Bite Size Therapy | Let's Unpack That

Step Into Conscious Connection

Welcome to Let's Unpack That, where practical magic meets intentional gathering. Guided by Sarah, a down-to-earth counsellor with a cosmic edge, this space is for warm-hearted innovators who are blazing their own trail and strengthening their communities. Here, we unlock everyday mysticism through deep listening, playful transformation and modern-day ritual.

Cosmic Session

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The Initiation

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Circle Facilitation

Circle Facilitation
(Express Interest via contact form)

The Cosmic Session

The Cosmic Session is a dynamic 90-minute spiritual guidance experience for curious innovators, creatives and mystics who want confidence and clarity on how to lead themselves through a current life challenge.

The Initiation

Initiation is a 4-session immersion for community-centred women who have a gift for gathering people together and are yearning to create spaces of intentional connection, depth and sisterhood.

WHY ASTROLOGY GETS A BAD RAP

I told my (grounded, self-aware) hairdresser about the Cosmic Session and it led us to unpacking the pros and cons of seeing a psychic vs a therapist.

We've both had experiences leaving a ~spiritual guidance ~ session feeling uninspired, unsure, and that the message was too vague.

I've also had sessions where the reader will share all of their astrology mumbo jumbo, but fail to explain what that would all mean for ME in my REAL LIFE. Like, what is a mid heaven and how does it relate to my original question I came in for???

But here's the biggest irritation, that I'm sure many of my anti-astrology friends would agree with:

CRINGE ➡️ using astrology to evade * personal accountability* for your behaviour and choices.

No. No no no no!

This is NOT why we use these tools my loveeeee!

Your astrology chart isn't an open cheque book to act however you want because your "moon is in leo".

Learning about your personal astrology chart is a chance for YOU to get to know yourself better. It's a way for you to see yourself, flaws and all, and figure out how you're gonna navigate this world with what you've got.

If you're using this tool beyond entertainment, astrology can help you find inner confidence, strength and courage to stand tall and live in integrity. It can help you to be a little kinder to yourself, and to relax into your natural essence. In my eyes, it's a quiet, private inner practice ✨️

It's not your get out jail free card for shitty behaviour or victim narratives 😒

So, if you need a bit of star sprinkling confidence from the cosmos, with the reality check of "here's how it plays out on the ground" from a therapist, you know where to find me 😘

Let's Unpack.....one of the biggest decisions of a person's life!!!

On Sept 21, 2-4pm, we will be opening a warm and intimate space for people to make sense of their swirling, and to connect with diverse perspectives on the question of whether or not to have children.

Parenthood...is not mandatory. Some people have always known that this was not the path for them. Some are contemplating a future of being childless/childfree from life circumstances. And for others, the question looms large as they try to assess what they really want for their lives.

It's relatively easy to come up with a pros and cons list for becoming a parent or not. But, this exercise is futile because it is a decision that is so so so deeply personal that only the inner stirrings of your heart can make the call.

So, if you've been itching for a compassionate, non-judgemental space to connect with your inner stirrings - come find us on the bolsters at Zenly yoga! Xx

There's an observation I have about people who are taking the time to tend to their inner world.

They can't be controlled.

Rather than finding a sense of safety from measuring up to the external rules that were conditioned into them, they have been brave enough to zoom far far far out, enough to call out the BS.

Whether it's the BS of their industry, family system, governance structures, sexual shame, externally imposed standards etc. And most of all, their own BS. They carve out the time to reflect, unravel, and get real with themselves.

I have a deep admiration for those people who check in with themselves to see if something ACTUALLY feels true, and resonant, or if it's simply "the way things have always been done". Or "the way they have always handled things".

Inside and outside the therapy room, I feel like I am seeing SO many people liberate themselves from control paradigms. It's inspiring and it's badass, and also if I'm being totally honest - kind of intimidating.

It's really hard to f*** around with people who are THAT internally resourced, self-aware and discerning. They can't be manipulated, they smell the vibes and they don't need your approval. Ooooft!

Not in a harsh and cold way, just in this essence of being unf***withable with a smile and a wink. Generally, they'll encourage you to take up your own radical accountability too.

I know so many of you here who follow this page ARE this and EMBODY this and I guess I just want to say I see you.
Since you started 'doing your work', consider just how much "control-ability" you have personally freed yourself from?! It's worth celebrating, you salty dog 🥳

I love to dream about what our society and culture could be like if everyone could find that inner trust in themselves.

