
About Cathy
FOUNDER | INTUITIVE SELF
I have been drawn to movement, art and music since I was a child. These have been my avenues for self-expression and creativity, connecting to Self and the Magic of life.
It was in 2012 when I first discovered movement as a form of therapy. It was at a time in my life where I was quite burnt out and flat. I realised how much I had disconnected from my body and was living predominately in my head, focused on productivity to ‘prove my worth’ - so much so, that I was never living in the present moment.
Movement and Expressive Arts Therapy opened up an entirely new way of navigating my emotions and working through challenges I faced. I found comfort in the client-centered approach - a form of wholistic healing that can be done at your own pace, and in your own way - which I found to be profoundly creative and self-reflective.
Before founding Intuitive Self, I worked with a variety of community groups both Internationally and within Australia designing and implementing a number of grassroots community, youth and social justice programs focused on capacity building. Since 2008 I have had amazing opportunities to work towards a common goal with incredible people in Vanuatu, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Guyana, Philippines and Nepal.
You can watch a video of me sharing part of my story on the home page.
Having found my medicine, I am here to share these practices with the world.
My offerings - from one on one sessions, public workshops, online courses and professional development training - provide opportunities for creative self-discovery and emotional integration.
I thrive designing and facilitating experiences that encourage participants to connect deeply with their body ~ heart ~ mind, tune in with their innate wisdom and guidance and create more space for creative self-expression and personal growth.
My embodied values are:
~ Compassion
~ Curiosity
~ Community
~ Communication
~ Creative expression
~ Collaboration
~ Courage
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Vital Leadership, WAYFINDING 2021
• Alchemy Dance Teacher Training 2019 (Mentorship 2014-2021)
• Child Safety Practice, CHILDWISE 2021
• Culturally Responsive Practice, CMY 2021
• LGBTI Mental Health & Suicide Prevention 2021
• Youth Mental Health First Aid, MHFA 2021
• Embodied Social Justice, The Embody Lab 2020
• Love Bites Training 2019
• Body as Voice Trauma Training, Restorative Resources 2018
• Human Centered Design IDEO 2017
• Facilitator Training, Groupwork Centre 2016
• Drumbeat Facilitator Training HOLYOAKE 2016
• Working with Child Sexual Assault, Bravehearts 2012
GRATITUDE TO MY TEACHERS
I honour my mentors GH Soto, Anne O’Keeffe, Alice Cummins, Tracey Nicholson, Amber Gray, Tiana Lenti, Mandy Agnew; and credit the teachings of Anna Halprin, Daria Halprin, Gabrielle Roth, Emilie Conrad, and Peter Levine.
LINKS
Member of International Institute for Complementary Therapies
Dance Therapy Association of Australia
QUALIFICATIONS
• Masters of Social Science (International Development), RMIT 2012
• Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), SWINBURNE 2009
• Graduate Certificate in Movement Based Somatic Therapy, TENSEGRITY 2018
• Certificate in Somatics, Performance and The Creative Process, TAMALPA 2014
• Certificate in Expressive Therapies, ET Institute of Australia 2015

AS A FACILITATOR
“The therapists role is to help clients to become aware and then to transmute awareness into consciousness of self” - Rollo May, 1969
“The therapist is called a guide, acting as a collaborative explorer with the client, taking a more active role in the early stages of therapy, then slowly shifting to the role of witness in order to foster self-motivated inner growth as therapy progresses.” - Daria Halprin
Hear from others…
“Thanks so much Cathy for your gentle, warm, trusting leading. Your confidence and comfort with movement, trying, feeling, gave permission to the group to do the same. Thank you for trusting that we had our own unique ways of partaking in the work.” - Danyelle, Workshop participant
“Cathy holds these group spaces with such skill, acknowledging us as individuals and building group safety and engagement. Her facilitation of the space is gentle, calm, generous and joyful. Whether you are an experienced mover, or a newbie to dance-movement, you are in safe hands and will get in touch with parts of yourself and your life that will support you to be more whole.” - Rachel Clark, MOVE REFLECT CREATE course participant
“Cathy is generous with self - heart and soul. Cathy creates a welcoming, inclusive, safe supportive environment for individual participant’s and collective journey through the processes.” - Tina Grimes, MOVE REFLECT CREATE course participant
“As soon as I walked into the space for Cathy’s MOVE TOGETHER session I was overwhelmed with joy. This was it,, the safe space I’ve been craving to express myself freely without judgment. I’ve never walked into a movement space before that came with zero expectations about who I’m meant to be there. Everyone was beautifully vulnerable, open, and free to express themselves through speaking, moving and creating and Cathy facilitated this effortlessly. If you’re craving an outlet to express and discover yourself, this is it.” - Kate Barford, MOVE TOGETHER workshop participant
