Inner Child Healing, Self-Development &
Post Traumatic Growth for Women Recovering from Trauma,
Disordered Eating & Not Feeling Good Enough

How I work

“Every crisis contains within it the seeds for transformation and growth.” - Jodie Gale

 

PSYCHOSYNTHESIS: A PSYCHOLOGY WITH SOUL

Psychosynthesis is known worldwide as a psychology with a soul.

It is an integrative and holistic approach which includes an exploration of the biological, emotional, psychological, social, sexual, cultural, ecological and spiritual elements and influences on health and well-being. Spirituality in a psychosynthesis context is often used to describe the deeper essence of who we are, the innate part of us that continuously calls us towards growth and wholeness. When we are present to this deeper essence, it provides us with a sense of belonging, connectedness, value, meaning and purpose in life (Gale 2010).

Roberto Assagioli, the founder of psychosynthesis, was a colleague of both Freud and Jung. He was a psychiatrist, a neurologist and a pioneer of psychoanalysis in Italy. Ahead of the times, he gradually moved towards a more inclusive and mindful approach to human development. Assagioli was interested in the soul, the esoteric, yoga, spirituality and religious teachings such as Buddhism, Christianity and Jewish mysticism; these deeply influenced his map of the human psyche.

Assagioli’s work has been widely influential in the fields of humanistic and transpersonal-based psychologies. Psychosynthesis practitioners have been using Buddhist mindfulness theory and techniques for at least half a century, many of which are being used in popular mindfulness and acceptance based psychologies today. Psychosynthesis integrates the best of western psychology, eastern and western spiritual disciplines. Psychosynthesis theory and practice is in a constant process of evolution and growth as rigorously trained practitioners worldwide integrate new philosophies, ideas and evidence based practice – such as neuroscience – into their theory and practice. Many psychological approaches focus on only part of who we are, for example, our thinking. Assagioli’s model is still at the cutting edge of psychology today due to its inclusive nature and because it takes into consideration the whole of the psyche and the whole person (Gale 2010).

Psychosynthesis provides an approach to life, personal development, counselling, coaching and psychotherapy which incorporates working with early childhood and past trauma, current issues in the here and now and the vast potential for growth, healing and change.

In a recent research program whereby I participated as one of the therapists, neuro-psychosynthesis practitioner Dr Stratford shows that the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client is essential to healing. Relationship lies at the heart of psychosynthesis therapy.

Psychosynthesis practitioners hold a positive, optimistic and hopeful context. You will learn psychosynthesis tools to apply to many areas of life including your relationships, parenting, teaching, politics, medicine, administration and the arts.

Psychosynthesis counselling, coaching and psychotherapy has the following benefits and will help you to:

  • Find resolution of the pervasive underlying causes of your problems
  • Heal from early childhood trauma and abuse
  • Find freedom from self-destructive thoughts and behaviours
  • Build a toolbox of coping and life skills
  • Facilitate healthy life long changes
  • Build a strong foundation for healthy relationships
  • Increase self-esteem, self-worth and self confidence
  • Become more intuitive and creative
  • Reconnect with your true self
  • Discover value, meaning and purpose in life
  • Get in touch with your whole being: body, feelings, mind, sexuality and spirituality

ECOTHERAPY, NATURE-BASED THERAPY & PLANT-BASED NUTRITION

From June 2021 until June 2022, I embarked on a year-long nature therapy training whereby I spent 1-2 hours a day training in eco and nature therapy. Nature therapy can take place outdoors (such as walk and talk, or participating in nature-based activities such as Shinrinyoku (forest-bathing), working with nature themes (such as trees, water or the wind), fairy-tales or collage in nature) or indoors (finding creative ways to bring the outdoors indoors).  Other themes relevant to nature therapy are climate anxiety, plant-based eating and other ways to care for the planet. The world is your oyster when it comes to eco and nature-therapy.

