ACA Gold Coast Chapter - March 2026

Name: ACA Gold Coast Chapter - March 2026
Start: 2026-03-07T14:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-03-07T14:00:00+10:00
Location: Robina Community Centre, Multipurpose Room

About

The ACA Gold Coast Chapter meets on the first Saturday of each month.

Agenda: Why Nervous System Work is Essential in Counselling

Our thoughts, emotions, and connections are deeply influenced by the state of our nervous system. When the body is in survival mode — anxious, shut down, or hypervigilant — traditional talk therapy alone often has limited impact. By incorporating nervous system awareness and regulation into counselling, clients can move from reactivity into presence, safety, and choice.

This work allows clients not only to understand their experiences cognitively but to feel safety and stability in their body, creating the conditions for genuine healing, integration, and self-leadership.

In her talk, Naomi will explore Polyvagal Theory and practical ways counsellors can integrate nervous system psychoeducation and regulation strategies into sessions. She demonstrates how clients can recognize stress responses, restore bodily safety, build resilience, and lay a foundation for lasting change.

Naomi Young-Pickrell is a registered holistic counsellor, trauma-informed yoga and meditation teacher, and founder of Be Free. She supports individuals in coming back home to themselves and stepping confidently into the life they truly desire.

Her approach is grounded in Polyvagal Theory and nervous system psychoeducation, combined with somatic psychotherapy and parts work, helping clients understand and regulate their physiological states. By guiding clients to notice how their bodies respond to stress, Naomi helps them access their innate capacity for safety, clarity, and healing.

Naomi brings a warm, grounded presence to her work, supporting clients to cultivate compassion and acceptance for all parts of themselves, while learning to respond rather than react to life’s challenges.