About Me - My Biography

My Business

My focus in the wellness sector is teaching communication skills as an integral part of managing emotional stress that can have a hidden impact on our health, relationships and overall well-being.  Learning to talk about difficult topics or overwhelming emotions during acute periods of pressure ensures that important communication networks stay open.  Mastering the skills can also have life-long benefits that tap into every layer of our human experience.

I have built my FeelingConnected business around the understanding that unresolved life stresses are simultaneously impacting on four key communication components that include Self Care, Authentic Sharing, Inner Health and Life Engagement.

The signature Emotional Toolbox program I offer provides practical tools & insights to help people use open and honest communication in safe ways that transforms stress & disconnection into powerful self-expression.  I also offer 1:1 coaching sessions and shared mediation, and all my services are accessible in person or online.

I like to think that upgrading your emotional toolbox is like taking out health insurance for the future, as we never know when life is going to throw us (or those we love) a curve ball.  Alternatively, these skills can be used to work through long-term issues that have been weighing someone down.  Either way, communication skills form an integral part of a creating a meaningful, joyful and fulfilling life!

Where I come from 

I am a social/emotional literacy teacher and communication coach with a background in Anthropology and community development/leadership.  I have 30 years of experience in multiple professional fields building meaningful connections and successful relationships through quality communication.  I have woven my experiences as a mother, teacher, business owner, leader and original thinker into my signature FeelingConnected framework that I have been working with since 2012.

My motivation to design this program came from supporting my oldest son through a mental health crisis when he was only 11 years old.  It coincided with a personal crisis of my own that showed me how off-course life my life had become after I disconnected in response to some big issues and unresolved feelings.

I also come from a family with a history of mental illness and sexual abuse, and survived my marriage breakdown 8 years ago, so I have first-hand experience in navigating the problems that arise when overwhelming life experiences are left unresolved.  This has reinforced in me the importance of quality support and communication skills when people are in crisis.  

My greatest joy has been watching my two boys emerge from adolescence as fully connected, expressive, and motivated young men who both have a clear sense of purpose and identity.  They both have an emotional toolbox full of FeelingConnected strategies that means they can show up to any tricky conversation with a strong sense of openness, confidence, ease and grace.

What I do for fun

I am a naturally outgoing, adventurous women who loves the outdoors and I have a very active lifestyle.  Whenever I can, I’ll be out hiking, mountain bike riding or playing AFL (Women’s Masters of course!)  My favourite sport category has to be water sports though, and to illustrate this I once wrote on a dating site “I love playing in/on water…..whether it’s fresh, frozen or salty!”  

As my business name suggests I am also all about Feeling Connected and so I love immersing myself in any kind of activity that allows for greater connection – to the environment, to each other and to myself.  So that means lots of long deep meaningful conversations, ponderings of universal truths, intimate gatherings and quiet time in nature.

I’m currently single and my boys (20 & 21) are both independent, so I am enjoying a wonderful stage of my life that has a well-nurtured balance of family, friends and things I love to do.  That means I’ve also got the time, space and resources to pursue my passion for authentic communication (professionally and personally) and anything else that arises in the moment that most touches my heart!

I joined HerBiz as I was looking for a supportive, collaborative network of women to learn from, and would love to be able to support other HerBiz members with the communication skills they may need to manage any personal, family or professional issues they may be experiencing.