Holistic counselling & somatic psychotherapy
"The feeling of safety is the treatment"
Dr Stephen Porges
Welcome - I’m Nina Isabella, a counsellor and somatic psychotherapist offering compassionate, trauma-informed care for women and gender-diverse people in Melbourne and the Macedon Ranges. My holistic approach blends mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and somatic practices to support healing, self-understanding, and meaningful change.
Together, we’ll create a safe, respectful space to explore your experiences, reconnect with your values, and cultivate wellbeing from the inside out.
My counselling and psychotherapy practice is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and respect for your unique story. I bring together evidence-based person-centred counselling and somatic (body-oriented) therapies - including mindfulness, breathwork, somatic movement, and therapeutic yoga.
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Over the past 25 years, I’ve supported hundreds of women and gender-diverse people through transformative life experiences - from birth to identity shifts, trauma recovery, and personal growth. I have witnessed the healing power that unfolds when people feel truly safe, seen, and supported with unconditional positive regard.
My work is guided by a trauma-informed approach that recognises trauma as an experience held within the nervous system, rather than as a personal identity.
I focus on creating a therapeutic environment that prioritises:
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Safety, choice, and collaboration
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Physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural safety
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Strengths-based, holistic, and reflective care
This foundation allows each client to move toward healing and reconnection in their own time and way.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a compassion-oriented form of psychotherapy that integrates mindfulness and acceptance practices to support meaningful, values-based living. ACT helps people change their relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions, rather than struggling against them, so they can move toward what truly matters — even in the presence of pain or distress.
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I have extended my training into Trauma-Focused ACT and ACT for ADHD and Neurodivergence, allowing me to tailor this approach to a wide range of experiences and nervous system patterns. The goal of ACT is to cultivate psychological flexibility — the ability to stay present, open, and engaged in life, even when challenges arise.
ACT is grounded in four key principles:
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Acceptance: Making space for uncomfortable thoughts and feelings instead of resisting them.
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Mindfulness: Staying present and gently returning attention to the here and now.
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Values: Clarifying what truly matters to you in life.
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Commitment: Taking meaningful action aligned with your personal values.
Through ACT, clients build resilience, self-compassion, and the capacity to live a more connected and intentional life.
My practice honours the full spectrum of human diversity. Whether we’re working together across ability, age, spirituality, ethnicity, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, or neurodivergence - my approach is inclusive, respectful, and affirming.
Every session is shaped by your needs, at your pace, and within a space where your lived experience is deeply valued.
Somatic Psychotherapies
Mindfulness & Breathwork
With over two decades of experience teaching mindfulness and breathwork, I support clients to manage:
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Physical pain
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Difficult emotions and thoughts
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Cultivating positive emotional states
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Mindful engagement in everyday life
Mindful breathing is a gentle yet powerful way to stabilise the nervous system and regulate emotions.
Somatic Movement
Somatic movement invites you to reconnect with your body and reclaim your agency. These practices promote safety, awareness, and autonomy through gentle, informed exploration.
Clients often find that developing body awareness enhances their ability to respond adaptively to internal and external change.
Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Yoga
Therapeutic yoga in a trauma-informed context goes beyond posture-based practice. It focuses on:
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Mindful breathing and embodied awareness
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Enhancing vagal tone and nervous system regulation
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Nurturing connection, self-compassion, and stability
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Supporting emotional and physical wellbeing beyond the session itself
Wellbeing is more than the absence of distress - it’s the ability to live in alignment with your values and feel connected to yourself and others.
A holistic approach to wellbeing considers:
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Emotional resilience
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Physical health
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Relationships and community
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Work-life balance
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Sense of identity and purpose
When was the last time you took a moment to reflect on your whole being?
With 25 years of experience and a profound commitment to holistic, inclusive, and trauma-aware therapy, I offer a safe, respectful space where you can heal, grow, and reconnect. Whether you’re navigating motherhood, menopause, identity transitions, chronic health challenges, or seeking a deeper sense of meaning — I’m here to walk alongside you with compassion and curiosity.
If you’re ready to begin your journey toward healing and reconnection, I’d be honoured to walk alongside you. Whether you’re seeking support for trauma recovery, emotional wellbeing, identity transitions, or simply a deeper sense of balance, counselling can help you move toward the life you want to live.
Sessions are available in person in Melbourne and the Macedon Ranges, or online via telehealth.
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Book a free discovery call to explore how we can work together - and take the next step toward living with presence, purpose, and self-compassion.
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