A woman practicing yoga on a purple mat on the beach with the ocean in the background, during sunset.

Hi I am Shauna, Counsellor, Somatic Therapist, Yoga Instructor & Doula.

I’m a somatic therapist, counsellor, and movement guide with a background in science, bodywork, yoga, doula support, trauma recovery, and therapeutic practices. My calm, compassionate approach weaves conversation, body awareness, movement, and presence.

I believe in the wisdom of the body and the healing that comes from connection and feeling truly seen.

I work with people navigating life transitions, pain, anxiety, grief, and self-esteem challenges, often rooted in disconnection from the body or unresolved trauma. Recently, I have supported women facing domestic abuse, family breakdowns, neurodivergence, parenting overwhelm, and intergenerational patterns.

My intention is to help you meet yourself with clarity, kindness, and curiosity. I’d love to meet you, hear your story, and walk alongside you. Together, we can explore what unfolds when we show up fully for ourselves and each other.

  • Born near Miami and raised in multicultural California, my journey began at the intersection of Latin and North American cultures. As a global citizen, I've lived and travelled throughout Mexico, Central & South America, the Caribbean, Micronesia, and Europe, before calling Australia home for the past 15 years. Each destination has woven itself into who I am, expanding my understanding of what it means to be human in this beautifully diverse world.

    These experiences have shaped how I approach my work - with openness, presence, and deep respect for each person's story, cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs, and family background. I create a welcoming environment where everyone feels seen and heard for all the elements that make them who they are.

  • At Somawave, we honour the fullness of being human ~ body, mind, spirit, and community.

    • Authenticity & Truth
      We believe in coming home to the true self, speaking our truth, and living with honesty, integrity, and compassion.

    • Compassion & Service
      We are guided by kindness, committed to protecting the vulnerable, and devoted to contributing to a more just and caring world.

    • Embodiment & Connection
      Movement, breath, and the wisdom of the body are central to healing. We listen deeply to ourselves, each other, and to the natural cycles that hold us.

    • Curiosity & Growth
      We value questioning, critical and flexible thinking, and the courage to embrace change as a path to resilience and renewal.

    • Spirit & Oneness
      Guided by heart and connection to a higher source, we honour the oneness of life and the deep interconnection we share with nature and community.

    • Relationships & Community
      We cherish family, friendship, and community and showing up for one another with trust, dependability, and love.

  • These approaches may be woven into your session, depending on what best supports you and what you are looking for:

    • Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

    • Compassionate Inquiry

    • Holistic Counseling

    • Attachment-based Therapy

    • Yoga, Breathwork & Meditation

    • Somatic Movement & Dance Therapy

    • Sound & Music Therapy

    • Nervous System Regulation techniques

    • Specialisation in PTSD, trauma recovery and domestic abuse support

  • Somawave grew from my own lived experiences of disconnection and healing. I do this work because I have seen how powerful it is when women and children reconnect with their bodies and reclaim their sense of safety. Supporting women in these moments matters deeply to me because when families heal, communities grow stronger and the world becomes more connected.

    Somawave is dedicated to creating spaces where women feel seen and supported to dissolve old survival patterns. My “why” is simple: to help women and children trust themselves again and create new patterns of love, connection, and possibility. Healing comes in waves: reconnect, reclaim, recover.

More about me and my practice.

My formal training includes:

  • Grad Dip Counselling

    Cert Internal Family Systems Level 1

    Cert Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy

    Cert Massage Therapy & Healing Arts

    RYT500 Prana Vinyasa Flow Yoga

    PRYT Pregnancy Yoga Teacher 

    CRYT Children’s Yoga Teacher

    Cert Postnatal Yoga Teacher 

    Cert Birth & Postnatal Doula

    Cert End-of-Life Doula

    Cert Yoga Trance Dance ™

    Cert Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

    Cert Somatic Psychedelic Facilitator

    BS Environmental Science Policy & Management, UC Berkeley

    MS Marine Science, UNC Wilmington

    Grad Dip Coral Reef Ecology, Cornell University

  • Women & Teen Circle Facilitator

    Tuning into Teens Program

    Circle of Security Program

    InTune Families Neurodiversity Program

    Compassionate Inquiry - Dr. Gabor Mate

    Returning to Wholeness: understanding & integrating trauma - Dr. Gabor Mate

    The Body Keeps the Score - Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

    Somatic Attachment Healing - Embody Lab

    Healing Intergenerational & Attachment Trauma - Dr. Peter Levine

    Trauma-Sensitive Movement: Somatic Techniques - Manuela Mischke-Reeds

    Women, Embodiment & Trauma Recovery: Befriending the body with Therapeutic Yoga - Dr. Arielle Schwartz

    Pre- and Perinatal Psychology - Anna Verwaal

    Birthlight Childbirth Preparation - Francoise Freedman

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Green circle logo for the Australian Counseling Association with the words 'ACA' and 'AUSTRALIAN COUNSELLING ASSOCIATION' inside.
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A place to reconnect, reclaim & recover

Sessions are individualised to meet you where you are

☯︎

Building nervous system awareness to support balance and resilience

A space built on safety and trust so you can feel held and explore at your pace

Support that honours embodiment and helps you reconnect with your body’s wisdom

A collaborative process guided by your voice, goals and experiences

Integration of mind, body and spirit so change becomes part of daily life

A hand releasing water droplets into a calm body of water during sunset.

My intention is to help you feel more at home in yourself, in your body, in your relationships and your life.

Whether you're working through stress, emotional pain, disconnection or simply seeking a deeper sense of purpose, our work together is grounded in compassion and curiosity. I offer a holistic approach that supports you to move through what’s in the way and reconnect with what matters most.

View my offerings here

My favourite quotes

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