What dynamics would naturally fall away, and what would change for the better?! 💭💭💭

Okay this is the ONLY photo that I seem to have from last year's @ember.collaborative festival (formerly Weird Women). Clearly my phone was at my camp-site the whole time!

What is doesn't depict, is the blossoming network of unique women who all gathered to share their incredible talents - a weekend away from everything to dance, learn, swim, swap stories and howl at the moon !!!!

Weird Women was the first (of only two so far) all-womens festivals that I have been to. And I have to admit, I was SO apprehensive about whether I would "fit in".

My friend and I analysed whether we had to be a "certain kind of person" to attend this thing (yes, despite the name 🤪)

But, with careful reading of the description, it was made very clear that this festival was for ANY woman - so we got out tickets and hoped for the best.

Our fears were instantly dispelled. It was warm, wholesome, thoughtfully put together, safe, kind and showed a deep respect for the land, Aboriginal customs and custodianship, the cycles of a woman's life (they have "wise woman" tickets), creativity, innovative thinking and most importantly; community. There was no "one type" of woman - rather, an underlying message to be your own quirky self. It was a truly memorable weekend that continues to reverberate 🧡

So I am BEYOND thrilled to announce that I will be hosting a workshop at this beautiful oasis for Ember 2024!!!!

"Sustaining Sisterhood: How To Run A Women's Circle'.

Drawing from my years of quietly doing this with friends, I have come up with SUPER practical steps to unlock the intuitive magic of a women's circle!

Huge thanks to the @ember.collaborative team who have been doing this for 7 (!!!!) Years. Their devotion to this collective experience is awe-inspiring. It is a dream to be a part of your program 🙏🏽😍✨️

So - who is coming along this year? And who wants to push past their fears of new things and come along?

See you by the river!

Having a Filipino mum meant that every Sunday morning, there was no sleep in...there was an early rise to church.

I have truly mixed memories of growing up religious...on the one hand there was confusion. I really struggled to concentrate on what was happening in the readings and no one ever explained what the different secret code hand gestures were. It wasn't a path I had chosen for myself and that became annoying in the teenage years.

But, on the other hand, I got to see a glimpse of this wholesome community-in-action. There was so much genuine kindness, care and collective celebration through song that I haven't come across in the same way since.

Like 10 million other Australians, I don't identify with being religious, but many of us have been influenced by organised religion in one way or another. Whether that was escaping it, challenging it, yearning for it or finding a different belief system later in life that resonated with you - its presence or absence still influences every part of our society.

For many there is bitterness, trauma and hurt in relation to their religion - particularly when it comes to sex, sexuality and lifestyle choices.

There are also many out there who feel they have to hide their religious beliefs for fear of being judged, villianised, or not fitting in. Or have been openly mocked for their choices.

I've witnessed the way people's faith (and even their church community) have brought them through really, really hard times. I've also seen thr way that the institutions themselves have created really really hard times for people.

Given that it's a touchy subject to talk about, we thought why not bring it to a circle?

At this months Zenly Circle we will be asking: what was your experience with (or without) religion growing up? How has it impacted you now?

We would love to hear your stories and see you by the (tiny) fire at @zenlystpeters, August 17th 2pm - link in bio! xx

Do you remember the last time your breath was taken away by a beautiful gathering?

Like the heart-burstingly intimate moments at a festival where no photo could ever capture the magic?

Or the tear streaming down your face at a wedding speech that just *hits* ?

Or the way you shyly soak in your loved ones deep affection as they sing happy birthday to you?

What all these moments have in common is intention, heart-centred ritual and togetherness.

I have heard the complaint too many times that we "don't have ritual in our (modern Western/white) society".

And this makes me just think, okay, well are we going to wait for a benevolent ancestor to tap us on the shoulder and give us one? Or are we going to continue to take ideas and rituals from other cultures? Or, are we going to stand up, trust that we have something to offer and create some for ourselves!!!!

These magical moments of full-spirited aliveness don't have to wait until a wedding. They can be created on any given Saturday in your lounge room. The moments are yearning to reach us, to snap us out of our day-to-day existential fatigue even if just for an afternoon.

If you don't know what I mean when I say all this, it's because there are gathering ideas out there that have *never yet* existed, and it takes SOMEONE to trust their vision and STEP UP to create it in reality. Is it you?

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Initiation is a 4-session immersion for those who have a gift for gathering people together and are yearning to create spaces of intentional connection, depth and community.

