About » Ahly
About Me
My name is Ahly and I have been studying mindfulness practices, body awareness and emotional intelligence for over 10 years.
My style of therapy is grounded in body wisdom, using somatic and mindfulness based approaches to psychotherapy such as Hakomi, and integration approaches such as IFS (Internal Family Systems) as well as elements of Karla McLaren’s Emotional Literacy & Empathy framework.
I have schooled my self in Body Sensing through Yoga Nidra, Nada Yoga Mantra & Sound, MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), NVC (Non Violent Communication), Enneagram Work, Shadow Work, Journeying and Advaita teachings. All parts of these may be utilised in my therapy sessions.
My Approach
My approach is both gentle and direct. I hold an enormous compassion and sense of wonder for the wounds that come from being human, as well the capacity to see beyond our woundings to that part in each of us that is whole and complete.
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I trust the journey - a journey that at times feels full of paradox, and I hold steadfastly that each time we meet, it takes us closer to your own Self-truth and wisdom.
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As I accompany you on this journey, I honour and delight in supporting you in coming home to your true nature; your true Self. This is the foundation of how I work; supporting your natural healing impulse to move towards your own sense of wholeness.
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How I roll
I love to play in the realm of souls, dreams, movement and playfulness. I utilise mindfulness, embodied experiments, playfulness, and the respectful relationship we foster in self exploration.
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I am deeply committed to embodiment practices such as yoga, chanting and dancing. In addition I have been practicing meditation and mindfulness since 2009, receiving on-going mentorship from dharma teachers and friends.
I am a mum to be beautiful 6 year old boy. Learning to be a 'mum' has been - and is - the most humbling, levelling, dismantling and heart opening experience; my greatest spiritual practice :-)
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I am a poet, nature-explorer, singer and lover of life.
Therapy is a wonder-filled exploration into knowing your Self. I welcome and affirm you on your journey and will be honoured to hold space with you.
Education and Certifications
NZ Hakomi Institute
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Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy Group Supervision (ongoing, with Dr Paris Williams)
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Level 3 Advanced Supervision for Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy, 2023-24
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Tutor for Level 2 Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy Graduate Training, 2023-24
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Tutor for Advanced Parts Works and Integration using Internal Family Systems (IFS) Training with Dr Paris Williams, 2023
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Tutor for Advanced Trauma Training with Dr Paris Williams, 2021 & 2022
Advanced Trauma Training with Dr Paris Williams, 2020
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Eco-Therapy: Mindfulness and the Heart of Nature - Returning to your Essential Self, with Rob Fisher, 2019
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The Growth & Grit of Intimacy - Creating a cooperative and compassionate couple alliance, with Halko Weiss and Maci Daye, 2019
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Relationship and the Risk of Connection, with Suhari Mommsen-Bohn, 2019
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Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy Graduate Training (2 years), with Jules Morgaine and Suhari Mommsen-Bohn, 2018
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Advanced Hakomi Character Theory I and II, with Jules Morgaine, 2015
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Embodied Family Systems, with Suhari Mommsen-Bohn, 2015
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Hakomi Institute OF CALIFORNIA
From Trauma to Dharma, with Manuela Mischke-Reeds, 2020 (online)
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Mindfulness Based Couples Therapy Training with Rob Fisher, 2020 (online)
UNIVERSITY
Certificates in Creative Writing; Poetry, Whitirea & VUW
Masters of Library & Information Science, VUW​
Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Anthropology, VUW
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PERSONAL STUDY
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My personal approach to therapy, cultivated over the last 15 years, is grounded in embodied wisdom; using MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) | Satchitananda Yoga Nidra | Mantra & Nada Yoga | EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) | Karla McLaren’s Emotional Literacy & Empathy framework | Needs Analysis using the NVC Framework | Byron Katie: The Work | Enneagram Work | Shadow Work | Plant Medicine Work | Archetype Work | 5Rhythms Embodied Dance | Qigong | Kundalini Breath Work | Soul Contracts Work | Singing | Embodied Chakra Breath Work
My Philosophy
At the foundation of how I work is the belief that we are innately whole and our body holds an intelligence that is always communicating with us to move us towards a state of harmony.
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Jon Eisman, the founder of Re-Creating Self says…
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we are innately whole, but typically [we] create a “committee” of limiting trance states in order to accommodate difficult life situations.
These trance states aren’t see-able until we develop the ability to pan-out and view our experience.
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That is what we practice in The Hakomi Way.
