Unity Physiotherapy & Wellbeing

11/03/2026

🌿 Compassionate, Trauma-Informed & Sustainable Healthcare

Healthcare is under pressure — burnout, chronic stress, and staff shortages are increasing.

Often the focus is to offer individual wellbeing initiatives or encouraging staff to be more resilient.

✨ Sustainable healthcare requires more than this.

It needs cultures and systems that support compassionate, safe, and sustainable ways of working.

I’m passionate about supporting a more compassionate & trauma informed healthcare system — for many reasons, including staff wellbeing, better outcomes for those needing healthcare services, and the long-term sustainability of healthcare.

Compassionate, trauma informed working looks beyond individual coping strategies & asks deeper questions about how work is led, organised, and experienced, while also supporting collaborative systemic change.

This approach recognises that the cultures & systems people work within — as well as how each individual shows up within them — profoundly shape wellbeing, decision-making, team functioning, and ultimately effective care.

When compassion & trauma informed principles are embedded in leadership, teams, and organisational culture, it can help in many ways, including:
* Reduce burnout risk, chronic stress & vicarious trauma
* support psychological safety & trust
* improve collaboration & communication
* help teams respond to pressure & uncertainty without defaulting to threat-based ways of working
* improve staff wellbeing & service user outcomes
* support more sustainable & effective healthcare environments

My work in this area brings together:
* compassion as a lived & embodied practice
* trauma-informed principles such as safety, trust, choice & collaboration
* nervous system awareness & regulation
* values led working
* leadership & team practices that support sustainable ways of working

The services I offer include:
* one-off talks & workshops
* longer programmes supporting compassionate leadership, teams & workplace culture
* integrative compassion-focused coaching & mentoring for health & social care professionals

✨ This work is about supporting both individual and collective wellbeing — and creating environments where people can work sustainably, ethically, and with care for themselves and others.

📌 I’ve linked some information about this aspect of my work in comments.

💭As part of this I’m considering running an online introductory series on compassionate trauma-informed working for health & social care professionals. If this is something that might be helpful in your role or organisation you’re welcome to send me a message or comment below.

🌱 If you’re curious about this way of working, or exploring how compassionate, trauma-informed working might support your role, team, or organisation you’re welcome to reach out.

08/03/2026

🌿 International Women’s Day feels like the perfect day to celebrate — the proof copy of my new poetry book, Living Wholeness, has arrived, and it will be published on the 20th March.

It also feels like a moment to honour and appreciate the wonderful women in my life — those who’ve supported and inspired me, and the many women whose voices and presence continue to shape the world in compassionate ways. Some of the early book review are from inspirational women.

Living Wholeness is a poetry book with a difference. Split into sections, it takes the reader on a somatic journey, exploring presence, awareness, compassionate connection, and the subtle currents of body, breath, nature and energy. Gentle mini somatic practices at the end help deepen the reading experience and support daily life

I’m grateful for the early reviews from people whose work I deeply respect — thank you.

A small number of the poems are shared on my YouTube channel. I’ll add a few links in the comments for anyone who’d like to listen and get a feel for the book.

If you’re in the UK and would prefer not to order from Amazon, and/or would like a signed copy, please let me know by 12th March — I’ll be ordering a small number of copies.

💚 I feel this book can bring more compassion, love and care into the world.

06/03/2026

🌿 Trauma-Informed Care: The Importance of Choice and Influence

One of the core principles of trauma-informed practice is choice.

When people have experienced trauma, chronic stress, or long-term illness, a common thread is often a loss of control — things happened to them that they didn’t choose.

In long-term health conditions this loss of control is often amplified. The uncertainty lived with can feel like an ongoing threat to the nervous system.

People are living with symptoms they didn’t choose, uncertainty they didn’t ask for, and limitations that can feel deeply frustrating. Many people living with chronic illness also live with trauma, which can further intensify this experience.

Recently someone shared with me how difficult the lack of control felt in living with symptoms and the impact this was having on their quality of life. Instead of brushing this off, we acknowledged it — because that feeling is understandable and makes sense. From there we gently explored something important: while we cannot control outcomes, there are things we can influence.

