
Introducing our new Therapists
Meet our newest graduates!
Welcoming these dedicated, passionate therapists to the Community Clinic after having just completed their training with Connection Culture.

Dave Partridge
David offers a steady, compassionate environment where genuine reflection and transformation can unfold. Seeing our stories as living, relational forces, he invites clients into a gentle widening of perspective - a slow, grounded reconnection with their own inner intelligence. Alongside Holistic Psychotherapy, David draws on his background as a qualified engineer, bringing a deep appreciation for structure, systems, and interconnected processes into his therapeutic work. He is also a Zenthai Shiatsu therapist with a broad foundation in movement, somatic practices, and hands‑on healing. Years of study with respected teachers inform his intuitive, grounded approach - meeting people exactly where they are with presence, curiosity, and care. His work supports a return to simplicity, steadiness, and the intelligence already within, helping clients to reconnect, reset, and reshape the way they move through their lives.

Sage Taylor
My approach to therapy is grounded in meeting things as they really are, embracing discomfort and letting it reveal another face. I am no stranger to grief and believe that in many dark corners we find our gold. In therapy I offer gentle curiosity, to help create safety for the intelligence that lives inside you to speak and be heard. Entraining new patterns in the nervous system and new possibilities in life. Working together, from the present moment, to cultivate a deeply rooted sense of relational safety and trust in life. I draw on years of my own lived experience in therapy as well as life long creative, nature, embodiment and story telling practices. As a neuro-divergent woman I value diversity and the gifts of difference; I welcome all flavours of weird and folks from all walks of life. \ I look forward to sharing the path of the brave and the curious. If finances are a barrier, please reach out via email: sage400@hotmail.co.uk for an alternative booking link

Melanie Blacksmith
Melanie's heart has been broken open, shredded and mended into an untameable love for Nature. Her greatest passion is to support others in their journey own healing journey toward a life of Soul. Through one-to-one therapy and couples therapy, we engage the mind and body through somatic and narrative processes, to feel, heal, and integrate the client's inner wisdom, becoming more and more one's own essential truth, the whole self. Vibrant in aliveness. Welcoming the dark, the unknown, the repressed forgotten parts. Welcoming them home. In her work Melanie invites the felt-sense and the imagination into a cohesive generative dance, through practices such as; nature and rewilding processes, movement as medicine, and ritual and ceremony in the personal and community spaces. Offering: One-to-one Therapy Couples Therapy (first 3 sessions free) Focus areas include: Emotional attunement Developing safety in the body Welcoming home and integrating parts Healing Narratives and making way for the new Supporting clients in grounding, connection, safety, attunement to Self, finding clarity, nurturing trust, feeling and healing the past, courting client's inner truths, to follow their path of Soul.

Lisette Deumer
As a certified Holistic Psychotherapist, I'm here to gently guide you through an healing process. Under the umbrella of 'holistic psychotherapy' healing means, we nurture wholeness, resilience, and self-awareness. We'll work together, focusing on listening to your inner self and getting back in touch with your body's natural wisdom. I help people find their way back to their inner strength and intuition, using approaches that focus on stories, how we connect with others, and mindful reflection. You're in charge here; we'll shape our time together around whatever feels most important and real to you. We often pull from things like narrative therapy (talking), relational presence (being present), and contemplative practice (noticing). The idea is to really go deeper and help create changes that stick. This is a spot to really get back to yourself, away from all the daily noise, fears, and habits. Here, what you're going through is really valued, your own rhythm is respected, and we approach your inner world with curiosity and kindness. With a background in yoga and meditation, storytelling, and a yearning to listen, I bring a grounded and mindful approach to how we will work toghether. I am guided to working with those who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, people who are neurodivergent, and anyone dealing with crunchy feelings like anxiety, depression, grief, or even anger. You are welcome exactly as you are.

Jack Chivers
Jack is a relational and collaborative therapist who places deep care in the quality of the therapeutic relationship. He believes that meaningful change begins in connection — where a client feels safe enough to be met, felt, and gently supported to explore what’s beneath the surface. His approach is grounded in curiosity and awareness, helping clients recognise recurring emotional, cognitive, and relational patterns in their lives. Rather than rushing to “fix” anything, Jack works at the client’s pace, offering a steady presence while supporting them to sit with, understand, and soften around the places they feel stuck. From this space, new choices and movements can naturally emerge. Drawing on previous training in Precision Health Coaching and several years of immersion in men’s work and group facilitation, Jack brings a thoughtful, holistic lens to his work — balancing insight with emotional depth and embodied presence. Jack feels particularly aligned working with individuals under 40 who are navigating identity, direction, or life transitions, and who are open to being both supported and respectfully challenged. He offers a grounded space for those wanting to develop a healthier rhythm in life and a deeper connection to themselves and others."

