• our physiological nervous system state informs and drives our thoughts, feelings, relationships, behaviours

• all parts (even addictive, harmful or self-sabotaging behaviour or thought patterns) have a positive intention but have misguided ways of achieving the positive outcome they seek for your system. These parts took on the protective and adaptive roles as a response to trauma and formed unconscious beliefs and behaviours that guide our life. Our work is to help these parts release their burdens manifesting in their roles, and facilitate these parts to take on their true supportive roles

• feeling 'stuck' or cognitively or physically knowing what steps you want and need to make but not able to or sabotaging you from take action (eg. following through on a health routine, applying for the perfectly aligned job, increasing your presence online…) is an lived experience of the protective parts of our psyche coming online and stopping us

• regulating and restoring the nervous system allows access to repressed body memories, traumas and sabotaging behaviours that keep us stuck from living in alignment with and actualising our goals, values and life we desire

• by connecting and developing our core true ‘self’ or soul, adult self or wise one ( the ever-present and healing essence inside of all of us) and encouraging it take its true leadership role in our system, we begin to live in alignment with our goals, passions and unique purpose

• the body and mind are strongly inclined to physically, psychologically and emotionally heal given the appropriate tools and support to do so. My role is to provide guidance and a safe container to facilitate this inherent self-healing capacity

• we are spiritual beings having an human experience; all our experiences, challenges and opportunities are a reflection of our internal world, and are perfectly placed to lead us on our wider spiritual path

• living an aligned life, led by your unique self, free from pain, unconscious conditioning and irrespective of your past is undoubtedly possible for everyone

Internal Family Systems therapy is a transformative psychotherapudic modality and empowering paradigm. This work facilitates true healing and change from within. IFS offers healing, acceptance and self-understanding and from that place of healing we can change our relationship with all the aspects of our inner lives: our emotions, attitudes, blockages, patterns, or qualities and strengths and become more authentically ourselves.

Together we bring awareness to and map the ‘parts’ of your system, take inventory and trace the root of unhelpful narratives, unconscious limiting beliefs, patterns, projections, habits and behaviours that stand between you and the story you want to live. We replace the stories that no longer serve you with alternative stories (beliefs, behaviours or emotional attachments). These strategies, thoughts, and behaviours were necessary, protective and adaptive at once in your past but are now maladaptive and prevent your healing and growth. Through this incredibly effective therapeutic process you naturally begin to life a self-led life - or one in alignment with your values, desires, and true self.

In practice, IFS feels like a guided meditations, where I guide you though a process to to access your ‘parts’ and true ‘self’ energy. Through the experience, you are able to release, replace or ‘unburden’ the parts of yourself (eg. beliefs, behaviours or emotional attachments) not presently supporting you, and allow these parts to take on their true supportive roles.

In IFS is an embodied form of therapy. Dick Schwartz describes it as constraint-release. We focus on a Part and ask where to do you feel it in your body. Each Part of us has its own unique somatic profile, the subtle ways that we hold it in our body-mind system. We can become aware of the Part’s presence as it arises before it is in full bloom. This early contact with the Part allows more response options. We can acknowledge the Part, unblend from it, and greet it with compassion and curiosity. All responses enhance the relationship between the Self and the Part.

As the Part senses the open presence of the Selfs, their relationship deepens, and the Part softens. The somatic consciousness of this easing facilitates our bringing breath to those areas that have softened. The breath expands our embodied connection to ourselves, we are bringing Self in. We are more present, alive and flowing.

Somatic Experiencing is a trauma-informed body-oriented therapeutic model for healing trauma and other stress disorders.

While some stories are at our conscious level of awareness, the majority (95%) are unconscious and stored in our bodies. This is why somatic (body) focused practices, that calm our nervous system, bring you to the present moment, and allow you to release the somatic memories is pivotal in healing the mind and body. 

Somatic and polyvagal informed practices, including — breath, sound, sight, movement, and touch — can begin to restore our nervous system and release or digest these stories stored in our bodies. These practices support you to move the stories and the stagnant energy in your body that create the ‘stuck’ feeling, thoughts and behaviours.

Somatic work allows us to complete the story that is no longer serving you, reconstructing new meaning from and rewriting old narratives, stored tension, trauma and pain in your body to make space for the creation of new, true stories. I will teach you the movement-releasing practices (such as breath work, TRE etc. ) so that you can continue the work outside of the session.

Polyvagal Theory replaces the outdated concept that the autonomic nervous system has three states: rest-and-digest (social and safe), fight-or-flight (mobilisation) or shutdown (immobilisation).The brain and nervous system influence organ functioning, a person’s cognition and subsequent behavior. Nervous system regulation, adaptability and flexibility is foundational to self-directed neuroplasticity. The nervous system is complex communication system made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves that connect every organ, somatic and autonomic system in the body. 

How we feel, our emotions or any bodily sensations like pain or pleasure, is produced from an aggregate of bodily messages (from the gut, heart and diaphragm) and sent via the vagus nerve to the brain in a continuous communication loop. Informed by polyvagal theory, we map out your nervous system because a regulated and safe nervous system is the crucial prerequisite to deeper storywork and living your vision and I teach you self-awareness and regulation tools to do this work out of session when you are deregulated.

