CANBERRA TRAUMA YOGA CENTRE

MEET CANBERRA TRAUMA YOGA CENTRE

Pippa Matthews

Pippa is a registered yoga instructor, and a registered psychotherapist with 30yrs clinical experience. She began her yoga journey 20 years ago as a student of Yoga Synergy (YS) in Sydney, Australia, before obtaining certification as a yoga teacher with YS. She subsequently completed the Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) 300hr level teacher certification training at the JRI Trauma Centre in Boston, Massachusetts, with David Emerson and Dr Bessel van der Kolk.  Pippa has cultivated a sound understanding of how the disciplines of yoga and western psychology inform each other about the development of self and the maintenance of health in body and mind. She is available to offer individual TCTSY sessions, and TCTSY small group classes in Canberra. For more details on TCTSY, its target population and benefits, please refer to the article published by Pippa in the 2015 Canberra Yoga Conference Magazine (see PDF under 'Resources').

Pippa has a particular interest in the application of yoga for those with a history of Complex Trauma (including the impact of childhood sexual abuse, adult rape, domestic violence, refugee trauma, war-related trauma, and substance addictions). Complex trauma leaves a physical imprint so that the person has a disrupted sense of safety, not only in the world, but also in their body. So it’s not surprising that those struggling with the long-term effects of repeated and prolonged trauma may feel alienated from their body and require assistance to  address what’s happening consciously or unconsciously, in their body.

As a psychotherapist Pippa has worked in various community-based clinical settings in addition to private practice. She trained with the Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP), completed a Bachelor Of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy (Sydney University) and holds a Masters in Peace Studies with the University of New England (UNE). As a yoga instructor Pippa also teaches mainstream classes in various studios in Canberra, Australia.