I have been interested in well-being ever since I was a young child, and my journey has been one of understanding our body-mind and emotional connections.

I first trained in nursing, including mental health nursing, where I began to discover the power of touch to support recovery and ease pain and anxiety. For many years I ran a holistic nursing clinic, working with people’s stress and overall well-being.

I later became a midwife and, for nearly a decade, supported women, couples, and families in their journeys through birth and parenting. My path then led me to Traditional Chinese Medicine, which I found profoundly helpful for alleviating both physical discomforts and emotional changes. I gained postgraduate qualifications in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and clinical experience in Chinese hospitals, where acupuncture is integrated with Western medicine. This deepened my understanding of the body’s healing abilities and our connection to the environment.

I went on to train as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner®, a body-oriented approach to resolving trauma and stress. Somatic Experiencing®, along with advanced training in trauma-informed touch, has become central to my work in helping individuals regulate their nervous systems and restore resilience.

To support relationships, I have also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy®, working with couples and small groups. My daily practice of Qigong, meditation, and Ren Xue continues to inspire and guide both my life and my work.

Today, I bring together these diverse streams of knowledge and practice to support healing and growth—in our relationship with ourselves, with each other, across generations, with the environment, and within the cultures we are part of—supporting resilience, healthy nervous systems, and heartfelt connections.

Qualifications

COACHING
- Somatic Experiencing®Practitioner, Somatic Experiencing® Australia, Somatic Experiencing®International
- Somatic Experiencing®, Maggie Kline 'Trauma Through a Child's Eyes’

-Emotionally Focussed Therapy®, NZCEFT externship, core skills 1 and 11

-Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate- The Embody Lab

- Supervision Skills for Health & Social Service Professionals, Unitec Cert- NZ Coaching/Mentoring Centre
- Certified Relationship Coach, Institute of Professional Coaching
- Professional Mentoring / Coaching, Unitec
- Adult education, Unitec

TCM
- Certificate Clinical Acupuncture Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), China
- Post Grad. Certificate in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture AUT
- Specialist Acupuncture, Women’s Health AUT

Qigong-Renxue: Teacher’s training Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

MIDWIFERY and NURSING
- Diploma of Comprehensive Nursing AUT
- BHSc (Midwifery) AUT
- BHSc (Nursing) AUT

- Registration with NZ Midwifery Council and NZ Nursing Council (nonpracticing)

TOUCH

- I have received training in Neuro-Affective Touch from The NeuroAffective Touch® Institute, focusing on Developmental Trauma-informed techniques.

- I am certified in Somatic Resilience and Regulation® by Kathy L. Kain & Stephen J. Terrell.

- I have training in Somatic Experiencing for trauma-informed touch.

- I am a practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu.

- I am also trained in Healing Touch and Holistic Massage.

- I am committed to ongoing professional development and regularly update my skills and knowledge.


“Donna has a lovely ability to get alongside people of all ages. She works with people in a holistic manner and has a great degree of empathy that enables people to be open with her. I thoroughly recommend Donna in her ability and capacity, to provide the best possible care.”

J