From Clinical Care to Compassionate Healing

My professional journey began in nursing, driven by a heartfelt desire to make a difference through compassionate care. During these years, I found a much-needed release for my pent-up energy through sports fighting, boxing, and working out at the gym. It was the only way my body knew how to move the tension I carried.

This passion for movement eventually led me to transition into Personal Training, where I gained valuable insights into how physical vitality deeply influences emotional well-being.

In my late 30s, life threw significant curveballs my way, resulting in the end of my marriage. Navigating that transition and rediscovering my identity required every bit of resilience I had; however, the internal weight of my history lingered.

Recognising that my lifestyle was leading to self-destruction, I made the life-changing decision to relocate to Australia. This choice weighed heavily on me, especially knowing my whānau remained in Aotearoa. I hoped that my journey toward self-discovery would ultimately allow me to return as a more authentic and empowered person.

It was during my time in Australia that my younger sister passed away. A year later, the weight of my grief and the struggles I’d been hiding for so long finally became too much to carry. I hit what felt like rock bottom.

The protective barrier I had built for decades finally cracked, leading me to a devastating realisation: while I had ‘survived’ my life thus far, my sister had not survived her trauma. This painful insight opened the emotional floodgates, prompting me to seek help through counseling and somatic discovery. For the first time, I began learning how to gently allow my body to process the emotions I had carried inside for decades, moving from a state of constant survival into a journey of true alignment.

This turning point eventually led me back home. In 2019, I felt a strong pull to return to Aotearoa to be closer to my whānau and to reconnect more deeply with my Māori heritage. A pivotal experience occurred when I attended a hui and listened to the powerful, authentic stories of wāhine. Their bravery confirmed my purpose: to walk alongside women as they reclaim their strength and build their own legacies. It became clear to me that my journey was not just about personal healing but about creating a supportive community for others.

Once back in Aotearoa, I served as a Programme Lead within the mental health and addiction sector. This experience opened my eyes to how many people are silently struggling—desperately needing understanding, genuine support, and someone to truly listen. I realised that at the heart of every story is a fundamental human need for connection and support.