ABOUT

Meet Rowan Arahia

Trauma, oppression and diversity therapist, yoga therapist, personal trainer, and Kai-mirimiri/Māori intuitive holistic bodyworker, māmā.

Member with New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC), membership #13417, ACC sensitive claims registered trauma therapist (provider # PAS115).

25+ years experience practicing mirimiri, 12+ years teaching yoga, 18+ years working in community organisations (Māori, LGBTQI+, family violence, mental health, homelessness, environmental advocacy, neurodiversity, intellectual disability).

Masters of Indigenous Studies: intersectional analysis of oppression of ethnicity, sexuality, class and gender; “Māori Women’s Resilience in the Face of Ongoing Oppression” (University of Otago). Postgraduate Diploma Psychotherapy&Counselling (Cairnmillar, Melbourne). Postgraduate Certificate Developmental Psychiatry (MIndful, Melbourne), BA Political Science (University of Otago).

Nurture Revolution Practitioner: Parent and Infant 0-3 years mental health and wellbeing support, based on neuroscience and attachment theory.

Over 1000+ hours of Yoga Teacher Training: Atmavikasa Centre of Yogic Sciences (Mysore India), Soundmoves Yoga, Bikram Yoga Teacher Training &Svastha Yoga Therapy.

Based in Thames, New Zealand & Online.

Who am I?

My name is Rowan Arahia; I am am māmā of two kotiro (girls), and am of Māori (Ngati Tamatera raua ko Maniapoto nga iwi) and of European ancestry. I am a gender fluid (she/they) and bisexual person. I am a professionally trained and experienced psychotherapist and counsellor, yoga teacher, personal trainer, and kai-mirimiri (intuitive/indigenous healing). I am passionate about ongoing trauma healing, growth and building knowledge, both personally and professionally. I strive to continue grow, heal and learn, so that I can be a better māmā, partner, friend and worker.

What Influences Me?

My mother exposed me to alternative and holistic health from a young age and I also inherited healing abilities through my Māori lineage (and perhaps through my Welsh ancestry). This exposure included yoga, chanting, immersion in nature, intense physical exercise, bodywork, psychotherapy, play therapy, dance and much more. I became a bodyworker at 14 years, a group fitness instructor at 17 years, a personal trainer at 19 years. I studied a Bachelor of Political Science and a Masters of Indigenous Studies with Credit (intersectional analysis of ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and class) with aspects of philosophy, economics, psychology, post-colonial theory, feminist/queer theory and much more, of which I graduated from at 24 years.

I have volunteered throughout my life in areas of environmentalism, active transport and working with young people and animals in need. I studied a post graduate diploma in psychotherapy and counselling and a postgraduate certificate in developmental psychiatry (child and adolescent mental health). I trained in Bikram yoga, hatha yoga, yoga therapy and focusing (a somatic based therapy that is somewhere on the edge of somatic experiencing, psychotherapy, and meditation) and much more. I have worked in community mental health, indigenous health, public health, and queer and trans (LGBTQ+) wellbeing.

My core therapeutic and theoretical influences are working from a lived experience, kaupapa Māori (indigenous theory), narrative therapy, person centred theory, non-violent communication, intentional peer support (working with lived experience), focusing, polyvagal theory, family therapy. I believe it is essential when working with individuals and communities to acknowledge the powerful effects of internalised trauma (polyvagal theory) and external discrimination (systems theory) on the person. This includes constant reflection on the influences of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, and ableism, among other oppressive forces, as well as reflecting on internalised trauma that comes from past experiences and inherited/intergenerational trauma.

I am currently completing training as a Nurture Revolution Practitioner (parent and infant 0-3 years mental health and wellbeing based on neuroscience and attachment research).

what do i offer?

I keep my 1:1 work sacred and offer only a limited number of therapeutic sessions online and in person in the form of individual, couples, and family work. I love to work with children, adolescents and adults of varied backgrounds and diversities. My special interests are helping people recover from trauma, working with neurodiversity and LBGTQI+ communities, indigenous and people of colour. I am inspired by Kaupapa Māori somatic and holistic therapies. My other offerings include advocacy, speaking, writing, teaching and group facilitation.