About Dianna
Naturopath, Herbalist & Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner
I've spent more than two decades learning different ways of understanding the relationship between body, mind and wellbeing. My work has evolved over many years of study, clinical practice, personal experience and sitting alongside people as they navigate their lives. At the heart of my practice is a simple intention: to create a space where you can slow down, be listened to, and explore your experience with care and curiosity.
I don't believe we need to approach ourselves as something that is constantly needing to be fixed.
I'm interested in the whole person — your body, your mind, circumstances, history and the way you experience being you.
My journey into natural medicine
I entered the field of natural medicine more than 20 years ago, initially drawn to a way of working that considered more than a person's presenting symptoms. I graduated as a Naturopath from the South Australia Health Education Centre in 2008, completing an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy and an Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine. I later continued my studies at Southern Cross University, graduating with a Bachelor of Natural Therapies in 2012.
Since 2009, I have worked as a Clinical Naturopath and Herbalist in a number of clinics, including my own practices, in Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide and now Canberra. I moved to Canberra in 2023 and now see people in Griffith, Canberra's Inner South, as well as online throughout Australia.
An evolving understanding of the body
Over the years, my work has continued to evolve. My naturopathic training gave me a strong foundation in nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle and the physical aspects of wellbeing. Alongside this, I became increasingly interested in the relationship between our physical experience, emotions, nervous system and the way we move through life.
This led me to explore a range of mind-body approaches and eventually to Somatic Experiencing®.
I completed the three-year professional training to become a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, a body-oriented approach developed by Dr Peter Levine.
For me, this work opened another way of listening — one that includes not only what we think and talk about, but also what we notice happening within the body. It has become an important part of how I understand and work with people.
How I work
My approach is individual. There isn't a single way that a person should experience their body, their emotions or their health, and I don't believe in applying a formula to every person who comes through the door.
In naturopathic consultations, we can look at your health history, nutrition, lifestyle, current concerns and the wider context of your life. Depending on what is relevant for you, this may include nutrition, Western herbal medicine, homeopathy, basic counselling, lifestyle approaches.
With Somatic Experiencing® we slow down and become curious about your present-moment experience, including what you notice in your body, emotions, sensations and responses.
The two areas of my work are distinct, but they share something important: a whole-person perspective and a deep respect for individual experience. And I aim to create a space where you can feel comfortable enough to explore what is here for you.
A little more about me
Before entering natural medicine, I studied Visual Arts at the University of South Australia, completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts specialising in Photography. Perhaps that background has stayed with me in ways I hadn't anticipated.
Photography taught me to slow down, to observe, to notice what is present and to see things from different perspectives. I was initially drawn to it as an experience to connect more deeply with myself and has a form of self-expression. These qualities have also become important in my work with people.
I am also a mother, and becoming a parent has been another significant part of my journey. I took time away from naturopathic practice while my children were young, immersing myself in motherhood and family life. That time changed me. It deepened my understanding of the many layers of being human — the demands we carry, the identities we move through, the tenderness and complexity of relationships, and the importance of having space simply to be ourselves.
My professional training
My formal training and professional development includes:
-
Bachelor of Natural Therapies — Southern Cross University
-
Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy
-
Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine
-
Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) — three-year professional training
-
Biology of Trauma® Practitioner — Mastery Level Certified
-
Certified Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) Practitioner
-
Certified Coach
-
Biological Impedance Analysis (BIA) Practitioner
-
Further training in HeartMath, NLP, Family Constellations and other mind-body approaches
-
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (Holistic Practice) (in progress)
-
Member of the Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
My practice in Canberra
I offer naturopathic consultations and Somatic Experiencing® in a beautiful and comfortable setting in Griffith, Canberra's Inner South Manuka precinct, and online throughout Australia.
If you're looking for a naturopath in Canberra or a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner in Canberra, you are welcome to explore the two key areas of my work and see whether my approach feels like a good fit for you.
Naturopathy
Individualised naturopathic care considering the whole person — including nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle and your wider experience.
Somatic Experiencing®
A gentle, body-oriented approach offering space to slow down, notice your experience and become more connected with yourself.
Explore Somatic Experiencing® →
A space to meet the human being
Ultimately, my work is about being with people. About an embodied presence with you, so that you can reconnect with your deeper self and find your way home again.
I feel deeply honoured to be able to do this work — to sit with people as they explore the different layers of their experience, and to share a small part of the human journey with them.
You don't need to arrive with everything figured out. We can begin with where you are.
If you'd like to know more about working with me, you're welcome to get in touch.
