Sonya McCullough

I’m a registered Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working across hospital and community settings in New Zealand and the UK. For the past five years, I’ve been in private practice in Christchurch, supporting individuals living with trauma, PTSD, mental health challenges, addictions, chronic pain, and the impacts of sexual abuse and post-accident recovery.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in somatic therapies—body-based practices that support healing by addressing the nervous system and the mind-body connection. I began my own journey with somatic healing four years ago and discovered that it offered a profound and missing piece in the support of trauma recovery. Modalities such as trauma-informed yoga, movement, and bodywork have since become core to my work, helping clients reconnect with a sense of safety, resilience, and wholeness. My work is grounded in the belief that the mind and body are deeply interconnected, and true healing happens when both are addressed together. By gently guiding clients to reconnect with their physical sensations, emotions, and inner wisdom, I help them build resilience, release stored tension, and move toward lasting well-being.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, or simply seeking deeper self-awareness. My approach is collaborative and attuned to your unique needs, honoring your pace and personal journey toward healing. I specialize in working with children, teenagers, and adults who experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, relationship issues, and chronic physical or emotional pain. My integrative approach combines evidence-based methods and holistic tools, drawing on Brainspotting, Havening Techniques, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT tapping), HeartMath, and sound therapy. I also offer one-on-one and group Trauma-Informed Yoga sessions, supporting individuals in processing trauma held in the body without needing to rely on words.

Somatic therapy offers a powerful and effective alternative to traditional talk therapy. It can help release deeply held emotional patterns, reset the nervous system, and restore inner balance. My goal is to support you in feeling stronger, more grounded, and more capable of facing life’s challenges with confidence and ease.

I can assist you to:

• Feel more freedom and compassion toward yourself
• Create healthier, more connected relationships
• Experience relief from anxiety, depression, or overwhelm
• Heal from the effects of trauma and PTSD
• Rediscover purpose and meaning in your life and work
• Live with more ease, vitality, and emotional resilience
• Move freely and engage in the activities you love, pain-free

If you’re seeking therapy that brings together mind, body, and spirit in a practical, grounded way, I’d be honored to support your healing journey.