In this offering, you'll bring your vision to life for a soul-enriching circle, event or celebration that nurtures your energetic gifts and creativity to cultivate the deep belonging that you've always craved.

You will step out with the tools, skills and knowledge to set up your own spaces of modern day ritual that feel real and resonant for you ❤️

@letsunpackthat.co

(Video: Adam, the first person I have guided through the immersion. He is bringing a unique conscious clubbing event to his local yoga studio, drawing upon his love of heart-centred spaces, embodiment and mixing music!!! 🎧)

This is a topic close to Zenly's heart - being a yoga space specifically set up for Neurodiversity and social inclusion. Reflecting on my conversations with Frankie, counselling clients, colleagues and friends here are some questions that come to mind to prompt the July Zenly Circle - Parenting Neurodiverse Kids (or yourself!) 💓

🍵 How do you squeeze in space for your own needs?
👩‍⚕️ How has receiving a diagnosis for your child or yourself influenced your journey?
🚫 What "conventional" parenting ideas have you had to throw out the window?
🫠 What does a good day look like to you, and what is it like on your hardest days?
📚 What resources and support have you been able to access?
🌎 How does neurodiversity make you see and experience the world?
🙉 What misconceptions are you sick of hearing?
🤔 What do you wish others knew about raising a child with autism, ADHD, ADD or Dyscalculia, dyslexia, Dyspraxia or any other type of neurodiversity?

The aim of these circles is to simply come as you are. It's not about sharing your whole life story or needing to have things figured out. It's a chance to sit in the mystery together, chat by the urban camp fire (aka a singular candle hehe🕯) and remember that no matter how isolated you may feel in moments - that there are people out there just like you fighting similar battles. And sometimes that's all it takes to feel a little lighter 💓💓

5 things to know about me/this page!

1. The spirit of this business is all about sparking emotional transformation, moving in a sustainable rhythm and giggling together! May this page be a full spectrum reflection of that ⚡️🪘🤭

2. Ever since I was young, people have always felt safe to share their whole life story and darkest secrets with me. I see this as a deep honour, and I love that the more I shut up and listen (in every sense of the word) the more I can guide intuitively.

3. I have been working quite intensively as a grief and trauma counsellor for 5 years. My formal Social Work training has grounded my practice with professional ethics and values, but I know that the real magic of my work is channeled through the depth of my own unravelling process, and my ability to see the energetics underneath what is being said.

4. I've had some scary things happen that have forced me to grow up very quickly. Horrific car accidents, burying a parent at 26 after a longgg slow decline, intensive intergenerational pain to transmute on my mother line and facing overwhelming grief with no safety net or stable base to call home. I carried a quiet fear and dread through my 20s that my whole world could collapse at any minute - and when it finally did - the things that made the big difference were: a trusted therapist, spiritual/cosmic guidance and strong community.

5. Everyone has a story, and mine is no more special than yours...but, the gold I have taken from these experiences, and from beautiful mentors and teachers, sacred plant medicines, astrology and human design, unpacking with friends and clients for thousands of hours, guiding women's circles, holding grief, building community, sitting in the dark unknown and finding the healing unconditional love of my partner, Adam, has led to this business.

It's time now to share my new, refreshed offerings that feel completely unique to me; The Cosmic Session and The Initiation. I am ready to guide from a deep place of peace in my heart.

Whether we ever officially "work together" or not, I am excited that you landed here today, for however long.

Whatever you've got, put the kettle on 🫖

Let's. Unpack. That. 😁

A QUICK GUIDE TO CLEARING THE AIR WITH ENERGETIC INTEGRITY 🙏🏽🙏🏽

1️⃣ What is the underlying dynamic between us?

2️⃣ Where/what is the tension?

3️⃣ What parts feel true to me, (I.e. my experience, judgements of them, triggers) that I can acknowledge for myself now, but leave out of the conversation with them?

4️⃣ What is the intention for sharing this with them? (To be heard, workshop something, apologise, prevent future issues etc.?)

5️⃣ What are the necessary elements to include in this conversation for me to express myself CLEARLY and CONCISELY?

➡️ Now - invite all these aspects into harmony, perhaps even practising in the mirror first, to open up a kind and loving dialogue together 🌸

💡 Stay tuned for more super practical therapy tips that I can help you weave in with your own astrology and human design charts with my signature @letsunpackthat.co Cosmic Session coming soon! 🔮

Expressing ourselves with clarity and integrity (i.e. not being two-faced!) will be essential as we navigate this fun and refreshing new Gemini energy we have coming through now! ♊️

LET'S UNPACK: Digital Overwhelm 🫠🫠🫠
📍 Zenly Yoga, Sat 15th 2-4pm

Whoooooo here has announced that they are deleting instagram?!