Zena Rose
Zena is a qualified Holistic Psychotherapist, with a degree in Psychology and almost 20 years of work and study in the healing and self-development field. Her background includes many years teaching yoga and practicing as a Lomi Lomi massage therapist. Zena has a particular interest in relationships - how we connect, disconnect, repair, and grow alongside others, and how our relationships impact our emotional wellbeing. She deeply believes that healthy relating is the foundation for a fulfilling emotional life. As a therapist, Zena works with both individuals and couples who are interested in cultivating a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships. Her therapeutic style is relational, trauma-aware, and collaborative. She aims to create a space that feels warm, grounded, and non-judgemental, where therapy is both reflective and practical, supporting insight alongside real-world change. She works at a pace that is sensitive and attuned, recognising the intelligence of both the mind and the body. At the community clinic, Zena is committed to making therapy accessible, and to meeting people where they are, honouring the courage it takes to reach out for support.

Richard Van De Veerdonk
Richard van de Veerdonk is a compassionate and grounded certified Holistic Psychotherapist whose work is shaped by more than four decades of clinical practice, life experience and a respect for the human journey across all stages of life. As a remote area registered nurse, Richard has provided care across the full lifespan, working in diverse settings including remote and regional communities, acute and community health, palliative care, men’s health, midwifery, and long-term follow-up support. His extensive frontline experience as a first responder in trauma situations, combined with over 30 years of ongoing trauma and after-care. This extensive experience has given him an exceptional capacity to support individuals navigating grief, shock, loss, addiction, self-harm, and major life transitions. Richard’s therapeutic presence is enriched by his comprehensive training in psychotherapy, allowing him to bridge medical understanding with a clear somatic understanding and psychological insight. He brings a steady, attuned approach to themes such as communication, boundaries, identity, and relational healing, supporting clients to feel safe, seen, and respected as they reconnect with themselves and others. As a father of five and a proud grandfather, Richard holds a lived understanding of family systems, generational patterns, and the complexities of intimate and evolving relationships. This personal experience informs his work with individuals, parents, men, and families, helping clients navigate both inner and relational landscapes with clarity and compassion. A defining feature of Richard’s work is his strong nature-based orientation and commitment to cross-cultural learning. Years spent working alongside diverse communities have fostered a deep appreciation for cultural context, connection to land, and the wisdom that emerges when healing is approached holistically. He views wellbeing not as something to be fixed, but as something to be gently remembered and restored through presence, relationship, and self-reflection. Richard’s self-reflective approach to life underpins his therapeutic work. He meets each client with humility, maturity, and genuine care, creating a grounded and respectful space where people feel valued and understood. His sessions are characterised by steadiness, warmth, and an unwavering belief in each person’s capacity for growth, resilience, and meaningful change. Through his work, Richard continues to support individuals at all stages of life to navigate challenge, deepen self-awareness, and move forward with greater connection - to themselves, to others, and to life itself.
Taylor King
Taylor King is a certified Holistic Psychotherapist who has a deep reverence for the full spectrum of the human experience. In sessions, Taylor supports clients to uncover and gently name patterns, offering the safety and presence needed to feel and process trauma and emotions at their own pace. She works with a broad range of clients, having supported individuals navigating childhood trauma, relationship challenges, self-worth and shame, grief, perfectionist tendencies, anxiety, and also welcomes those seeking support with addiction, guiding them to reconnect with their inner resources, resilience, and innate capacity for healing.
Suzi Willson
Suzi Willson is a Holistic Psychotherapist with over 30 years’ experience supporting children, families, and communities. Her background spans early childhood education, forest school, nature-based practice, and regenerative cultural work. Suzi offers a relational, integrative approach to therapy, weaving together evidence-based psychotherapy with body awareness, imagination, storytelling, and deep nature connection. Her work is grounded in deep listening, empathy, and respect for each person’s unique inner landscape. She specialises in personal transformation, relationships and parenting, supporting individuals and families navigating stress, transition, grief, and periods of change, offering a calm, nurturing space to restore balance, strengthen nervous system capacity, and reconnect with innate wisdom.
Margy Reed
A recent client has said “Margy’s empathy, insight and understanding felt like a warm embrace”. As a Holistic Psychotherapist, Margy‘s intention is that you will feel this supported during a therapy session - from one human heart to another. Guiding you to find your way back to self with care, compassion, mindfulness and connection. Margy walks alongside clients helping them to deepen their understanding of their own needs, and reconnect with their own internal guidance system. Client rapport and safety are Margy’s highest priorities, two essential elements for healthy therapy. Margy’s background of the last 35+ years have been working with and supporting young children and their families in Early Childhood Education and Care, and Forest/Bush School. Margy offers ‘Elder’ wisdom -that of lived experience -through the ups and downs of life, coming from a place of deep understanding. Margy is passionate about Mental Wellbeing, and warmly invites clients who may be experiencing overwhelm, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, addiction, parenting and relationship challenges. Welcoming individuals and couples as you are.