Influence might include:
* how we respond to symptoms
* how we support nervous system regulation and build capacity
* what helps us feel safer in our body
* what resources and supports we draw on
* what matters most to us in how we live each day

Trauma-informed compassionate working involves truly seeing the person — acknowledging suffering while also recognising strengths, resilience, and existing resources (as well as developing new ones).

It also includes trauma informed practice principles, helping prevent re-traumatisation (medical trauma too often happens), understanding compassionate care, and embodying compassion. And it includes helping people understand that their nervous system responses are intelligent protective responses, not personal failures. Regulation can be supported, and nervous system capacity can be nurtured over time.

When people begin to understand their nervous system and reconnect with areas of influence, something powerful can happen: a sense of agency slowly begins to return. And that can make a meaningful difference.

✨ I’ll soon be offering an online short Introduction to Trauma-Informed Compassionate Practice for Health & Social Care Professionals, exploring what this way of working is, what it looks like, and how it can be applied in practice. If this is something you might be interested in, feel free to get in touch.

04/03/2026

🌿 Sharing a little from my day

What a glorious spring-like day it’s been ☀️

This morning I went to refill my drink of hot water before an online appointment and was treated to the sight of four goldfinches. Two flew off, while the other two stayed, joined briefly by a robin. I watched the goldfinches with such joy and wonder — their playful, light movements almost made me late for my appointment.

I then spent a wonderful hour online with a client exploring nervous system regulation, breathwork, somatic awareness, and building on existing strengths while developing new skills — all in a trauma-informed and compassionate way.

This afternoon I did a little gardening. It was so lovely to be outside in the sunshine, listening to the birds. I noticed my heart rate was a bit spikier than usual, along with a few other orthostatic symptoms, and my breathing felt a little different — something I’ve been aware of this week.

So I paused for a short rest outside to support regulation, and later lay down for a breathing practice to help my system settle. This is part of building nervous system capacity — allowing activation, and then intentionally supporting the return to balance when needed.

There were things that supported regulation for both me and my client today. For both of us, breathing and somatic awareness were central. For me, it also included sunshine, blue sky, birdsong, and those playful goldfinches.

💭 What has supported your regulation today?

01/03/2026

I’ve ordered a proof copy of my upcoming poetry book today — so exciting! It’s called Living Wholeness and will be publishing on the 20th March 🙂

The poems emerged through a year of deep integration, connection with nature and the daily practices that supported me: meditation, yoga, somatic work, and embodied inquiry. These are long-standing practices woven through my life, which have deepened and evolved over time.

The poems reflect a fuller settling into a way of being that had already been unfolding and embodied. This was shaped by the profound changes, grief, and loss that came with living with chronic illness. Over time, mind, body, and spirit began to reorganise; the whole system found its coherence again.

These poems speak to the quiet intelligence of the body, the tenderness of being human, and the possibility of resting more fully in what is already here.

As I’m publishing through KDP it’s likely to only be available on Amazon. Also, if you’re in the UK you can order directly from me when I have copies available — I will be ordering a small number of author copies initially. So, if you’re in the UK and would like a signed copy, or if you’d prefer not to order via Amazon please let me know by 10th March (if you haven’t already). Sorry I can’t post outside of the UK due to postage costs.

27/02/2026

🌿 Trauma-Informed, Compassionate Working

I’m really passionate about supporting the development of compassionate trauma-informed ways of working — particularly in health and social care — as part of cultivating a more trauma-informed and compassionate society.

I’ve studied and embodied this way of working for many years, and I offer support for workplaces, leaders, teams, and individuals.

A few people have asked me about learning more about trauma-informed and compassionate ways of working, so I’m considering running an introductory series and I’m exploring what the current interest might be before I spend time planning them. People could do a one off introductory workshop or all 4 workshops in the introductory series.

The first sessions would be:
“What is Trauma-Informed, Compassionate Working — and Why Does it Matter?”

