​Deep Within evolved out of my desire to help people achieve a more holistically balanced life. My objective is to help people improve and maintain their quality of life by providing avenues for self transformation and positive, long lasting change.

 

I was born in Aotearoa and am of Irish/Norwegian and Pakeha/Maori descent.  I left my homeland in 1990 to travel and see what wonders our world had to offer.  After spending many years travelling and living in various places, I settled in Manchester, UK and worked in the hospitality industry for a while, then the corporate arena.  In March 2007 the company I was working for announced the closure of their Manchester office.  Only several weeks earlier I had decided that the corporate arena was just not for me, so I took it as a sign, engaged free will and changed paths.

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I graduated with a Diploma in Advanced Holistic Hypnotherapy (DAHHyp) including Inner Child Therapy and Past Life Regression from The Academy of Holistic Hypnotherapy in Manchester, UK at the end of October 2007.  In 2008 I trained as a Soul Retrieval Therapist with Soul Concern, Manchester, UK. I also attended Erickson/Rossi Technique Master Classes with Norman Vaughton and in 2010 I was invited to be a tutor at the Academy of Holistic Hypnotherapy by it's principal Costa Lambrias.

 

In 2011 I was approached by award winning Dutch short film maker Remy Schepers regarding a short film he was producing about hypnotherapy, and was subsequently invited to be the consultant hypnotherapist for the film 'Black Premise'.

In 2007 and 2008 I also gained Level I , II & III EFT Practitioner certification through training with EFT Master, Trainer, Author and Speaker Tania A Prince, also in Manchester, UK. Tania was trained in EFT by it's developer Gary Craig. Tania is the developer of Deep State Re-Patterning and I was one of the first to be trained by Tania as a Practitioner of this modality. In 2009 I was invited by Tania to participate in both a multi-media presentation and a worldwide telecast about EFT.

I am an Advanced Practitioner member of the Association for the Advancement of Meridian Energy Techniques (MAAMET) and whilst in the UK I was a Licentiate Member of the Hypnotherapy Association (LHA Reg Hyp) and was listed on the NHS Directory of Complementary and Alternative Practitioners which allowed me to receive GP referrals.

In 2008 I set up my first practice 'The Mind's I' at a wellness clinic in central Manchester, UK offering Hypnotherapy, EFT, Deep State Re-Patterning, Inner Child Therapy and then Soul Retrieval Therapy.

I was introduced to Live Blood Microscopy (aka nutritional microscopy) by Julie Ann Bradley who was one of the founders of the Academy of Holistic Hypnotherapy and also a Live Blood Microscopist.  The impact of seeing the condition of my own internal terrain at cellular level was a life changing experience and prompted my interest in nutrition.

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Although I received a great sense of fulfilment helping people achieve positive and long lasting change through the modalities I offered at 'The Mind's I' and understanding the positive effect living a nutritionally balanced lifestyle had on me, I felt that there was more that I could do to help others achieve a more holistically balanced life.

I then trained in Live and Dry Blood Microscopy with Brina Eidelson in Cambridge, UK. Brina was trained by the late Michael Coyle, founder of NuLife Sciences.  I was one of only a handful of people in the UK trained in Live and Dry Blood Microscopy and I am one of only a handful of people in New Zealand trainied in Live and Dry Dlood Microscopy.

I then set up 'River of Life' Blood Analysis offering Live and Dry Blood Analysis from my studio in Central Manchester.

I was then introduced to the MediConsult family who manufacture the iMRS systems (Magnetic Resonance Stimulation) and was trained as a MediConsult Certified Health Technician by the founder and CEO of MediConsult, Wolfgang Jaksch.

I was then introduced to Nature's Sunshine, the world's largest manufacturer of encapsulated herbs, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and world leaders in combining natural ingredients to achieve the best synergistic effects and optimal results. Nature's Sunshine products use only the finest organic and wild crafted ingredients and their manufacturing and testing processes guarantees the potency, efficacy and purity of the products, thus ensuring only the finest and purest products reach the consumer. For that reason I became an Independent UK Distributor of their products.

I am also an Associate of Asea.

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Feeling that I had a key to helping people achieve a holistically balance life, I put The Mind's I and River of Life Blood Analysis under one umbrella - Mind Body Balance Studio.  But there was still room to evolve....

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...Easter 2014: I attended a life changing retreat where I had an incredibly profound experience during my very first sound bath with gong and didgeridoo. I immediately felt a deep and somewhat ancient connection with the gong and knew that it would be part of the rest of my life's journey.  At that retreat I also had my first experience of a sacred cacao ceremony, Kundalini yoga and the Dyad (personal enquiry) and knew that they also would be part of the rest of my life's journey.

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In April I attended the 'How the Mind Can Heal the Body' one day workshop by internationally renowned scientist, teacher, Hay House author and international public speaker  Dr David R Hamilton PhD, on the many ways that the mind impacts the body and how to harness the connection to help facilitate healing in the body.

 

In May I attended a Mind Body Soul Experience where I was very fortunate to meet and connected with the highly acclaimed award winning composer, musician, teacher, public speaker, sound healer and sorcerer of sound Tim Wheater.  Inspired by his energy, his music and his story I developed a vested interest in sound healing.  

 

In June I attended Dr David R Hamilton's 'Integrating Science' residential training course at Lendrick Lodge Holistic Retreat and Spiritual Centre in Scotland. The course included scientific, peer reviewed, published evidence on how the mind can heal the body, how our thoughts and emotions affect us physiologically and more.  Following that I completed David's 'Placebo School'.​  David is a soul who personifies kindness and compassion and I feel very blessed to now count him as a friend.  

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In early 2015 I founded the H.O.P.E (Helping Other People Evolve) Academy, providing personal development, personal empowerment and holistic well-being courses, programmes and workshops.

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In June 2015 connected with and received guidance from June and John Shapter of the Chiron Institute, Centre of Excellence for Healing Sounds, Meditation and Peace Studies in Stoke-on-Trent, UK.  ​

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I returned home to Aotearoa in September 2015 and brought Mind Body Balance Studio and H.O.P.E Academy with me.  However, after receiving the insight that "All negative emotions and feelings, self defeating behaviours and limiting beliefs have their foundation in some form of fear to one degree or other, one must go deep within to conquer those fears and embrace the truth that emerges.", I felt compelled to rename Mind Body Balance Studio to 'Deep Within'.

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Under the pseudonym  Riverplayful, I host and facilitate sound baths using ancient instruments of healing vibration and frequency, Gongs, Singing Bowls, Shamanic Drum, Ocean Drum, Rainsticks, Kalimba, Koshi Chimes, Freenote, Tibetan Cymbals and Solfeggio Tuning Forks.  As well as hosting and facilitating sacred cacao ceremonies, guided meditations, journeys of self-discovery and medicine card storytelling.



"Balance, peace, and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with

recognising your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them".

~ Thomas Kinkade ~​