Pamela Forward
As a certified Holistic Psychotherapist and Rapport Based Relating Coach, Pamela listens deeply, questions sensitively and holds space gently for each of her clients. She brings natural empathy and compassion into her sessions, guiding her clients to uncover old wounds, to access their own wisdom and to find new, more sovereign ways to be with themselves in their world. “It is an honour to witness and hold space for the courage and vulnerability of personal transformation.” Pamela’s own lived experience is rich and diverse, spanning decades and many ongoing familial, community and professional roles. She strongly believes her own psychotherapeutic journey has supported her to heal from an "incurable" chronic disease, enabling her to bring an understanding of what it is to be fully human into the therapeutic space. “We are all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass

Katisha Sunshine
Katisha offers a therapeutic space where the mind can soften, the body can speak, and the heart can be gently met. As a Holistic Psychotherapist, she supports people to navigate life’s transitions, relational patterns, emotional overwhelm, and the quiet inner questions that ask to be heard. Her approach blends psychological insight with somatic awareness, offering a grounded path toward deeper clarity and connection. Born in Germany and now rooted in Australia, Katisha naturally bridges cultures, perspectives, and ways of being. She understands what it means to stand between worlds - the structured and the intuitive, the corporate and the creative, the practical and the deeply felt. This gives her an ability to meet people from many walks of life: those who think a lot and feel little, those who feel a lot and need steadiness, and those seeking a way home to themselves. Her therapeutic work is informed by: -Holistic psychotherapy -Somatic and relational awareness -Zenthai shiatsu bodywork -Yoga, breath and embodied presence -A gentle understanding of both emotional depth and human resilience With the curiosity of a seeker and the steadiness of a guide, Katisha invites clients into a space where the nervous system can settle, where old stories can loosen, and where the body and mind can remember they are not separate. Sessions with her are not about fixing. They are about befriending what is alive, so that change can arise from within. Whether you arrive with anxiety, tension, grief, confusion, or simply the desire to know yourself more deeply, Katisha will meet you where you are and walk with you from there. “Every part of you belongs. Together, we make space for what is ready to be seen, felt, and transformed, gently, at your pace.”

Amber Gibson
Amber is a therapist and mental health advocate whose work is shaped by a lifetime of lived experience, a decade of working with young people and a deep understanding of the cultural context of distress. They identify as queer and non-binary, and live in ways that sit outside many dominant norms. These experiences shape their commitment to supporting people who are under-resourced, marginalised, or navigating systems that weren’t built with them in mind. Healing, for Amber, is relational. Creating safe connections with room for uncertainty, humour, and care is how they approach therapy. Their practice draws from somatic and narrative approaches, with an emphasis on slowing down, noticing the body, and trusting the wisdom that can emerge when we feel truly seen. “Holistic therapy, to me, isn’t about fixing you or telling you how to live. I’ll support you to tune in to yourself and offer to walk with you on your journey. I’m in awe of the courage it can take to ask for help. I’ll meet you there with reverence and care.”
Our Established Therapists
Meet our team of therapists who have been offering with Clinic for over 2 years. They are all deeply passionate about their work.
Book your session via the link in each profile.
*Please note, we are not a crisis service. If you are in crisis please contact Lifeline 13 11 14.*

Rachel DeSumma
Rachel is passionate about health, connection and helping clients embrace fulfilling lives. She offers insights that enhance self-understanding through deep listening, guiding her clients with gentleness and clarity. Strongly inspired by nature, Rachel encourages clients to strengthen their relationships with themselves and others. Her background includes community roles with youth and individuals in need, event organisation for those with vision-loss, and postgraduate studies in Psychology, Community Development, and Forest Therapy.
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Karina Barbosa
Karina Barbosa is a certified Holistic Psychotherapist, Family Constellation Therapist, and Waldorf Steiner educator. She supports clients in understanding their struggles, processing trauma, and breaking free from limiting patterns so they can reconnect with their inner authority and move forward with greater clarity and resilience. Drawing on her experience in psychotherapy, systemic work, and education, Karina helps individuals and families explore the deeper emotional and intergenerational dynamics that shape their lives. Her approach is compassionate, grounded, and focused on supporting meaningful and lasting change.

