About me
I’m Tori Reid, a Hakomi-informed somatic psychotherapist in the Northern Rivers, NSW, seeing clients in person between Byron Bay and Mullumbimby and online across Australia.
My journey into somatic psychotherapy began with a Bachelor of Communications (Arts), with a strong emphasis on psychology, igniting my fascination with the human mind and why we make the decisions that we do. After completing my degree and working overseas in marketing, I felt a calling to explore my passion for health and wellness, leading me to train as a massage therapist. Over a decade, I built a career as a bodyworker, discovering how profoundly the body holds and reflects our past experiences and traumas.
My Path to Somatic Work
My expertise deepened further with an advanced KaHuna bodywork qualification, refining my ability to create space for emotional releases through touch alone, and deepening my understanding of the profound connection between mind, emotion, and body.
Recognising that my natural inclination to support clients extended well beyond the massage table, I transitioned into women’s health coaching. I found great meaning in this work, holding space, facilitating insight, and walking alongside women through meaningful change. Over time, however, I noticed that traditional talk-based approaches often fell short for clients navigating deep-seated beliefs or complex trauma histories. As my clients began exploring more intense emotional terrain, I felt a clear calling toward more specialised, body-centred support.
This led me to Somatic Experiencing – and through a series of workshops, an immediate and profound passion for somatic therapeutic work was ignited. I went on to complete a three-year Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy Professional Training in Melbourne, followed by Advanced Somatic Trauma Training through the Integrative Psychology Academy.
Together, these years of training and lived clinical experience have equipped me with the expertise, sensitivity, and depth to meet clients in their most vulnerable moments – offering the quality of care and understanding they truly deserve.
The wisdom of my experience
Yet beyond any formal training or qualification, my greatest teacher has been my own life. Having navigated severe developmental trauma, emotional neglect and abuse, a long-term eating disorder, addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, toxic relationships, and suicidal ideation, my life has been above all else – a journey of healing. A lived, often relentless search for what truly makes a difference.
Driven by a deep desire to break free from unhealthy patterns and find my way back to myself, I have spent the last thirteen years exploring an enormous breadth of modalities and pathways – discovering, from the inside out, what genuine physical, emotional, and spiritual healing actually looks and feels like.
Healing Through Connection
One of the key insights I gained was recognising that, despite my extensive training and experience as a therapist, I had been relying on myself to navigate everything. This mindset was rooted in a trauma response from lacking the support I needed during my upbringing. Connecting these dots made it clear that, since my trauma was relational, my healing needed to occur within a relational context as well. Embracing therapy and supportive relationships became crucial in reconciling my pain. This shift marked the beginning of a transformative breakthrough in my life. It’s why I believe that what was hurt in relationship needs relationship to heal, and why our relationship is at the heart of how I work.
Read More
Today, the profound shift in my wellbeing and mental health fuels my passion for offering this kind of healing support to others. There was a time when I couldn’t have imagined such a transformation was possible for me—but it was. And I believe it’s possible for all of us, no matter what we’ve been through or are still going through. My intention is to support those who are facing similar challenges and help them discover their own path to healing.
It’s often said that we can only hold others to the extent that we’ve held ourselves. I’ve had both the gift and the challenge of having to hold myself through some of the darkest experiences life can offer. But looking back now, I wouldn’t change any of them. These experiences have given me the depth and capacity to hold my clients in their own darkest moments, welcoming the spaces within them that are yearning for nothing more than unconditional love and presence.
My Training & Approach
- Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy: completed three year professional training, currently working toward certification
- Advanced Somatic Trauma Training, Integrative Psychology Academy
- Somatic Experiencing introductory workshops and online training (Peter Levine method)
- Advanced KaHuna Bodywork
- Diploma of Remedial Massage
- Bachelor of Communications
- Over 10 years of experience as a holistic therapist
- Regular clinical supervision
- Professional indemnity insurance
Somatic Work
The body holds and reflects our emotional experiences and traumas in often unconscious ways. Through somatic work, we tap into this deep-seated body wisdom.
Adaptivity
Not everyone may be ready to explore their physical experiences right away. I respect this and approach each person with safety and gentleness, starting where they are comfortable.
Presence
It's a way of being here, in this moment, noticing thoughts, feelings and sensations without judgement. It creates a safe space to explore and process difficult experiences.
Are you ready to take the next step?
and talk about whether we're a good fit.
Have a few questions first? Read my FAQs