Kia ora, I’m Ashleigh

I was raised in Kāpiti with the Raukawa ocean at my feet and the Tararua mountain range holding me. My whakapapa trails back to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Sweden. I now live in Mohua – Golden Bay, with my whānau cradled by the Kahurangi mountain ranges.

I acknowledge Māori as tāngata whenua and Tiriti ō Wāitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand. I give thanks to this land of Aotearoa. ‍ ‍

About Ashleigh

I have a passion for working with people and holding the tender places in their hearts to support their growth, healing, and journey to returning to wholeness in themselves. My professional journey began over 20 years ago in the field of disability, which then led me to studying a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2008. I have worked in many roles as a social worker – from grass-roots community development projects to roles in mental health, justice, family violence, and drug and alcohol sectors.

As a person, I hold many roles and loves in my life. I am women, a māmā of two children, a partner, a sister, a daughter and aunty. My family has become the center of my life, amongst my love for nature, adventures, community and creating. As a neurodivergent woman who has experienced trauma and associated struggles, my healing journey, like many, has been a deep journey into self.

My journey with my own personal development and inner work has led me down many paths guided by curiosity, a desire to understand myself and to live this life fully. I explored and studied the alternative realms of meditation, yoga, connection to nature, plant medicine, nutrition, non violent communication and engaging in personal therapy – seeking to heal my body and rebalance my inner world.

Through my personal journey, I also developed the desire to work with people in a more connected way, honouring their hearts and deeper experiences. This led me to study Hakomi – a three-year program in mindful somatic psychotherapy. Hakomi is an experiential and body-based psychotherapy approach that combines mindfulness, somatic processing, and the therapeutic relationship to support self-discovery and healing.

My social work background supports me in having a wider systemic view of a person, while Hakomi and other trauma-informed somatic therapeutic approaches support me in working with the deeper layers of a person’s unique inner world, struggles and patterns that impact them living and experiencing life fully. I love the work I do, and I feel honoured to walk alongside people in their healing journey and development of self.

Qualifications

I have completed many other trainings in my 15 years of practice, surrounding trauma, attachment, bi-cultural practice, working with diverse and marginalised communities, mental health, drug and alcohol, group work process, family therapy and family violence.

  • Bachelor of Social Work Degree (Hons) -Graduated in 2011

  • Graduate of Hakomi Professional Training & Additional Hakomi Trainings (3 years)

  • Certified Hakomi Therapist

  • Comprehensive Mindful/Somatic approaches to Trauma Therapy Training – Paris Williams

  • Innate Somatic Intelligence Trauma Therapy Training – Manuela Mischke-Reeds

  • Member of Aotearoa New Zealand Associate of Social Workers (ANZASW)

  • Registered Social Worker with Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)

  • Family Therapy (Family Work and Family Connections Certified)

  • Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy Training (Aus) (6 months)

  • Diploma in Rongoā (Māori plant medicine and holistic healing practice)

  • Yoga Teacher Training – 200 hr

Contact Ashleigh