Counselling

• Qualified Counsellor
• Registered Member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA)

Romiromi & Mirimiri

• Trained with Tirohanga Wellness
• Completed Hei te Pō, Hei te Ao Wānanga with IRA ĀIO
• Completed Mirimiri & Romiromi Mauri Ora Wānanga with IRA ĀIO

Healthcare Experience

Before establishing Tūāhu Wellness, I spent more than 30 years working across the health sector, including nursing, coordination, support work, and mental health programme leadership.

This experience continues to inform my work today, bringing together practical understanding, professional knowledge, and a deep respect for the connection between mind, body, and wellbeing.

At Tūāhu Wellness, counselling services are private, and I am unable to offer Medicare rebates. My counselling sessions are 60 minutes long and priced at $140. A key advantage of choosing to work with me is that you may be able to be seen sooner, allowing for quicker support, and I provide a therapeutic approach tailored specifically to you.

When deciding which service to attend, please be aware that if you choose to see a psychologist, you will need to visit your GP for an assessment. Psychologists usually conduct 50-minute sessions, and the Medicare rebates for these sessions range up to $149.05, making the out-of-pocket expenses quite similar to my counselling fee of $140. If you do opt for a Mental Health Care Plan with your GP, it will remain on your health record and may be considered during medical checks for various purposes, such as life insurance.

Depending on your level of private health insurance cover, you may be eligible for a rebate through your provider. I recommend checking directly with your insurer, and I am happy to provide a receipt that includes the necessary information for your insurer to process a claim.

Yes. What you share in a session stays between us. I hold everything discussed with complete confidentiality, in line with the ethical standards of the Australian Counselling Association.

There are a small number of exceptions;  situations where I have a legal or ethical duty to act, such as if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. I will explain these limits clearly before we begin so there are no surprises.

That depends entirely on you — where you are, what you are working through, and what feels sustainable. Many people start with weekly sessions to build some momentum, then move to fortnightly once things feel more settled.

There is no set number of sessions that works for everyone. We check in regularly to make sure what we are doing is still serving you well.

No. 1:1 counselling sessions are available without any programme commitment. You can book a single session, or continue with regular sessions at whatever pace suits you.

For women who want to go deeper working with both counselling and traditional Māori bodywork over a structured period — the Tūāhu Individual Journey (8 weeks) or Tūāhu Group Journey (6 weeks) offer that. But there is no pressure to commit to a programme before you are ready. The free clarity call is a good place to talk through what might suit where you are right now.

Counselling helps you understand your patterns where they come from, why they show up, what they mean. That understanding is valuable. But some things that have been held in the body for a long time tension, old grief, the physical weight of stress do not always shift through conversation alone.

Romiromi and Mirimiri work with the body directly. Together, the two approaches reach further than either one does on its own. That is the foundation of the Tūāhu Individual Journey.

Yes, 1:1 counselling sessions are available online as well as in person in Barcaldine.

The Tūāhu Group Journey and Tūāhu Individual Journey are currently in person only. The Individual Journey includes Romiromi and Mirimiri bodywork which cannot be delivered online.

The clarity call is a free 15-minute conversation a chance for us to talk through where you are and what you are looking for. There is no commitment required and no paperwork beforehand.

If we decide to go ahead together, I will send you some brief background questions before your first session. This helps me understand your situation so we can make the most of our time together from the very first session.

This work is for women who have noticed they keep ending up in the same place, same reactions, same patterns, same loops and are ready to understand why.

You do not need to be in crisis. You do not need to have done therapy before, or never done it. You just need to be curious enough about yourself to want to look a little closer, and open to the idea that the mind and body are part of the same conversation.

If you are unsure whether this is right for you, the clarity call is exactly the place to find

Yes. While Romiromi and Mirimiri are integral components of the 8-week Reflection & Reconnection program, I offer a limited number of standalone 90-minute bodywork sessions each week. These are available for anyone curious to experience traditional Māori healing or seeking the restorative benefits of therapeutic touch.

For many clients, the true depth of this work lies in combining counselling and bodywork what surfaces in conversation can be integrated through the body, and what shifts physically can be explored in your next session. However, a standalone session is a wonderful way to experience Romiromi and Mirimiri on its own or to explore the approach before committing to a longer pathway.

You can book a standalone bodywork session directly online, or schedule a free Clarity Call if you would like to discuss whether it is the right fit for you.

Mirimiri is a traditional Māori healing practice involving gentle, intentional touch. It works with the whole person, mind, body, and spirit, rather than targeting a specific physical complaint. It is a nurturing practice that supports the release of emotional and physical tension, and is always conducted with deep respect for the Mauri (life force) of the person receiving it.

Romiromi is a deeper form of traditional Māori bodywork. It works with the muscles and connective tissue, helping to release tension that has built up over time. Like Mirimiri, it works with the whole person physical release and emotional or energetic release are understood as part of the same process.

Both Romiromi and Mirimiri are conducted with integrity and respect for Tikanga  the cultural protocols that guide how this work is done.