Who has waited at a bus stop and RESISTED the temptation to get out their phone, only to pick it up 2 mins later to google something that popped into your head, then start scrolling, go down a rabbit hole and open up a whole other can of worms?!

Who avoids messages from people you love dearly because it's clogging up the conveyor belt in your mind?

Who thinks they would thrive in a simple, land-based lifestyle but also feel uneasy taking a 20 min walk without their phone? 😆

At our next zenly circle we're going to create space to drop into this question:

🌼 How do you actually want to engage with your digital reality? 🌼

As this book by Cal Newport reminded me, it's actually very early days in figuring this out for ourselves.

Sometimes it feels like we've been swept up in the excitement of more connection, more information and more possibilities that we haven't had the chance to take a collective breath and check in with what feels like progress, and what feels like mania/addiction/losing control of our reality.

But. In saying that, there's SO much to be enjoyed in the digital world too! The memes! The profound substack pieces that shift you forever! Connections with people on the other side of the world that you would have never made without instagram!

There's no conclusion to this post... Nor are we looking for the perfect strategy or hack to find the " balance". We are just gonna sit around with hot chocs meditating, connecting and pondering together- and hopefully find some deep treasures of giggly wisdom that we couldn't have found on our own 🥰✨️🔮

As the autumn leaves rustle underfoot, I've been thinking a lot lately (and always) about how we can better hold grief for/with ourselves and our communities.

For one karmic reason or another I have had the task of creating gentle group grieving spaces many many times over, in my personal and professional life. For others and for myself. And what I have learned from all that is this:

Nothing is too heavy or too burdensome when it is shared with a circle.

A group can hold more. A group can hold the structure steady when one person is crumbling to their knees in despair. A group can say "I see you sis" with pure presence and no words.

Sadly, I sense that we are only meeting the truth of grief some of the way, because we don't have the right *spaces* for it to be safely and securely held. So it gets squashed and pressed back down to the tear-blotted pages of a journal, hidden in plain sight in the sunken shoulders of everyone we know.

But. We know. We know it can't just be shared anywhere or with anyone. We can't force it into the grocery store run ins, at parties or birthday barbecues - as they simply do not hold the reverence and frequency that this tenderness requires. But, where on earth do you share it, in a way for it to be truly honoured???

The space must be set and the circle members must be willing to witness and be witnessed. It is a sacred, ancient, and reverent exchange. And we all have more capacity for holding grief than we think. In humble silence and compassionate listening. To meet another person on that level in a group space is deeply precious, yet actually so so simple and achievable for anyone to create.

In the coming weeks and months I am going to share my take on community listening/sharing circles, that I have been carefully cultivating over the years. If you dare to descend into this portal, there is a circle waiting somewhere for you too.

Hidden in plain sight ....

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(Feat. Twisty boi at Camperdown Cemetery 🌳 )

| Action that moves you |

I recently joined my aunty-in-law @najstudio on one of her peace walks. Kathie is an artist, and so when she was stifled with shock and grief at the state of the world last year, she asked herself, how could she strive to be a living embodiment of peace in a time of war and conflict?

Kathie made these sandals that imprint in the sand, and once a week she will take people for a silent peace walk. Before walking she reads out a reflection on peace, and the walker is encouraged to quietly contemplate what peace looks like/means to them.

The thing that I love most about this experience (aside from honouring the intention!) is the fact that beach goers may be perplexed as to what these imprints are doing here, and be prompted, like guerilla art, to ponder the concept of peace as well.

There are loud revolutions and there are quiet ones. I believe we need all of them and everything in between.

I wanted to post this leading up to the Sustainable Activism Zenly circle this Saturday, because it's a beautiful example of starting right where you are and taking your own unique action from an authentic, intentional place. And letting your heart guide the next step ✨️ ♥️

Introducing the next Zenly Circle held at 📍@zenlyyoga

🍃 SUSTAINABLE ACTIVISM 🍃
Sat, April 20, 2pm-4.30pm

I have been pondering the combination of these two words after witnessing the grief, paralysis and confusion across the collective lately, but also in general.

🌎 How to hold the pain of the world while still tending to the needs of your inner world?

✨️How to respond to events with energy and passion, beyond the dictation of the news cycle?

