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A Rural Mental Health Practice

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Derrymore, QLD
A Rural Mental Health Practice

🌿 Nature-based Gestalt therapy & equine-assisted mental health in rural QLD. NDIS self-managed & plan-managed clients welcome.

Trauma-informed, relational & experiential healing, growth & resilience through connection with nature, horses & self. 🐴💚 Serving Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley & Darling Downs. I am a PACFA-registered Certified Practitioner with a Master’s in Gestalt Therapy, specializing in nature-based, holistic, and experiential therapy. Currently training with EATA in Equine-Assisted Mental Health, I integrate Ges

talt therapy with somatic, art, and play-based approaches, as well as Tai Chi for Health. My practice is trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and relational, supporting healing, growth, and resilience through connection with nature, movement, and creativity.

19/11/2025

This is an important read for anybody accessing counseling/psychotherapy under the NDIS scheme

20/06/2025

How Nature Can Support Trauma Recovery

🌱 Nature has a profound ability to help us heal from trauma. In nature-based Gestalt therapy, we recognize that trauma can leave us disconnected from our bodies and the world around us. Nature offers a space where we can reconnect and process these experiences.

🐴 Horses, with their non-judgmental presence, offer a safe environment to explore trauma-related emotions and body sensations. Being in nature helps ground the nervous system and promotes healing through connection and regulation.

💬 In this space, clients can feel supported, safe, and empowered to process their trauma and move forward with resilience.

13/06/2025

🌾 Rest is Not Lazy – It’s Wisdom 🌾

Out in the paddock, two of our horses reminded me of something we often forget: rest is natural, necessary, and deeply wise.

In our fast-paced world, we’re taught to push through. But in nature—and in therapy—we honour rhythms. We notice the body. We slow down. We allow space to settle, breathe, and just be.

Gestalt therapy invites us into awareness. Animal-assisted therapy offers the gentle presence of beings who live entirely in the moment. And horses… they show us how to listen to our nervous system, how to connect without words, and how to pause without guilt.

If you’ve been needing permission to rest—consider this it. 💚

07/04/2025

Sunny’s Reminder: Kindness Matters
☀️ Sunny is the gentle heart of the herd, always the first to offer a nuzzle when someone’s feeling down.

💕 Sometimes, all we need is a quiet presence, a soft nudge, or a reminder that we’re not alone. If you needed this today, consider it a virtual nuzzle from Sunny!

💬 Tag someone who could use a little extra kindness today!

01/04/2025

Experimentation: Creating Opportunities for Growth

🧠 Experimentation is the process of trying out new ways of being, feeling, and doing. It’s about stepping outside of old patterns and exploring new possibilities for growth and change.

🌿 In nature-based Gestalt therapy, experimentation might include engaging with horses, walking through a natural space, or trying a new activity that challenges the client’s comfort zone. These experiential activities allow clients to step into new roles, test boundaries, and discover fresh perspectives.

💡 Experimentation helps clients explore their potential and push past limitations, leading to real transformation in their lives.

23/03/2025

Thena’s Thoughts on Self-Care
🐾 "Self-care is important! Here’s my routine: eat, nap, chase things, and remind my human to take breaks. If you’re feeling overwhelmed today, maybe try my method (minus the chasing things... unless that helps too!)" – Thena

🐶 What’s your go-to self-care practice? Thena wants to know! 💬⬇️

19/03/2025

Field Theory: Understanding the Context of Experience

🌍 Field Theory teaches us that we are not isolated beings but shaped by the larger field of relationships and experiences around us. Our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors arise within an interconnected web of people, environment, and circumstances.

🌱 In nature-based Gestalt therapy, we recognize that healing happens in relationship—whether with others, with animals, or with nature itself. The wind’s rhythm, the silence of the forest, or the presence of a horse can mirror our inner world and support growth.

💬 Field Theory reminds us that both trauma and healing happen in connection. By understanding the larger context of our experiences, we open the door to transformation.

27/02/2025

Rudy’s Wisdom Thursday
🌿 "If life feels too fast, take a moment to breathe. Find a patch of sun, stand still, and just be. Works for me every time." – Rudy

🐴 Horses have an incredible ability to remind us to slow down and be present. What’s one thing you can pause and appreciate today? Let’s hear it in the comments!

23/02/2025

Phenomenology: Exploring the Present Moment

🔍 Phenomenology in Gestalt therapy is about focusing on the immediate experience—what is happening right here, right now. It’s about being aware of your senses, your emotions, and your thoughts without judgment.

🌿 Nature is the perfect setting for phenomenological exploration. When working with clients, we encourage them to notice how they feel, what they see, hear, or smell in their environment. This helps them reconnect with their body, their emotions, and the present moment.

💡 By experiencing the world in its fullness, clients can uncover insights about themselves, which opens doors to growth, healing, and transformation.

20/02/2025

Thena vs. The Horses: A Drama in Three Acts

🎭 Act 1: Thena spots The Giant Hoof approaching. Immediate alarm. She takes cover under the car, barking fiercely—teeth bared for maximum effect. 👀🐶
🎭 Act 2: Zorro—completely unimpressed—leans down for a closer look. 🐴💅
🎭 Act 3: Thena, still under the car, quickly averts her gaze. If I don’t see it, it’s not real… right? 😳

🐾 Growing up is hard when your “scary” enemies just want to say hello.
Anyone else’s dog go through the "I must act tough (from a safe distance)" phase? 😂

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Derrymore, QLD
4352

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