Kat Barker Counselling and Breathwork

Kat Barker Counselling and Breathwork Gestalt therapist. Gestalt group process facilitator. Breathwork facilitator. Trauma release work. "Kat Barker is a natural facilitator. Alexis Jane - Yoga Teacher

Kat has been facilitating creative workshops with a focus on wellness for the past 17 years. Kat facilitates group breathwork sessions, Gestalt groups and operates private practice working as a Gestalt psychotherapist and counsellor. Drawing on her trainings in breathwork, trauma release techniques, Gestalt Therapy and Rites of passage training, all of her work offers a rich experience gently inviting people into greater self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-love. Kat’s offerings combine her skills in creative expression with her passion for releasing trauma through somatic movement to connect deeply to ourselves, to others, to nature and to life itself and to foster a deep sense of belonging. Kat belives in the connection of all things and that the wellness of the earth, our societies, communities and families impacts each of us as individuals and vice versa. With a profound care for others, Kat embodies a strong and gentle presence guiding people into deeper truth within themselves in a safe and experiential space. She immediately put everybody in the room at ease despite our being from such varied walks of life. She has a deep understanding of presence and a wisdom far beyond her years. I would highly recommend her for private and group practices. You will hear in the tone of her voice, and feel in the touch of her hand, a deep compassion and passion both at once."

I’m thrilled to take my work online! Some people are disappointed that I’m not doing in person groups for this next roun...
09/04/2025

I’m thrilled to take my work online! Some people are disappointed that I’m not doing in person groups for this next round or in the Northern Rivers. I appreciate your desire for my work. But I’m stoked (see photo hah).

I am taking my Gestalt group work online two reasons.

Actually,
Three reasons.

One is that I know how powerful this work is, and I want to spread it to more people in the world.

I also want to have more freedom where I work.
The housing instability I’ve experienced is very real. My current series I run in Brunswick Heads and live in Nambour on the sunshine coast!

Yep
You heard me

I’m driving 5 - 6.5 hrs A WEEK to get there and back! Sometimes more depending on traffic. It can be exhausting. The participants show a lot of gratitude for my efforts and dedication. They appreciate it a lot and I feel that.

It does take a toll on someone already managing fatigue!
AND I chose that.
When my temporary housing fell through in the Gold Coast I took what was available to me.

I knew it was a bit of a crazy idea. But it was stable housing and I needed that. It also highlights that my energy is increasing. There is no way I could have done this at this point last year.

WIN!
Major Win!
(Continued in next post)

Image and joy sparked by:

I’m feeling like I’m on an energetic lift of sorts. Due to many factors known and unknown. After having processes big an...
29/03/2025

I’m feeling like I’m on an energetic lift of sorts. Due to many factors known and unknown. After having processes big and small, some of which feel ongoing with my family, housemates, lovers and friends I finally feel some strong energy back within me. What a time it’s been! If you have reached out for my group work I will get back to you over the coming week. We start 3rd of May. Early bird price for another week and a half. It’ll be a Saturday morning which has been a long time request from the 9-5’s. Get in touch if you’re interested. Bless.

The strength of the social brain is enhanced in group therapy due to creating a safe enough container. The capacity that...
26/02/2025

The strength of the social brain is enhanced in group therapy due to creating a safe enough container. The capacity that play and connection allow for new neural pathways to be formed and set, makes group process an incredible opportunity to form new habits and new ways of being in the world.

Next group online & in Brisbane. Get in touch.

circle connection

Running my own business requires a lot of different parts if you want it to flow easily. I'm learning how to create stru...
26/02/2025

Running my own business requires a lot of different parts if you want it to flow easily.

I'm learning how to create structure for these parts after many years of being in business. In general, I'm finding the balance quite a challenge lately.

Managing energy levels in life, and my physical symptoms on top of business, creativity (that's always asking me for more of my time), home, and work on the side. Sometimes it is a lot and I long for simplicity. And I know I'm so passionate about many things.

Slowing down and resting is often winning, and I am glad I am finally listening to that call. It is not always easy though.

Interactive group process is healing as new ways of being emerge. The work incorporates an experience and practice calle...
25/02/2025

Interactive group process is healing as new ways of being emerge. The work incorporates an experience and practice called resonating. The practice encourages people to be present and to listen deeply whilst tracking how someone's experience or story influences them in the moment.

This present centred practice in community/groups. Wow! It's what a lot of people have always longed for.

This is me invoking my friend Jesus. And Mary Magdalen. At the same time. You can see it can't you.I love the energy tha...
11/02/2025

This is me invoking my friend Jesus. And Mary Magdalen. At the same time. You can see it can't you.

I love the energy that these two beings conjure up in me. Love. Beauty. Magic. Presence. Healing. Compassion. Strength. Power.

I am not catholic. I was bought up catholic. But I do not go to a catholic Church. I practice my own rituals that feel closer to my heart and honouring of my whole being. I think these two would approve.

circle connection

Present moment awareness and presence itself is deeply healing. It is how we are meant to show up in our lives. It is bo...
11/02/2025

Present moment awareness and presence itself is deeply healing. It is how we are meant to show up in our lives. It is both healing for yourself and for others who come in contact with you.

Recognise the healing power of presence and prioritise spaces, places and people that allow you to reach that state. A life well lived depends upon it.

circle connection

We are wired for it but I feel our culture is often not supportive of or conducive to deep connection. When we stop and ...
04/02/2025

We are wired for it but I feel our culture is often not supportive of or conducive to deep connection. When we stop and really become present and tune in there may be parts wanting and yearning for something deeper. A presence and a love in all of our connections.