📲 How to create outlets for social impact that don't rely on quick self-gratification, but are humble, consistent and effective?

I sure as hell don't have the answers to any of these questions but I am most certainly looking forward to *unpacking* it together to see what we can learn from one another! 🫶🏾

Feel free to DM me any questions, thoughts or comments and please share with anyone you think might find this helpful 💓 For more info on the Zenly circles you can check out the website in the biooooo hunnies !

Ahhhhhhh. That sigh of soul-deep, heart-warming relief that perhaps you're not too weird, or too slow, or not good enough to do the thing you feel REALLY called to do.

That maybe, you need to slow down to speed up. Or perhaps, what you perceive as a string of "failures" was actually just you doing "research". And for some, it was time to stop putting everyone's needs ahead of their own and take the next scary step in their business.

*This* is why I love circle work. All of this wisdom, clarity, soft understanding and beaming encouragement came from the 8 participants of the very first Zenly Circle. The March theme was Self-Employment and it drew in a sweet and cozy group of individuals who were at various stages of 'doing their own thing' out there in the world. Thank you for the deep listening, curiosity and sense of humour that you all brought!

Community sharing circles are a space where no-one is giving advice, or telling each other what to do, but somehow, through opening up and saying what's on your heart, everyone leaves full of inspiration and courage to move a little differently.

The Zenly Circles will be happening once a month, with different topics to draw people together as we unpack the nuances and mysteries of everyday life.

Next circles:
April 20 - Sustainable Activism
May 18 - Dating
June 14 - Digital Overwhelm
July 20 - Neurodivergence in the family
August 17 - Growing Up Religious
September 21 - First Love
October - break
November 16 - Coming out Later in Life
December 21 - Chosen Family

If you have been feeling a gentle tug to do something different with your Saturday, meet interesting people in your local community and deep dive on any of these topics (with the best chai ever, lovingly made by Frankie!! 🍵 🫖) come join us! Xo

"Every woman is a transmission" - Bella @alchemyanderos

Sisterhood. What do we mean by this word? Until recently, it wasn't a concept that was front of mind for me. Intrinsically, I think we understand the importance of uplifting and celebrating women in our lives. But, through various internal and external forces there's something that also drives you (subconsciously) to judge, criticise and compete with other women. Tearing them down instead of seeing each other as divine mirrors to what is unexpressed within us.

When I got the invitation to contribute to an all women's embodiment festival - I was excited (and nervous and shy!) to see how I would respond to the environment. What would get stirred up?

The answer is: anything and everything can come up and it is EXACTLY what you need to see. Inside the women's circles that we ran, we saw the raw underbelly of what was going on under the surface. We held space for what is usually hidden, and it was so, so beautiful. Tears of every flavour, asking to be seen and accepted lovingly.

Within ourselves, we explored the polarities that we carried; the need to grieve, to soften, to step up, to step back, to play, to rest, to reclaim, to rise, to grind, to weep, and to listen deeply.

@rootsfestival_ allowed me to take the time to see the unique flavour that each woman brings to her world; her medicine, her magic, her power. Its not about becoming best friends with every woman on earth, but actively noticing autopilot assumptions/reactions and challenging them on the spot through a soulful conversation or a smile. Replacing competition with admiration and inspiration ✨️

Special deep-hearted thanks to the Grounded and Grown facilitators Bella @alchemyanderos, Chloe @flareinourown and Georgie @revolutionwithin_ for supporting me, reminding me, celebrating my expression and sharing their journeys with me as we created this soft supportive space at the festival.

Sisterhood is now a very front of mind concept and it emboldens me to be the kind of sister I can be proud of. Uplifting, calling each other forward, celebrating. Every woman is a transmission, treat her as such and watch how your life transforms 😘✨️

🌼 JANUARY 2024 REFLECTIONS 3/3

So..this leads to my current interests for Let's Unpack That:

1) Bringing my fullest, radiant, shining energy to you by doing work that lights ME up the most. Which at the moment is; going DEEP into your secret shadows with playfulness (yes, it is possible), healing family wounds, counselling you through energy management, weaving astrology, human design and numerology year-ahead forecasts to develop your confidence and intuition, and working longer-term.

2) Working with all of you who are *beyond* self-care tips with Sandra but actually want to move into the next stage of your awareness to cultivate and tend to your own personal magic to share with your world. Gone are the days where we are just surviving day-by-day with nothing left to give back. Managing your energy according to your human design type changes how you show up for your nearest and dearest, and also the COLLECTIVE - so the investment in therapy ripples out exponentially beyond yourself. The thought of this fills me with joy and is undeniably uplifting which is how I want YOU to feel in sessions too!!!