This would explore:
* What trauma is (and common misunderstandings)
* What compassion is (and common myths)
* Core principles of trauma informed working
* What compassionate working/care looks like in practice
* Why this matters for healthcare systems, leaders, teams, clients/patients, and for our own wellbeing and sustainability

If there’s interest, I’d follow this with a short series exploring what supports this way of working such as:
* Awareness
* Nervous system regulation
* Embodying compassion
* Compassionate, trauma-informed leadership and workplace cultures
* Integrating this approach into everyday practice in sustainable ways
* Holding boundaries, ethical care, and working with challenges
* Cultivating this a way of being, not something extra to do
* And a final workshop for integration of learning.

If this is something you’d be interested in please comment or message me — this will help me decide whether to move forwards with planning dates and details. You’re also very welcome to get in touch to ask any questions.

If you know someone in health or social care who might find this helpful, please share this with them — it would be much appreciated.

26/02/2026

Reframing what we are telling ourselves and how we are reacting to our experience is one way to increase a sense of safety.

Your brain isn’t trying to sabotage you—it’s trying to protect you.

But the thoughts it offers in moments of fear are often old scripts from a nervous system stuck in survival mode.

This post is about rewriting those scripts—not with toxic positivity, but with truths your brain actually needs to hear to feel safe.

Every reframe is a message to your system:
“We’re okay now.”

24/02/2026

It’s been such a wonderful springlike day and Ive noticed many glimmers (things that connect to nervous system regulation). This has included seeing my first bumblebee this year whilst eating my lunch, noticing a mini and normal daffodil had bloomed this morning, the blue sky and sunshine, and listening to the birds whilst putting the washing on the line before work.

I also noticed some dysregulation around lunchtime, which most likely was menopause related!

I also much appreciated how mild it was still by the late afternoon and spent a little joyous time outside pruning a few acers and a rose.

What have been your glimmers today? Moments of calmness, grounding, joy, awe — anything that’s been regulating for you.

l

22/02/2026

✨ A Reflective Poetry Pause — Vitality Moving in Steadying Presence

The fire-horse energy is rising — alive, embodied, and calling. Yet there is a call for steadiness too, it moves best when grounded, heart-led and wise.

This poem emerged from my meditations, somatic practices, and the subtle, subtle flowing shifts of energy within the body. It reflects the experience of vitality that is powerful yet gentle, wild yet steady, rising, pausing, and softening in alignment with wisdom, care, and the hearts guidance.

Through the rhythm of movement, breath, and inner awareness, it invites noticing the aliveness within, how energy can find its form, and how a powerful presence can be held without force. It’s a reflection on embodied power, gentle power and stamina, and the quiet confidence of moving with life in a grounded, heart-led way

🔥 Listen, feel, and let the words and energy move with you — notice how your body responds to the words.

It feels deeply connected to my upcoming poetry book “Living Wholeness “ and is a taste of the embodied poetry and themes I explore — including embodied presence, aliveness, and the balance of fire and grounding. Some of my poems on YouTube will be in the book, I’m adding this one to my channel too.

💭 I’d love to hear how this poem lands for you.

21/02/2026

🌿 I’m excited to share that my poetry book, Living Wholeness, will be publishing soon. I’m awaiting the final review then I’ll be ordering a proof copy.

These poems emerged through a year of deep integration, connection with nature and the daily practices that supported me: meditation, yoga, somatic work, and embodied inquiry. These are long-standing practices woven through my life, which have deepened and evolved over time.

The poems reflect a fuller settling into a way of being that had already been unfolding and embodied. This was shaped by the profound changes, grief, and loss that came with living with chronic illness. Over time, mind, body, and spirit began to reorganise; the whole system found its coherence again.

These poems speak to the quiet intelligence of the body, the tenderness of being human, and the possibility of resting more fully in what is already here.

This book isn’t something to analyse — it’s an invitation to pause, feel, listen, and soften into what’s already here.

If you’re in the UK and would like a copy directly from me (for a signed copy, or if you’d prefer not to order via Amazon), let me know by 6th March. I’ll be ordering a small number of copies. Sorry I can’t post outside of the UK due to postage costs.

21/02/2026

Shame is one of our protective strategies —it pulls us into hiding and can make asking for help feel unsafe.

It’s not only held as beliefs, but in the nervous system and body.

There are gentle ways to work with this, including EMDR, that support the nervous system to soften old patterns.

This post by Psychological Therapeutic Solutions Ltd is a thoughtful reflection on this.