Unalome Therapy Dunedin is deliberately not a clinical space, the aim is to feel cosy, like you are in the home of an eccentric aunty/artist in a little cabin surrounded by nature- because you are! One visitor described it as entering a storybook; guinea pigs may flock to you on arrival.

Deep, holistic healing is a fully creative process and you are the creator. Creation happens in cosy, womb like spaces full of inspiration, ideas, stories, images and emotion. Science is woven in every decision and all of this work; but not rigid and isolated, it is radically informed by personal experience because you are the measure of your own journey and that is all that matters.

When I built this little cabin in my front garden and I did build it. It was my own labour of love and definitive proof to myself that I was starting a new journey beyond recovery into some new dreams. I have tried to create the space I would have loved to go to immediately after my injuries.

Now I get to be in that space whenever I want. I have created that reality as both activism and joy. Since I wasn’t able to find all these things in one place when I was healing, I wanted to build it. I truely do not mind hanging out here alone, making art, doing my garden and reading but I have a feeling a least a few people want what I needed too and I love meeting all of the amazing people that want to honour their bodies, nervous system science, their lived experiences, their stories, their ancestors, their challenges and our true human nature by bringing all of that to the healing table.

Managing Concerns, Needs and Triggers

Knowing the space and seeing how it works before you arrive can be so helpful, especially if you are new to this type of work or carry trauma from times your trust has not been honoured. You may need to assess the space to work out how it can be adapted for your requirements.

If you have none of these concerns there is no need to read the following…

I have tried to list possible triggers and how I can adapt the space for individual needs, in no way does that make any other need not listed here difficult to address. Please know universal human design is central to how I plan everything; flexibility and openness to work in the exact way you need is what creates the healing. No one can heal or learn when they do not feel safe and cared for. Anything that is a little bit like a time you have not been safe or felt cared for we can not have in your session- even if it is something that another client needs to feel safe. This is deeply personal work.

Privacy
A light curtain protects your privacy if a courier or unexpected visitor, family member does enter the front garden to get to the house, no one should approach the cabin. The cabin faces our garden internally, not the street. If you need to make noise or are concerned about conversations being overheard, the cabin is enclosed and there are no joining rooms. Talking can not be heard from the street and music with a playlist of your choice can be played during the sessions. I will turn the music up to match the volume you require if you do need to vocalise.
No notes of any details about yourself will be taken about you personally and all notes taken are openly shared with you and are your property. If you do not want to keep these at the completion of your journey and sessions these will be destroyed. Your healing does not require you to share anything about yourself or your past, if talking is important to you that is what we will do but these sessions are communicated through sound, movement, breathing and all natural body based release.
I will never discuss your journey outside of our sessions. With permission from previous clients, I may share common experiences no specific information or anything that would identify any of my clients. I might say, “It is common for many clients to….” or “I have had clients in the past who…” This is to help your understand and to normalise your experience as something that is very human, safe and ultimately a wonderful sign change is happening.

I want to reassure you I am not speaking about anyone (even generally) without their permission so I won’t discuss your experiences in this way with others ever at all! The general stories I share are from all the people who were part of my training team and worked with me as case studies and shared their experiences as part of that process.
If you feel safer when not observed, lying face down can bring a sense of being contained and a little shielded. If lying face up and even keeping your eyes open creates safety for you; you can choose this position. Anything that feels safe at one time is allowed to change, if you begin feeling a different response to a position that used to feel right we can change anything at any time.

Consent
Any and all sensual areas of the body will never ever be touched. Your verbal consent will be collected and reaffirmed frequently. You can enforce any boundary at any time and any area of the body you do not want to be physically touched in (perhaps the site of a previous operation for example). These requests will be noted in your notes without any details and this boundary will be set until you change it.

When working with the body, I also look for consent and trust from the body. If the body says no I honour that completely and communicate this with you so you can feel into that for yourself. Feeling safe to say “no”, and doing this regularly, asserting your preferences and leading your own journey can powerfully progress your healing. If denying your own needs has been an adaptation you have had to use for survival in the past, asserting your needs is the medicine. Your body will not lie and the first truth it might present is that it does not agree.

IRM can be delivered without physically touching the body.
I deeply respect the wisdom of all cultural and wisdom traditions and can work in any way that allows you to be fully in your power during your healing sessions, this is as relevant off the body as on, especially regarding traditional spiritual knowledge and followed practices.
When working with IRM and touching on healing of family and ancestral lines; a thorough sharing of the fullness of who you are will be included in this work. During the healing we seek permission, consent and assistance from your whole and healed ancestors to do this level of work. If there is a particular part/line of your family either biological or adopted or a particular person or group you have been connected with that feels overwhelming to work with we can avoid any work with that area of your life until you feel ready or we never need to go there. You allow access to work with what you feel ready to feel into and that is allowed to change with time.

Noise
Several playlists are available to choose from and you can also decide to have no music played during your session. During IRM I sometimes sing or keen (sort of a Scottish karanga but a bit more depressing, like a soft cry/wail) but if you have requested no noise, or no keening this won’t happen.
I would usually do this if you are also crying as the shared noise making can be very soothing and remove any embarrassment (which is just a part of how we have been conditioned around expressing our feelings). If you select not to have music, you may hear occasional noises coming from our street. These noises of the world going on can be soothing but if sudden noises startle you I suggest we use music to create consistent and predictable background noise as cars accelerating uphill can be disturbing during a peaceful session.

Props
I have a selection of pillows, towels, blankets of all types and shapes to support different parts of the body. You are also welcome to bring your own, comfort items for children are also welcome. During the first session we will work out how you like the table and props to be set up for your ultimate comfort. Spinal Flow and IRM can be received in several different positions on the table. Spinal Flow really works much better if you lie on your tummy. I have belly pillows (the official ones) to support this even through pregnancy. I am so jealous, I didn’t have these when I had my babies.

Access
The cabin has a low step and a ramp can be added.
Cars can use our driveway for access with wheelchairs or other supports.

Hygiene
The cabin is cleaned and cleared regularly. All covers used to protect props are cleaned or disposed of after every use. The table is sprayed and wiped down between every client with a natural disinfectant of cleaning vinegar, eucalyptus and lavender. If you indicate an allergy to any of these products a different lemon based cleaner will be used before your sessions and a blanket will be used to cover the table. Essential oils and incense may be used in the space for different reasons with different clients- if any smells in particular or the smell of smoke is a trigger for you please tell me so I can ensure this is not present for your session. We may be able to find a scent that you find really supportive and make this a part of your sessions.

If you are unwell please reschedule your appointment, there is no penalty if this is done at least 24 hours before the appointment. I will also do the same- this is not work that should be given or received if we are unwell.

I understand how becoming unwell can be a trigger and or very serious for people for a variety of reasons. My work requires absolute focus on reading the body and access to my breath to moderate my nervous system and work with yours so I can not work wearing a mask, after one IRM session you will understand why. If mask-wearing is required for you to feel safe to work with me we may be able to work online with IRM only and plan from there. I have a lot less availability to work online as I do not have an internet connection in my little cabin. I promise you that the background noises of my children are not soothing so my ability to work online will only be during my daytime sessions. If you feel really called to work with me on a journey and live outside of Dunedin please get in touch. If things fall into place great; if not I know many beautiful practitioners I could refer you to either in person or online.