3) Community circles and women’s circles that are low-cost, high value. Without actually being therapy, they do so many things that therapy is trying to facilitate; they create connection, reduce isolation, help you process things and allow you to show up as yourself. You connect with other people in your actual residential community, rather than through a screen. You see yourself through others, create empathy and observe your blind spots. It’s re-defining group therapy, no weird paper cup Lipton tea energy, but evolved, connected and inspiring conversations. Collaborations with @groundedandgrown_
And @zenlyyoga to provide this in Sydney are about to unfold!

This is all weaving in the background, and I want to let you in on it because sometimes it's important to show up in your trying era, not just in the shiny polished packaged and ready to go version of my offerings. If you’re about these things, or feel a curiosity, join in the continuing aromatic stewing sesh @letsunpackthat.co and lets simmer and sizzle together ✨️

Love love love love love xo

🌼 JANUARY REFLECTIONS 2/3 🌼

Some observations...

1) I have become bored of how therapy is pitched. Even with the way I have pitched myself. Being ‘seen and heard’, ‘hold space’, ‘gaining clarity’ ‘actionable steps’ blah blah blah …I’m asleep already. Yes that is all true, but where is the FIRE? Where is the Zest?! Where is the ENERGY?! Last year, I experimented with voice note sessions, astrology sessions, pub and outdoor park sessions (yes!) - they were all my attempt to shake therapy out of it’s traditional confines and see how it could be (ethically) re-imagined. More on these experiments later...

2) While the barriers to therapy listed in my previous post still technically exist, I think we have come a long way in a few short years. The aftermath of the global pandemic left no person without a grief experience, and shook a lot of things up that needed shaking. Healing is cool now. Lizzo sings about it. People know their childhood stuff and hold space for their parents. They meditate at school. "Mental health" aka the full spectrum of the human experience is no longer in the shadows.

Honestly I think the barrier now is: exhaustion. Like, 'another thing on my f*king wellness to-do list. Sigh. Will have to get around to that'…(again, where is the energy?!!). I see this in my friends and myself and it's important to admit that for most of us, the demands of modern life are wild.

3) Financially, $250 (for a standard psych session) is a lot to ask for people who are struggling to save, go on holidays and buy the Meredith’s goats cheese. All of these, in my opinion, should come before therapy and so therapy is of course, a luxury good. Or, an investment. Whichever way you look at it, you have to feel really aligned, really motivated and really sure that there is something in therapy that will be absolutely invaluable for you, your life and everyone you care about.

So. These are things that have been stewing for me over the past year, as I slowly give myself the permission to de-tangle from Big Mental Health and have the liberty to innovate my practice.

It's still slow cooking. But the aromas in the house smell like...

...continued in post 3 😘

🌼 JANUARY 2024 REFLECTIONS 1/3 🌼

I love therapy. I know what the limits to it are, and within those limits - I think a lot of hard-earned magic can happen. The idea for Let’s Unpack That came 2.5 years ago because I felt that there were too many barriers; administrative, emotional, and financial to accessing the benefits of therapy.

What I *deeply* desired was to create something zesty, transformative, and practical that met the need of urban millenials racing around town trying to look after themselves while living a vibrant life. I wanted my clients to be able to have an amazingly potent session without spending all their money or needing to commit long-term. I drew in clients who already knew how to ‘do the work’ so I could just be a mirror to something that was going on for them, that they needed to see with a fresh set of objective counsellor’s eyes.

Now. What they don’t tell you about starting a business. Is that you ~think~ you can have it all mapped out. And just like that*, the business starts to map YOU out. Yikes. To show up authentically in this space, and as a therapist, you have to bring your WHOLE self. And. Things simply evolve. With both yourself and the society around you.

A few observations stand out to me: ...continued in post 2

(*please read this in Carrie Bradshaw's voice IYKYK)

🌼 EXPLORATION > EVALUATION 🌼

The thing about the typical end of year reflections/new years resolutions is that they often tend to focus on achievements, external indicators, big milestones etc.

But, so much of the sweetness of life is not in how we "performed" to the world, but rather in how we met ourselves over and over again. In those slow and steady moments of commitment, connection and presence with all that is in your life that only YOU can really honour ✨️ (and what I think we all really value the most)

So, I wanted to create some questions for you all that celebrate your relationship to yourself, your process, and your people!

