Becky also sub contracts to an EAP organisation providing individual counselling for employees and facilitating trainings for organisations on mental health and well-being. In her busy private practice Becky works with a wide array of presentations such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, PTSD, relationship issues and couples counselling. Within her practice Becky weaves her SE skills into everything she does, providing an all round embodied approach for her clients.

Dianna is a Counselling Psychologist and the owner of Inscape Psychology, a psychology practice on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Dianna has over 30 years experience in the field of mental health. Initially trained in the USA, Dianna has worked in psychiatric hospitals, crisis assessment and community mental health. In 2005 she returned to Australia and started seeing clients in private practice. Dianna works primarily with developmental trauma and the impact of childhood attachment and personal and generational trauma on current functioning. She is also deeply committed to helping women unravel the barriers that stand in the way of personal empowerment and find access to their healthy aggression. Dianna has been a seeker of truth all her adult life and it was through her exploration of non duality that she stumbled across Peter Levine. Peter’s work affirmed her own personal experience that awakening must happen through the body. Dianna completed her SE training in 2022. Dianna's favourite pastime is hanging out in her garden with her cat Maya and dog Bella.

Esen has worked in the field of trauma since 1997 with individuals, families, groups and communities. A specialist focus for Esen is the area of sexual assault and developmental trauma. She also has a special interest in dissociative disorders and complex trauma. Qualified and experienced as a Mental Health Social worker, Esen currently works in her private practice. She has specialist training as a Family Therapist, Somatic Experiencing, Havening and EMDR. Since completing her training as an SEP, her practice changed immensely. Esen has also completed The Touch Skills for Therapist training with Kathy Kain in 2019.

Estelle is a Psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in varied and dynamic roles in NGO’s, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, legal firms, and the Dept of Defence.   Estelle holds a Clinical Masters Degree in Mental Health Sciences through the School of Medicine, Flinders University Dept of Psychiatry.  She is a PACFA accredited Supervisor, also trained in EMDR and Flash Technique.  Estelle’s initial training was in dual diagnosis inpatient treatment (substance use and complex trauma).  For the past 11 years, Estelle has worked in private practice, primarily alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from South Australia, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and throughout Victoria.   Therapeutically, Estelle’s likes to work with individuals and groups, and is interested in how we can inch gently towards an embodied sense of safety and connectedness, and a value driven “life worth living”. Estelle enjoys studying sacred geometry, the Sun, camping, weaving, art, music, singing (in the shower), and dancing. Estelle has been dancing, and singing, with Somatic Experiencing since 2017 (in and out of the shower).  

Evelyn Bugel is a General Psychologist in residing in Melbourne. Evelyn worked in the community sector for 20 years before opening her private practice 10 years ago. Evelyn has worked in Disability Services and with family carers of people with disabilities. Many of her private psychology clients are family carers. Evelyn developed an interest in working with people with a history of trauma after finding that this client group did not respond as quickly as others to many of the typically delivered psychology and counselling interventions. Evelyn enjoys meeting her clients and others in an authentic, respectful and down to earth way.

Gigi works in private practice offering one to one and group support in stress management, nervous system regulation and nature connection. She guides clients to develop a felt sense of the body, and its responses to life, as well as sharing simple information and practices to help them understand and regulate the movements of the nervous system. With a background as a Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist, Restorative Yoga Teacher, Mindfulness Instructor and Somatic Exercise Coach, Gigi developed a fascination with the workings of the human body, and how bringing awareness to it had the power to initiate profound change. As time went on, she became more and more interested in the nervous system and the role it plays in how we experience ourselves and the world. Learning the tools of Somatic Experiencing was the missing piece for her in really bringing these threads together. Gigi is passionate about helping others to have a rich and nuanced experience of their body and learn to restore its natural rhythms and wisdom and life force. As a former ecologist, she is also deeply committed to supporting people to strengthen their connection to the natural world, as a soothing and profound resource for the spirit and a way to experience deeply their own true nature.

Jane is a counsellor currently working full time in private practice in Central Victoria, near Castlemaine. Jane has 20 years experience working in a variety of settings including schools, community health, family violence and sexual assault services. The heart of Jane’s work as a therapist is relational and somatic and her approach is integrated and holistic. Jane has a particular interest in working with complex and developmental trauma, and trauma resulting from sexual assault & family violence. Jane completed training as an SEP in 2018. She has also completed the Touch Skills for Therapists training with Kathy Kain in 2019, and uses SE touch in her practice with clients. She is also trained in EMDR and completed Deb Dana’s ‘The Rhythms of Regulation’ Polyvagal training for therapists in 2020. Jane has recently commenced training in Janina Fisher’s Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment (TIST) model. Jane has a Masters degree in Counselling. 

Liz is a Holistic Counsellor who completed her SE and early attachment from a somatic perspective (SATE) qualifications in Europe. Having recently returned to Australia Liz is expanding her studies to include a Diploma of Counselling and Process Orientated Psychology to enable her to more deeply support her clients. Liz volunteers as a counsellor at lifeline on the Sunshine Coast and is in the process of setting up her own practise with a focus on supporting women to come back into contact with themselves and their purpose through embodiment practices and process work.