Cultural Protocols (Tikanga)

Each session is held within tikanga the cultural protocols that guide how this work is conducted with care and intention. This includes Karakia (blessing/prayer) at the beginning and end of the session, and Wai Tai (blessed seawater) for spiritual protection and cleansing. I understand that not everyone shares the same cultural background, and I hold that with deep respect. If you have any questions or concerns about these practices, I welcome an open conversation before we begin.

Preparing & Draping

Before we start, I will leave the room for a few moments so you can get ready in private. You are invited to undress to your comfort level and slip under the sheet on the table. I will always knock before returning to the room.

Throughout the session, you will be fully covered with a sheet or towel at all times, with only the specific area being worked on uncovered. Your privacy, modesty, and comfort are strictly respected at every stage.

Your Choice & Control

Your safety and comfort are paramount. If at any point something does not feel right, simply say so, and we will adjust the session to suit you. You are always in control of your experience.

Because I use oil during parts of your session, I recommend wearing comfortable clothing that is easy to remove or adjust. I provide linen and appropriate draping throughout the session to ensure you feel secure, warm, and comfortable at all times.

Come as you are. There is no special preparation required beyond wearing comfortable, loose clothing.

It is worth avoiding a large meal or coffee in the hour before your session, as both can make it harder for your body to settle and receive the work. Also, as a small courtesy, please ensure you have clean feet; because I often work with the feet as part of the session, arriving with clean feet helps us get started with ease and comfort.

Most importantly, there is nothing you need to do, fix, or prepare emotionally beforehand. You do not need to arrive in a particular state of mind. Just show up.

Pressure varies throughout the session depending on what your body needs on that day. You are encouraged to communicate throughout if something feels too much or not enough, say so. The session is a collaboration, not something that is done to you.

While Mirimiri and Romiromi involve touch and can feel therapeutic, they are fundamentally different from conventional massage (like Swedish or relaxation massage) in a few key ways:

• Holistic Purpose: Conventional massage is often focused on relaxing muscles or treating specific physical injuries. Rongoā bodywork is holistic; it works with the tinana (physical body) to restore balance to your wairua (spirit), hinengaro (mind/emotions), and mauri (life force). We aren’t just working on “muscle knots”—we are working with the whole person.

• Energetic Focus: These practices recognise that emotional and physical stress can be stored in the body’s tissues and energy pathways. The goal is to clear energetic blockages and restore the flow of mauri, rather than just increasing circulation or muscle pliability.

• Cultural Roots: Rongoā Māori is a sacred practice rooted in tikanga (customs) and whakapapa (lineage). It is inseparable from the Māori worldview, which views the individual as part of a wider connection to whānau (family) and whenua (land).

• Technique: My work combines both Mirimiri and Romiromi within a single session, which allows for a tailored approach that may involve the use of oil on the skin. The focus remains on connection, intention, and specific pressure points to support your unique journey, rather than a standardised routine.

Breathwork is safe for most people, but it is not suitable for everyone. If you have a heart condition, a respiratory condition, epilepsy, or a diagnosed psychiatric condition, please check with your GP before participating.

Before any group experience, we ask all participants a few brief questions to make sure the session is appropriate for them. If there is any doubt, we will discuss it with you directly before the day.

Some people experience lightheadedness or tingling during breathwork this is normal and passes quickly. Others notice emotions rising to the surface. Both are common responses and are held safely within the session.

You are always in control of your own pace. If at any point something feels like too much, you can ease back you will never be pushed beyond what feels okay for you.

No. Just wear loose, comfortable clothing. Everything else is taken care of.

Use the “Enquire about hosting an immersion” button on the Host an Immersion page to get in touch. Let me know a little about your group the size, the setting, and what you are hoping people will take away. From there we can have a conversation about what might work.

Curated Wellbeing Experiences Form

Immersion experiences are available for three types of groups:

Workplaces and organisations for teams wanting something with genuine depth, not a standard team-building day.

Not-for-profit and community organisations for organisations wanting to bring a real wellbeing experience to the communities they serve.

Private groups for individuals wanting to host an experience for family, friends, or a small gathering in their own home or chosen venue.

Every immersion is shaped around the specific needs of your group, so the format varies. Generally, a session will include breathwork facilitation led by Flo₂Flow, alongside grounding practices and self-care tools that I bring from my counselling and Māori healing background.

Catering can be arranged depending on the format and length of the day this is discussed during the planning conversation.

Romiromi and Mirimiri bodywork is not included in immersion experiences.

Standard immersion experiences are capped at 16 participants. This keeps the experience intimate and allows everyone to be genuinely held within the session rather than lost in a crowd.

For larger groups, get in touch we can discuss what is possible.

Immersions are available as half-day, full-day, or two-day experiences. The right format depends on your group, your goals, and your context. We work that out together in the planning conversation there is no fixed format to commit to upfront.

Yes. Immersion experiences can be held at your location anywhere in Australia. Travel and accommodation costs are factored into the quote, which is provided after our initial conversation.

To secure your preferred dates, it is worth getting in touch at least four to six weeks ahead. That said, if you have something more urgent in mind, reach out anyway if the schedule allows, we will do our best to make it work.