I find when I am able to regularly check in with myself like this, and really witness myself, I have so much more to give to loved ones, community and clients - because I can celebrate all this with them too!

So ; here's to celebrating you. I know it's super early to say Merry Christmas/Happy New Year, but I just felt like sharing this now because it felt nice. Feel free to save for later / take a screenshot so you can come back to them 💛

(nb: you can replace 'this year' for 'this week' or 'this season/cycle', it can also be a nice thing to do on your birthday, or just any time you want to re-calibrate!)

Thank you so much for being here on this little corner of the internet!!!! 🎄 X

Rumblings of the heart re: finding our place in global events and letting others run their process - which will probably present differently to yours xx

I welcome any thoughts and comments privately or for others to see. Thank you 💓🌏📫🇵🇸

Info on Sydney Gaza Grief circle to come, once I have locked it in - will be limited to 10 people. Something about being in-person, feeling each other, being able to share all of yourself... that you just can't replicate on here 🌼✨️❤️‍🩹

I don't know who needs to hear this: but you're allowed to stop watching the news. When there are things so far beyond your control - owning, cultivating, and sharing what you have the capacity to offer to the world - is more than enough.

Obviously, there has been an amplification in media coverage on important historic events this week.

I think there is a lot of good intention behind staying informed. People want to show their investment and compassion. They want to be "plugged in" and not turn a blind eye to suffering.

But. If we look at over-consumption as an energetic loading or a state of being, typically, it points to something being out of balance. Like when you eat too much food, and your body feels sick as a result. It tells you when it's "too much".

So, when it comes to your consumption of the news. Only YOU know what is *truly* healthy and balanced for you and for the overall picture. You are the one to draw those boundaries so you can maintain presence for your actual life.

The reality is, if you are refreshing news sites and feeling disregulated, fearful, and powerless, i.e., in survival mode, it unfortunately doesn't help the people who have no choice but to *actually live* in survival mode.

Eg. During lockdowns, ultimately, the message of "wash your hands, stay home, care for each other" was what we really needed to focus on. Whether you consumed hours of anxiety-provoking headlines didn't change the situation.

Turning off the notifications and cultivating the safe and compassionate energy you bring into your home, family, workplace, and community can be a HUGE job in these times.

It reminds me of the phrase "think global, act local."

Your energy and attention can't be in a hundred places at once. It can only be right where you are. So, choose where you want to be. Feel where your presence is needed. And set your limits accordingly.

Pause, rest, process, parent, love. Know when enough is enough, and when you're full. Sit with the swirling and resist adding even more to it.Your capacity for care deepens when you spend gentle time restoring and replenishing your capacity.

It's the one thing that no one else can do for you 🌎❤️

Just some thoughts with this week's events in Australia.

De-colonising this country will be such an unfolding, multi-layered process that I honestly feel starts from within.

If youre a non-indigenous person like I am, rather than shouting at people who don't agree with me...I feel like there is a more subtle energetic flavour that we can all tune in to on an individual level...that honours deep listening, the ability to hold uncertainty and also courage to speak to what needs to be learned and un-learned...and to be creative and accountable with how we do that.

Here are some thoughts that come to mind, that are hopefully relevant long after this Saturday 😌

Over the years working as a grief/trauma counsellor, I feel like I've heard so many of the therapy "tricks" from the textbook. But. I have to be completely honest. Many of those would not resonate *for me personally*.

I need to keep my energy clear and pristine to effectively hold space for clients, so I still definitely need my "tricks." But the biggest game changers when it comes to caring for my mental health have been all about my energetic environment and how I tinker with that to give myself more space and deep nourishment. It often involves what I can *remove* rather than add on!

I'm going to unpack each of these in separate posts, so stay tuned on @letsunpackthat.co to hear the full breakdown!!

But as a quick summary,

1️⃣DISCONNECTING FROM THE NEWS 📰

Having a vague knowledge about terrible incidents far away from my sphere of influence just makes my body clench. I have been blissfully "uninformed" for years and feel a sense of lightness without it

2️⃣DRINKING DECAF ☕️

The real stuff makes my thoughts move wayyyyyy too fast! In the forthcoming post about this, I will unpack why we feel we need to be moving this fast anyway?

3️⃣REFINING MY INSTA FEED📱

I love instagram, but it is so much information in one hit that it overwhelms me. I'm sure I'm not alone on that! To keep enjoying the app without drowning, I set up some questions for myself that allowed for some natural boundaries - again, I will include these for you to try out in the designated post!