INNER CHILD, SUBPERSONALITIES & INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)

Healing the inner child and the different parts inside of us, are core personality models of Psychosynthesis. I have been working with women to help them to heal their child within and other parts such as the people pleaser, the perfectionist and the inner critic for over 20 years. I am Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed, after spending a year training in Internal Family Systems which is based in Psychosynthesis: Subpersonalities, Transactional Analysis: Parent-Adult-Child & Jungian Subselves & Archetypes.

Join my mailing list to be notified of my inner child workshops for women, coming in 2024.

EMBODIMENT & SOMATIC PRACTICE

I am trained in embodied recovery and somatic practice which includes trauma recovery,  self-regulation skills, and resilience. These focus areas ultimately weave together into a unified somatic approach to awareness and relationship.

MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness, also translated as awareness, has gained popularity in psychology over the past 10 or so years. There is a growing base of clinical evidence to support Mindfulness, particularly with people who suffer from anxiety, depression, eating and food problems.

Mindfulness means ‘paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally’ (Jon Kabat Zinn).

Practicing mindfulness has the following benefits and will help you to:

  • Reduce stress
  • Enhance emotional intelligence
  • Increase self-acceptance and self-awareness
  • Develop compassion and kindness towards yourself and others
  • Manage painful thoughts and feelings
  • Live a balanced and conscious life
  • Experience more peacefulness and calm
  • Reconnect with your true self, others and your environment
  • Gain a greater sense of clarity, focus and concentration

EATING DISORDER COACHING, DYNAMIC EATING PSYCHOLOGY & MIND BODY NUTRITIO

I am a certified Eating Psychology Coach. Founded by Marc David, Dynamic Eating Psychology, combines the psychology of eating with the science of mind body nutrition; it is the latest and most up-to-date approach there is for healing from “weight concerns, emotional eating, binge eating, overeating, body image challenges, endless dieting and a variety of nutrition related health concerns such as digestion, fatigue, mood, immunity and more (Marc David)”.

Eating psychology and mind body nutrition have the following benefits:

  • Learning a hopeful, positive, uplifting approach to food and body
  • Exploring what your challenges with food and body are here to teach you
  • Discovering hidden wisdom, secret messages and important connections between food, body and all other areas of your life
  • Learning how to slow-down and listen to your unique body wisdom
  • Healing and transforming your relationship with food and body
  • Changing your perceptions about nutrition and nourishment, exercise and movement
  • Finding out what it is that you are physically, emotionally, mentally, sexually and spiritually hungry for
  • Experiencing a truly holistic approach; body, mind, heart and SOUL!

HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE – HAES®

I am a Health at Every Size Australia endorsed specialist. Health At Every Size HAES® is an evidence based, non-diet approach which focuses on health, rather than size.

Dieting almost always leads to bingeing and is a contributing factor in all forms of disordered eating and food, body and weight concerns.

The following principles were devised by The Association for Size Diversity and Health to provide a more balanced and health focused approach:

  1. Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.
  2. Health Enhancement: Support health policies that improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs.
  3. Respectful Care: Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and support environments that address these inequities.
  4. Eating for Well-being: Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.
  5. Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.

HAES® has the following benefits and can help you to:

  • Learn how to listen and trust your own body wisdom
  • Transform your relationship with your food and body
  • Eat intuitively and mindfully
  • Find a balanced approach to exercise and movement
  • Gain knowledge about size and weight discrimination
  • Advocate for size diversity

The Health at Every Size paradigm supports people to build a deeply respectful relationship with food, body & soul. It encourages people to listen, trust and care for themselves, often for the first time in a long-time.

TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES TO SUPPORT YOUR TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE

I draw from a broad range of theories, techniques and experiential exercises to support your transformation and change. These always depend on your level of comfort.

Theories
Techniques
Self Reflection & Self Care at Home
Theories

Acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) | Attachment and trauma theory | Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) | Eco-psychology | Existential psychology | Feminist and women’s psychology | Gender psychology | Health at every size (HAES) | Humanistic psychology | Indigenous women’s business | Psycho-spiritual wisdom | Jungian psychology | Mindfulness | Neuroscience | | Object relations | PsychoanalysisvPsychosynthesis | Sociology | Somatic theory and practices | Systems and family therapy | Transpersonal and Spiritual psychologies.