How do you enhance or limit your capacity and availability for connection?

We all have different ways we do this.

What are your unique ways?

Expect Magic in my containers and in my care. It’s the Magic I harness and cultivate for each person that jumps in to wo...
03/02/2025

Expect Magic in my containers and in my care.

It’s the Magic I harness and cultivate for each person that jumps in to work with me.

Amping up the magic means I pray and call on the highest outcome for my participants and connect to their higher selves. People's lives transform in often gentle yet powerful ways working with me.

The magic comes from a communing in trust and knowing. Being in reverence with life.

Knowing we are all right where we are meant to be.
Knowing healing is eminent.

Our body and our entire being naturally heals just like a cut heals. We also heal emotionally, energetically, spiritually as well as physically under the right conditions.

But what are the right conditions.

It is different for everyone but there are some core things that I see as universal...

The willingness to be with what is.
The right balance of comfort/support and edginess/fear.
A foundation of love from self and others.
Time and space overtime to really let new neuro pathways form.
To continually practice presence
To continually practice authenticity
To continually practice witnessing what arises from within
To continually practice loving what is
To continually practice welcoming all parts of yourself. Healing is natural and easy under the right conditions.

To me the right conditions are:
Love
Presence
Authenticity
Trust
Community
Repetition

All of these and more you will come to know in my groups. Its a blessing to bring more of these qualities to humans.

I am bought to my knees in awe at the simplicity and beauty of it. I think you will be too.

Last chance NR crew

The general feedback that I get is that I have a huge capacity. My capacity to hold a variety and intensity of emotions ...
03/02/2025

The general feedback that I get is that I have a huge capacity. My capacity to hold a variety and intensity of emotions and experiences shocks people. Maybe it is because I am small framed or something hah! Or maybe because it is rare. Participants often ask how I have built that capacity.

It is something that has developed and deepened over time. From diving to the depths of my shadow
and BEING with myself there
as well as having 100's of hrs of experience holding space for groups and individuals.

I feel seen and acknowledged in my work when people reflect this to me. It is something I cherish and appreciate when I feel and experience it in others and when I feel it in myself as well.

I love this work. When I am in it I shine!

circle connection

(continuation from last post) I bow down.I Thank you.Thank you for seeing meFor trusting meAlthough I am leaving I will ...
03/02/2025

(continuation from last post)
I bow down.
I Thank you.
Thank you for seeing me
For trusting me

Although I am leaving I will stay connected to this community. I do want to return to live at some point in the future (or maybe just for holidays). If and when it feels good for my entire being to do so. And I will visit my friends and family there in the mean time. For now some other place is calling me (Right now it is the Sunshine Coast).

And I'm following the call.
I love following deep callings even when I have no idea where they are leading. It can be really hard.
To trust.
And it can seem wrong sometimes.
But worth it in the end.

So it is with sadness, confusion, acceptance, gratitude and deep appreciation to the land and the people who I’ve had the great fortune to meet in NNSW that I say farewell for now.

And with excitement...
Drumroll please….

Less then a WEEK TO GO!
I have my final 10 weeks offering starting next Friday!
This will be like a portal for me into a big life change. I am excited for the constellation and the beautiful and brave people that have booked in already. Some of which have been with me in a Gestalt group before. Which feels really special. AND there are still places left!
Is one of them yours?

Are you feeling to deepen presence, expand self awareness, grow your emotional capacity and learn greater relational intelligence.

Don't miss out on my FINAL in person group series in the Byron area. If you have been waiting to work in this container with me, reach out! Commit to yourself and jump in!
I will do my absolute best to hold you with grace, care
and lovingly nudge you towards your growing edges. All in service of you of course.

With love, from,
Kat

It's time for me to leave the Northern Rivers.It is a big process leaving my home of 8 years.A place where some of my bi...
03/02/2025

It's time for me to leave the Northern Rivers.

It is a big process leaving my home of 8 years.

A place where some of my biggest and deepest, healing and trainings have happened. And many solid friendships have formed. And many of my most biggest life traumas have happened whilst living in this area. Personal and collective trauma. And finally, the land feels like it has been spitting me out.

I am listening.

I know I will not be too far away. I do feel like I have a strong community here. Even though sometimes, actually often, I struggle to feel a sense of belonging. That's for another time...

I'm remembering my first breathwork group nearly 10 years ago, and my first Gestalt group nearly 5 years ago... and all the learnings, unfolding’s and the gifts that have come from the journey of being a beginning facilitator of something, and then to feeling grounded and easeful in that offering.

I am blessed to have had so many beautiful moments of appreciation, joy, being brought to my knees with grace and love from witnessing people really showing up for themselves and others. I have had people really honour me and my work and tell me how important I am to the community. That has really touched my heart.
And I take it with me. It is a privilege and an honour to do the work that I do. I feel beyond blessed. It feels like the work I do could be superfluous in a more trauma aware and more loving world. My work is literally moving towards that one step at a time. And all of you on here (yes YOU!) are really a big part of why I do what I do.

And a part of how I do it too.

I continue because of your feedback, your appreciation, your gratitude.

And also, your commitment to you! and your evolution. It is a gift to be a part and to witness that journey. .. continued in next post :)

Address

17 Player Parade
Ocean Shores, NSW
2481

Telephone

+61405457419

Website

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