Michelle McCosker
Michelle is a vibrant and creative person, certified in both Holistic Psychotherapy and Art Therapy. Her life experiences and playful approach provide profound wisdom in her work. She expertly and gently guides her clients through old wounds at their own pace, offering compassion and clarity, helping them access their innate wisdom and acceptance in themselves. She calls this 'healing from the inside'.

Erika Steller
Erika has over 15 years of experience working with people in self-belief, mind-body connection, and embodied spirituality through yoga and mindfulness. Her life purpose is to help others by addressing their challenges using Holistic Psychotherapy and honouring clients' internal guidance. Erika specialises in parenting, family life, emotions, grief, and rediscovering purpose, often incorporating body awareness, breath-work, nervous system regulation, and nature connection into her sessions. Clinic sessions now available for COUPLES. Contact Erika via her booking link to find out more.
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Dahna McConnachie
Dahna is a Holistic Psychotherapist, Yoga and Meditation teacher, Lomi Lomi practitioner, and part-time public servant. Passionate about adventure and nature, she creates a safe space for individuals to explore their inner selves and rediscover forgotten answers. Dahna specialises in parenting, neurodiversity, ADHD, mid-life and anxiety but is also completely able to meet clients where they are and work with whatever arises in the moment. With 20 years of experience in teaching yoga and as a body worker she particularly enjoys working somatically if that's what clients are seeking. She also now offers relationship counselling (couples or family). In her words “I trust in people’s ability to heal and transform and feel honoured to be part of that journey.”

Lisa Petheram
Lisa fosters curiosity, openness, and integrity in her client-led sessions, guiding individuals to trust their inner wisdom and deepen connections in their lives. With a background in nature-based facilitation, community development, breath-work and the arts, she emphasises the bond between humans, creativity and nature. Her trauma-informed sessions welcome anyone on their personal growth journey, focusing on areas including chronic illness, life transitions, purpose, ecological grief, and creative expression.

Candice Storey
Candice is a Holistic Psychotherapist with a background in Somatic Movement, Tantric Philosophy and the Creative Arts. Her sessions are a unique blend of somatic therapy, internal ‘parts’ exploration and intuitive guidance. Candice works under the notion that if we want to experience transformation in our external worlds, then we must first turn towards our internal, felt experience. A devoted mother and partner, she brings a keen interest in supporting couples and families.

Becky Flores
Becky is an accomplished Psychotherapist with a rich background in Allied and Holistic health. She guides her clients through personal growth, at their own pace, fostering a safe and organic journey tailored to each individual. With expertise in attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, perinatal health, parent coaching, carers counselling and mindfulness, Becky's approach is grounded in the Thic Nanh Hanh belief that "Our own life has to be our message". She strives to empower and support clients as they navigate life stressors, finding inner peace and joy.
What to expect
in an online session
Holistic Psychotherapy is multi-dimensional, because people are. As we practise it, it's really just a healthy chat with a kind person who is equipped with the psychological and emotional literacy to listen beneath the surface and guide a client, gently, to deeper clarity and self-knowledge.
We use the ELDER acronym - Empower, Listen, Down-Regulate, Educate and Reframe.In the more traditional life of our human ancestors, it was the Elders who fulfilled this role, a person you can turn to for support and guidance when things are tough.
Therapy really works and can be both subtle and life-changing.During a one-on-one session with any of our therapists, clients experience a nurturing and safe environment, while benefiting from Holistic Psychotherapy techniques which may include Narrative or Somatic work, Guided Imagery and Meditation, or parts work.
At the outset of each session, your therapist establishes agreements to honour your needs and boundaries. They respectfully guide you towards your goals while remaining open to addressing any emerging needs.
Clients often emerge from sessions feeling lighter, peaceful and more expansive. Issues like Anxiety, Depression,Trauma, Grief, Addictions as well as everyday niggles or relationship issues are welcome.