Techniques

Talk therapy | Dream exploration | Symbolic art work | Fairy tales, myths and stories | Journaling | Creative visualization | Meditation and mindfulness | Homework and self-reflection | Reading | Self-care practices | Psycho-education

Self Reflection & Self Care at Home

Part of therapy is about activating a nurturing inner mother/father and your inner therapist outside of the sessions. I sometimes offer homework which might be a book recommendation, self-reflection through journaling or another activity related to your soul’s journey.

Befriend your body, feelings, mind & soul.

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About Jodie

CONNECT

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Client love

Thank you for all the work that we did together. I know it has gone a long way to healing the way I treat myself & has given me greater Peace. Thank you for the enormous part you have played in my journey.
I spent most of my adult life putting other people’s feelings and needs first. In my therapy with Jodie, I learnt how to nurture and be true to myself.
When I came to therapy, I was depressed and suicidal; my life was pointless. Jodie sat with me in the darkness – she was so patient and always there for me.
In therapy, I learned how to become a nourishing mother to myself – this meant finding ways to soothe myself and meet my needs in other ways, rather than using food and drugs.
I found attachment and trusting in relationships to be my biggest struggle, but with Jodie’s help I barely notice it anymore. Her love and encouragement completely changed my life.
When I first came to therapy, I had no idea of the depth of the work we would do together. I’m leaving therapy so much more confident, empowered and self-believing.
I have spent most of my life in therapy, jumping from one therapist to another just waiting for something to work. And then I met Jodie. I felt comfortable and was able to be open and truthful for the first time.
Jodie’s raw approach to therapy was so refreshing. She had struggles in her own life, I knew what she said was real and I didn’t feel crazy or alone anymore because someone finally got it. Her compassion and desire to see me live my best life is palpable. I owe her my life.
Jodie is down to earth, caring and compassionate. I felt fully accepted for the first time in my life. It was this acceptance that helped me heal from my past trauma, hurts and problems.
The pain in my body was so heavy. It was unbearable. It has been a long and painful journey but now I am coming through the other side.
Sometimes therapy was hard and challenging but I learnt how to communicate more positively and I have more confidence now. It has improved my relationships with my family, with friends and at work.
The kindness, love and compassion Jodie shared with me throughout my therapy, are the most important tools I’ll ever need. The world needs a million more Jodies!
I used to feel completely worthless and not good enough – even more so after many failed attempts at therapy and being told I was ‘treatment resistant’. Jodie was patient with me and it was ultimately the start of my recovery from depression and many years of self-neglect.
Before therapy I felt abandoned and alone. I went to some dark places with Jodie, she witnessed my suffering and was there with me. It was hard but I did it and now I feel stronger.
I believe in destiny and I am so grateful that Jodie came into my life – she taught me about honesty, trust, boundaries, and healthy love.
Working with Jodie is a blessing for anyone fortunate enough to receive her support. She provided for me a space, both empty and full. Empty enough for me to find silence, stillness… and in that calm and quiet space, find me. And full- full of the love she unwaveringly offers, full of support and challenge.
Jodie always reflected back to me that there was something better, waiting on the other side of darkness. For me, she was the light house throughout my recovery journey. Jodie offered me light, until I found my own.
Working with Jodie pushed me to my limits, I wanted to quit so many times, and yet there was something in the way she mirrored back to me my own strength, my own purpose, my own soul, that kept me digging deep and showing up for myself.
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Jodie Gale. PACFA Reg. ARCAP Reg.

Soul-Centred Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach, Trauma & Eating Disorder Therapist.

Counselling on the Northern Beaches of Sydney: Allambie Heights 2100, Frenchs Forest 2086 and Manly 2095. Ph. 0431 878 858

COPYRIGHT ©2023 JODIE GALE.

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