What's the Story?
Transformative Learning is my vocation. More than just a job, helping others to transform their lives in turn fulfils the deep needs of both my personality type - autonomous, reflective, optimistic and provocative - and my worldview - that we can, and should, live (and work!) in ways that are more satisfying, ethical, sustainable, and high-performance than the generally accepted standards of our society.
The journey that brought me here began a long time ago, but I certainly for the first few years I never set out to immerse myself in anything called "transformative learning." It was only after several years of struggle, trial-and-error experimentation, study, and disciplined practice that I could catch my breath, look back, and say, "Ah, that's what I've been doing; that's what all of these adventures share and add up to: transformative learning."
Photo by Jodi Stevenson, 2009
What were these adventures? Well, at the ripe old age of 22 I quit my career as a competitive professional windsurfer, and when the dust had settled from that, I realised I wanted further and even larger changes in my life:
- To be free from the debilitating back pain I then experienced
- To contribute something more meaningful to the world than winning windsurfing races
- To learn to care for others (I'd spent years being utterly self-centred)
- To learn to relate to others more deeply (I really had spent years being utterly self-centred)
- To be more environmentally responsible
My dedicated pursuit of these goals led me to the Alexander Technique, NLP, and Social Ecology as well as leading me to become a childcare worker, environmental activist, kung-fu student and eventually, a coach.
I'm pleased to say that I've achieved and gone beyond all of these goals, and learned a lot of other stuff along the way. The journey has been variously arduous, farcical, bizarre, tragic, wonderful, and, ultimately, incredibly satisfying. Of course it continues too; there is always more to learn, to become and to experience.
It is my mission as a coach to give my clients the benefit of the insights, strategies and resources that I accumulate and develop through my own transformative journeying.
Some More Personal History
In my years as a competitive professional windsurfer I learned a lot about what is required for high-performance in demanding contexts however during this period I also developed severe back-pain. It was this pain that led me to the Alexander Technique. Thanks to the Technique I have been pain-free for many years and have returned to the ocean as an avid kitesurfer, now sponsored by Ozone Kites.
For several years I was an early-childhood carer, working in community and council-run childcare centres for 0-5 year olds. Working with young children, especially pre-verbal kids, has greatly contributed to my skills in rapport and non-verbal communication. It has also taught me much about how we learn to think and move, and about the interpersonal factors that can enhance these fundamental processes.
I am also an occasional musician and dj. I play trombone, electric bass, and piano with varying degrees of skill. Music is an ongoing adventure for me as I learn to generate and to appreciate an expanding range of aural experience.
All of this, combined with my ongoing interests in ecology and sustainability, informs and inspires my exploration of the field of transformative learning. Only by developing our practical self-knowledge will we as a species be able to live on this planet in ways that are innovative, satisfying and sustainable. Ultimately, all of my professional work is in the service of this passion.
Qualifications
I am a certified Alexander Technique Teacher, a teaching member of Alexander Technique International and a graduate of Cathy Madden Studio in Seattle. Cathy is widely regarded as the best group teacher in the world. Her commitment to the refinement of existing teaching methods and the innovation of new approaches is outstanding. I am very excited to be in ongoing collaboration with Cathy at the leading edge of the Technique's evolution.
I am certified by Dr. John Grinder (co-originator of NLP) as an Advanced New-Code NLP Coach. I have worked in general life-coaching and professional coaching roles. My independent practical and scholarly research contributes to the ongoing development of the epistemological discussions in the NLP community.
Academic Background
I have a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) in Social Ecology, from the University of Western Sydney. My studies have covered: group processes, communications theories, transformational learning, cognitive biology, philosophy, psychology, cybernetics, chaos and complexity, and epistemology. My Honours thesis proposed a formal equivalence between the principles and processes of the Alexander Technique and the ecological epistemology of Gregory Bateson.
I continue to read widely on the philosophy of science, cognitive biology, psychotherapy, epistemology and ecology.