Stream-of-consciousness writing acts like a mirror, allowing access to your subconscious thoughts, beliefs and feelings. I teach a well researched therapeutic writing technique (not same as journaling) which allows for somatic release as well as provides access to unconscious beliefs etc.

Narrative Therapy, offers a framework to liberate you from dis-empowered, limiting stories that keep you stuck repeating patterns and behaviors that no longer serve you or your goals. This approach acknowledges that people assign meaning to their experiences through the stories they tell and are told by others and society. By witnessing the problem or limiting belief as external to your being opens up space for alternative stories to be written more in alignment with your true self or your goals. Re-writing these stories widen ones views of self, challenges old and unhealthy beliefs, open their minds to new ways of living and enact behavior change to reflect a more accurate and healthy story.

The therapeutic effect of writing about one’s past traumas in order to heal faster, think clearly, decrease anxiety and depression has been researched extensively. Beyond this, current research shows that writing about your life goals, ‘best possible future self’, makes you more resilient, increases gratitude for the life you have (therefore increasing motivation and positivity) and helps you clarify and communicate more effectively. Writing is an incredible personal growth tool to actively shape your mind-frame to achieve your goals.

Becoming your highest expression of self is a continuous refinement process; the more we unveil and align with our true self, the more our potential is revealed to us at a greater height than we ever conceived of as possible. This is life's-work; there is no end point nor a problem to 'fix'. Our authentic path of becoming is a lifelong journey of revelation, integration and transformation.

I am currently training as a Transpersonal Psychotherapist.

• Neuroscience shows us that we can take back control of our minds by rewiring our brain’s pathways to make lasting, positive changes to our lives.

• Our brain is on our side, by understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms involved in expressed behavior and nervous system regulation, we are able to functionally inhibit and replace unhelpful brain processes and neuropathways with helpful ones.

• How? Through a process called neuroplasticity. This is the ability of the brain to form new connections and pathways and change how its circuits are wired and therefore how we think, act or behave. Our brains are constantly being shaped by our experiences and have the ability to change by strengthening and over-writing undesirable neural pathways with desirable ones. This is how at a neurobiological level we learn a new skill, build emotional intelligence, improve performance, or change a behavior or foundational belief

How do the ‘parts of us’ inform and manifest our experience, thoughts, feelings and behaviours?

• feeling ‘stuck’ or not being able to step towards what you want in life, is a physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual experience of parts of your consciousness (thought or behaviour patterns, blocks, beliefs, physical or emotional pain) coming unconsciously online, protecting you by keeping you safely stuck from change (see Neuroscience of Stuck).

• by healing the burdens of these ‘protective -parts’ of you, which neuroscience tells were largely created through childhood trauma, allows you to rediscover and re-connect to your authentic self (true higher self, adult self, soul, essential nature, life force etc.)

• Through gaining awareness of healing your internal system (the various parts or players of your psyche that form your current story) and awakening your ever-present and healing core self, you naturally begin to manifest your life's unique purpose, desires and live your true abundant, free and joyful story!

• Transpersonal Psychotherapist — CCPE, London (5-year diploma/ MA: in progress)

• Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy — Embody Lab

• BSc. (Hons) Psychology with Neuroscience — University of Sussex

• MA Anthropology of Food and Health — University of London SOAS

• Mind-Body Illness (TMS) Training

• Polyvagal Theory Informed

• Trauma-Informed Narrative Therapy Practice

• Certified Integrative and Functional Health Practitioner — Bauman College, Berkeley

• 200 Hour Ashtanga & Meditation Teacher — Varkala, India

• Certified Peer Mental Health Counselor — RI International

‘ I have been working with Julia for 6 months now and wow the experience has been so rewarding and clarifying! She has challenged me to be more mindful in my personal and professional life, helped me thoughts and behaviors that are holding me back and set boundaries (for the first time) with friends and family members! Our work has had an immediate and huge impact on my career, relationship to my husband, self and body. I’m learning to see, think and do things differently, than you Julia you are amazing!’ - Kerry, Film Producer and Artist

‘If you would like to better understand how you can eat for optimum health and feel more confident and empowered to manage your wellbeing, then working with Julia is a game-changer. Before I started working with her I was feeling lethargic and frustrated, eating and drinking on autopilot. I feel I can cut through the confusion and self-doubt and can now confidently move forward with a well-advised nutrition and wellbeing plan. I got off every call with a senses of clarity and her feeling so empowered and ready to put into practice what we uncovered in session. Thank you, Julia, for what has been an invaluable experience’ - Zoe, Talent and Business Coach

“I am beyond grateful for how you have helped me learn about my body and mind and feel so much better - wow! You have smashed all the stereotypical messages I grew up with and empowered me to listen to my body. I can honestly say I am so much more comfortable in my own skin and my anxiety about my weight, the way I look, especially my skin, has almost gone. That is all down to you and your continued support, empathy, warmth and acceptance. - Jess, Accountant Executive