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Questions &
Answers

Most people haven't come across pastoral care or pastoral psychotherapy in a private setting before, and are curious about my motivation, the eclectic mix of therapeutic care and what happens at a session. 

Here is a quick rundown of what you can expect.

You can read about:
my BELIEFS & SPIRITUALITY here.

my VALUES & PRINCIPLES OF CARE here.

Any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me 

What can I expect in my first consultation?

When you arrive at the clinic, you will be warmly welcomed and invited to make yourself comfortable. We will then take the time to discuss your reasons for seeking support. If you are not familiar with mindfulness or somatic therapy, we may try some small exercises towards the end of our session to help you with self-inquiry and to stabilise your nervous system.

Can I claim my treatment with private health insurance?

Natalie does not have a provider number, so you cannot use a mental health care plan, get a Medicare rebate or use private health insurance for therapy sessions. However, all therapeutic sessions are priced to accommodate this. Natalie believes therapy should be accessible to everyone, so don't let financial concerns stop you from taking the first step.

Fees and Charges 

Fees: 

Individual therapeutic sessions:

60-minute sessions $115 

90-minute sessions $150

Reflective Supervision:

60-minute sessions $140 no GST

 

Group reflective practice or workshops are quoted, as per numbers and time allocated 

 

All appointments require 24 hours' notice for cancellation, or full fees are charged. 

What payment methods are accepted?

Payment can be made via bank transfer, credit or debit card. 

Where is your clinic? 

Art of Spiritual Care operates a home-based clinic located in Cockburn Central, which is situated 15 minutes south of Perth, for face-to-face sessions and bodywork. 
 

Also some services can be online via Zoom, including psychotherapy, coaching, and reflective supervision. 

 

Additionally, reflective supervision for individuals or groups can be at your workplace upon request. 

How often should I come for treatment?

It is recommended to have weekly sessions to work through complex life changes. However, if clients prefer, they may book fortnightly sessions, and once they feel more aware and at ease, monthly follow-ups are recommended for maintaining well-being and calm neural states.

When it comes to debriefing or stress interventions, one-off sessions are available. 

How will I feel after a session? 

After attending a therapy session, most people feel relieved that they have taken steps to seek support, had an opportunity to be heard and are learning new ways of coping and self-care. They also learn to integrate the experience into their bodies, broader lives, and relationships. However, sometimes clients may feel a sense of heightened vulnerability, which Nat refers to as the "wobbly" bits. In such cases, clients are encouraged to reach out via text or email to seek support and reassurance. 

 

After bodywork sessions, it is essential to care for the nervous system through hydration, healthy food, and rest. 

When will I see changes/ improvements in my life?

Therapeutic sessions often provide an immediate positive impact, such as developing a new way to process and express emotions, acknowledging one's deepest needs, and releasing tension and burdens.

 

However, everyone is unique and has different motivations for seeking support, goals, and ways in which the mind and body protect long-held patterns and behaviours. Sometimes, we can begin to feel some of the things we've been trying not to feel, which can be very different. 

Nat believes in Hakomi's Organiscity principle, which states that we are organic, interconnected beings who strive for greater wholeness and healing. This principle recognises that every living system, including ourselves, has an innate intelligence that enables growth, development, and flourishing.

 

The organicity principle acknowledges that, unlike a machine that can be fixed from the outside, a living organism can only be healed from within by enrolling its creative intelligence when dealing with issues related to worldview, meaning and experience.

So, just as a seed germinates and a tiny shoot breaks forth to grow a tall, mature tree, this safe space of the present moment, body-aware therapy, supports your new growth to come forward. 

Do you discuss religion?

Yes and No..... However, if spirituality and faith are relevant to you, we can discuss them, but only if you initiate this. This is a safe place in which to ask questions!

 

Please note:
Even though I specialise in somatic informed spiritual care, this is not a specific religious care service.

Although I have a pastoral background, I am not clergy or aligned with any specific faith community or denomination.

I hold faith and belief in the non-violent Christian tradition and am curious about the beauty held in other faiths and religious expressions.

 

Suppose you seek spiritual or religious care due to your faith heritage or deconstruction. In that case, we explore your beliefs and needs together, unfolding theories, philosophies and even myths to bring about a broader view in which to live and establish new living.

 

We may even explore how your body holds your beliefs and spirituality somatically or discover new ways to have and express a vibrant, life-giving theology and spirituality. 

 

You can visit my website to read about my faith heritage, beliefs, and religious history. You can find my values and the principles of care that uphold my therapeutic approach there.

 

However, what matters most is that we both understand why you are interested in my work of somatic-informed spiritual care and what it might mean in the context of you finding *new ways of being. 

Lastly, please note that you do not need a religion or faith to access my care, and I won't ask unless you tell me!

Why dont you have university qualifications? 

Its a very long story of life getting in the way and taking an alternative path... but if you want to know more about me, I am happy to share.

 

But... I have over a decade of professional development in Hakomi-specific trauma-informed therapy and three years of post-graduate training in mindful somatic psychotherapy from private training providers via the Hakomi Institute. I am currently working towards certification [it's a slow process of practice practice practice]. The irony is that I could have completed a PhD by now. 

 

Over the years, I have maintained an advanced level of professional development through my work as a clinical chaplain, specialising in Reflective Practice, Grief and Loss, Expressive Arts, Bioethics, and person-centred care. I have also received over 120 hours of clinical supervision and have advanced training in reflective supervision.

 

Additionally, I have completed training in Clinical Pastoral Education, Bioenergetics, and Touch Therapy.

 

I am a member of several professional and peak bodies, including:

IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists)

Association of Clinical Pastoral Education WA

Australian Foundation for Healing Touch

Healing Touch Western Australia.

 

I am also registered and certified by Supervision WA and insured by IICT.

How did you develop Restorative Touch? 

In my years of bereavement and trauma work, I have encountered individuals who faced difficulties in communicating or sharing their thoughts and experiences. Often, words were too much or just not enough. This led me to explore somatic therapies that harness creative and non-verbal techniques and the benefits of touch.

 

My studies in bio-energetic fields and Ken Ware's Neurophysics therapy helped me understand and create safe environments for distressed individuals. Furthermore, I studied remedial massage, experimenting with various restorative touch treatments. Today, these treatments are unique to each individual and are described as 'psychosomatic' to integrate bodily and emotional/mental experiences.

 

Restorative Touch treatments, inspired by these sensory awareness methods, allow clients to focus on their internal sensations and emotions as specific body areas are contacted with a 'listening' touch. My goal is not to manipulate or fix the client but to identify areas of tension and burden. I then use this awareness to help clients explore their bodily experiences and encourage them to explore and release their senses or feelings.

 

This approach shares similarities with many bodywork modalities but is unique with Hakomi's 'little experiments', with Restorative Touch using touch as the primary therapeutic intervention within the experiment. Insights gained through body tracking create a more direct relationship with the unconscious, helping to uncover experiences through a client's moment-to-moment process. 

This work is gentle, respectful, and soothing for the fractious and overwhelmed. It is also helpful for those wanting to know their body more, learning to listen and explore in safety with support. 

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