“Most psychologists treat the mind as disembodied, a phenomenon with little or no connection to the physical body. Conversely physicians treat the body with no regard to the mind or the emotions. But the body and mind are not separate and we cannot treat one without the other. "

Dr Candace Pert   

I am a somatic psychotherapist, trauma educator, clinical supervisor, yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner with more than 30 years of experience working at the intersection of trauma, embodiment, nervous-system regulation and relational healing.

At the heart of my work is a simple but profound belief:

the way we meet people matters.

Effective trauma informed practice is not simply about knowing the right theory or having a collection of techniques. It is about developing the capacity to be genuinely present—to notice what is happening in the body, recognise nervous system states, remain curious rather than reactive, and create the conditions in which another person can experience greater safety, choice and agency.

My work empowers clinicians to meet clients with attuned safety, sensitivity and embodied awareness, supporting trauma recovery in ways that honour the whole person. I integrate somatic and relational approaches to help you understand how trauma lives not only in memory and meaning, but also in movement, breath, sensation, relationship and the nervous system.

A particular passion is supporting clinicians to move beyond simply understanding trauma to developing an embodied capacity to work with it. My training explores concepts such as the Window of Tolerance, Neuroception, Autonomic Nervous System co-regulation, Regulating movement and breath, titration and pendulation, alongside trauma-informed language and relational practice.

Drawing on developmental movement and somatic psychotherapy, I explore how our earliest experiences of yielding, pushing, reaching, grasping, pulling and releasing can provide a rich lens for understanding agency, connection, boundaries, desire, receptivity and letting go. This approach invites you to become curious about what the body is communicating and to work with clients in ways that support choice rather than impose change.

In recent years, I have expanded my education and training work beyond clinical trauma practice to include workplace communication, relational capacity and emotionally intelligent leadership. My workplace programs bring together the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and trauma-informed practice, recognising that communication is never simply about words. How we listen, respond to conflict, hold boundaries, express needs and remain connected under pressure is profoundly influenced by our nervous systems and our capacity for regulation.

Through these programs, I support teams to develop practical skills for navigating difficult conversations, conflict, difference and emotional intensity without resorting to blame, avoidance, defensiveness or disconnection. My work asks workplaces to consider not only what is being communicated, but what happens in the body and nervous system when communication becomes difficult.

I provide professional development, programs and experiential training both online and face-to-face across Australia and New Zealand. These programs are designed for mental health professionals, allied health practitioners, educators, community organisations, leaders and teams wanting to develop safer, more connected and sustainable ways of working.

Alongside my clinical and educational work, I am deeply committed to the wellbeing and longevity of the people who care for others. After more than three decades in the trauma field, I understand that sustainable practice requires more than self-care strategies. Clinicians need opportunities to develop self-awareness, embodied regulation, boundaries, reflective capacity and relational resilience.

My training places the practitioner in the learning process. Rather than simply talking about regulation, participants are invited to experience it. Rather than learning about presence as an abstract concept, they explore what it means to embody presence as a living therapeutic skill. My teaching style is experiential, thoughtful and grounded. I bring together theory, clinical wisdom, movement, reflection, humour and practical application, creating learning environments where participants can explore challenging material while remaining connected to their own sense of safety and agency.

Shirley’s Clinical Experience

I work with survivors of complex and systemic trauma, including survivors of religious and institutional abuse, cult and ritual abuse, and victims of crime. I also provides clinical supervision and mentoring to mental health practitioners, supporting clinicians to develop their therapeutic skills and confidence when working with complex presentations. I co-founded Trauma Sensitive Yoga Australia (2012-2021) which offered trauma sensitive yoga training to both qualified yoga teachers and mental health clinicians.

My professional background includes a Master of Counselling, qualifications and certifications in Somatic Psychotherapy, Dru Yoga, Meditation and Naturopathy. I am a PACFA-registered Mental Health Practitioner and Supervisor and work as a facilitator with the BlueKnot Foundation, supporting education and professional development in the field of complex trauma and childhood abuse.

My clinical and educational thinking has been influenced by the work of Judith Herman, Ron Kurtz, Wilhelm Reich, Babette Rothschild, Peter Levine, Ruella Frank and Bessel van der Kolk, alongside decades of clinical experience and ongoing exploration of embodiment, movement and relational practice.

Ultimately, my work is about creating the conditions for greater safety, connection, choice and possibility—for clients, clinicians and the communities in which we live and work.

I believe that healing is not simply about getting people back to where they were before trauma. It is about creating the possibility of experiencing the body, relationships and life differently.

Outside her professional life, I can usually be found gardening, singing, cooking, practising yoga, exploring the bush or enjoying the beauty of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Qualifications

B.Bus(UQ Honours), Master of Commerce (UNSW), ND ( Nature Care College NSW) , Grad Diploma in Counselling (ACAP), Diploma in Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy(AACSP), Master of Counselling (UNE), Diploma in Dru Yoga (Life Foundation) Certificate in Trauma Sensitive Yoga (JRI - Boston 40hours), Professional Training Course in Buddhism & Psychotherapy ( AABCAP 280 hours)