4️⃣BARE FEET IN THE GRASS, EVERY DAY 👣

I don't think this one needs explaining. We all know and feel how regulating nature is. But the act of committing to it on a daily basis, prioritising this, actually made a huge difference to how I interact with my urban environment.

5️⃣HONOURING THE NATURAL CYCLES 🌌

Seasonal, menstrual, death and rebirth - you name it. I find that so much of what we pathologise as "mental health" concerns would actually not be so concerning if we could see the broader picture of necessary periods of contractions.

Community, I hope this post activates something and lands in the right hands 💓🌎

Tell me, what micro-reductions have worked wonders for you?! 🍃✨️

Every single one of us can get STUCK in our head. Endless thought loops, strategising, self-criticism, re-playing scenarios, problem solving, anticipation.

Even though it's become buzzy to say it, I honestly don't think this can just be relegated to "I have anxiety".

Being in your head is an over-saturation of energy in one part of your body. We can all go there, we can all "stay" there. And we can even get comfortable there.

I heard this amazing quote/mantra from a young woman who works at my local Cafe. She says it to her younger brother when he is worrying about things too much. As a therapist who spends all day long doing grounding exercises with people and helping them regulate themselves through difficulty - I had never heard of something so damn simple and true. She shared it with me, and now I want to share it with you.

Of all the wellness tricks in the world, the reminder to "be where your feet are" immediately takes the energy down the body to where it's touching the earth 🌎 you don't need a 15 meditation or anything fancy to do this. It's just right there waiting for you. In your kitchen, at your desk, working out, catching the bus, dancing in the shower, in your meeting, walking your dog, at the grocery store, in bed - there they are. Your feet dont care about the stories you're creating in your head. They're just right there with you, trying to keep you grounded.

So, when you start to overthink something and you can feel all the energy going into your head, doing that "spinning top" thing that it does, just be where your feet are and see what happens 😊

🍃 👣 @letsunpackthat.co

I used to roll my eyes at it, but upon further reflection, the fact that R U Okay day "falls short" for those of us who have the emotional support, social connections and basic mental health literacy is GOOD. It means that talking about mental health has become *normalised* and we can continue to *progress* that conversation to the other places it needs to go...

Can you imagine, 10 or 20 years ago, office spaces actually acknowledging that people have a full emotional spectrum? We are living SO CLOSE to a time when emotions were not valid and vulnerability was never accepted (which is still the case in various industries, friend groups, families everywhere)

Even in 2012 I remember feeling like a freak for ~not being okay~ and in 2016, not having any examples around me of people going to therapy to work through their past + present. The question was still not fully met on a collective level.

Now, it's so beautiful to see the wave of emotional healing that is happening everywhere. People are facing demons that their ancestors have never had the chance to feel and it's powerrrrrfullll.

It's very easy to become disenchanted by "how far there is to go", critique the workplaces that pay lip service to this, and of course to crucially acknowledge the socio-political structures that reinforce distress and isolation.

BUT. This one campaign can't solve everything. Let's not let that get in the way of honouring a day that has, in some kind of way, shaped the conversations we can more readily have now 🌈🌙

#ruok #ruokayday

Affirmations from this peacock:

1. Life is not about impressing other people

2. My energy shines without saying a damn word - I don't have to chase for the right attention

3. Being peaceful in my own sphere IS the glow up

Hope it was an internally fabulous Leo season y'all xoxo now let's get the house in order virgo style

There are so many layers to break ups. So much to process, feel, understand, make sense of, and grieve. In my Let's Unpack That sessions, I try to lead people away from pointing the finger at the other person. It's "easy" to moan about all the things someone else did/didn't do for you, but it's harder to point that finger back at ourselves to figure out how we got there in the first place.

In every relationship you have had in your adult life, you were there, making choices. This fact alone can bring up shame, guilt, confusion and perhaps even lead you to ask deeper questions about your template for relating to others.

Welcome it all in! This is precious data for you to work through, soften into and empower yourself with.

Without this radical ownership, your "processing" will actually just be mindless venting. And no one wants to be that person who complains about their ex for years to come. It only hurts you :'( Hopefully these simple questions can kick start the deep work that catalyses your next chapter.

Ultimately, you want to come into a new relationship having fully understood what went down before. However long that takes. Patched up, rebuilt and ready for new lessons! X

(Save to send to friends when they're past the shock/ice cream eating/moving into a new house phase and ready to process their transition!)

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