WELCOME

My name is Hāweatea Holly Bryson (Hāwea) and I look forward to supporting and witnessing you on your journey! I specialise in trauma, transition and transformation. This includes early childhood or adult trauma, existential crisis, spiritual emergency, family and relationship counseling. I have been fascinated by humans, what we both say, and do not say (but our energy conveys it anyway) since I was small. We each carry a unique power to heal ourselves, and to heed our call toward greater alignment and authenticity. I'm committed to our resurgence of Rites of Passage and our retrieval of our Ways of Knowing.

FORMAL BIO

Hāweatea Holly Bryson of Nature Knows, specialises in trauma, transition and transformation. This is as a Psychotherapist, Couples Counsellor, Wilderness Therapist and Rite of Passage Guide for 15 years, and Māori Healing Practitioner for 12 years. Ngāi Tahu & Waitaha are her tribes. Her community bases are in Hawai’i Island, Australia and Aotearoa. She trains facilitators in Rites of Passage, Ceremony, Nature-based/Adventure Therapy, Applied Ecopsychology, and Quests.

Training

MA Transpersonal Counselling Psychology and Wilderness Therapy

(2006-2009) Naropa University, Colorado.

B Psychology (2005) University of Otago, NZ. (2003-04 Sydney University).

Neuropsychology, Indigenous Studies.

Wilderness First Responder (2006 - 2020) WMI, NOLS, Base Medical.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (2014) Living Works.

Narrative Therapy & Sacred Storytelling (2014) Weave Youth Family Community. Speak the Spark (2019, 2020) School for Sacred Storytelling

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Training (DBT) (2014), Tatra Training.

Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care (2013) Adults Surviving Childhood Trauma (ASCA).

Alcohol and Other Drug Issues, Culturally Appropriate Training for Work with Aboriginal People (2012) National Alcohol and other Drugs Association (NADA).

Smart Recovery Addiction Group Therapy Facilitation (2012) SMART Recovery.

Dance Teacher/ Facilitator (2010) Certified SoulSweat™ teacher, (2018) Dance to be Free™: bringing the therapeutic power of dance into prisons.

SandPlay Therapy (2009) Rocky Mountain Survivor Centre for Asylum Seekers.

Gestalt Therapy (2006-2007) Gestalt Institute of the Rockies (S1), Naropa University.

Adventure Therapy (2006 - 2007) Naropa University inclusive.

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (2007) Naropa University. Residencies:

(2017-2019) Mahalo Aina Sanctuary, Hawai'i, (2011) Twin Oaks Farm, Colorado.

Lineage Training In Acknowledgment

My teachers in Māori Healing are predominantly Atarangi Muru (Ngati Kuri Tohunga) since 2012, and Manu Korewha (Ngaapuhi Tohunga Ahurewa) of The Māori Healers. Pani Hokianga in MiriMiri, aswell as Charlotte Mildon for their teachings and cherished mentorship. Makuini Ruth Tai, Ruatau Perez and Wikitoria Oman (2011) for their shapings.

In maramatanga Māori my Koro is Piripi Waretini, (Tū Kaha Kāhui). Also acknowledge Reverend Kalani Souza (Olohana Foundation) and Kahu Rangihekeiho for being day in and out uncles and teachers for me.

In Uru Waiora Therapy: Traditional Māori Therapy, Umutakarangi Timoti Pahi, (Uru Consulting, 2022). In Māori meditation, states of Te Whare Ā-IO, Ngarino Te Waati (Turuki Healthcare, 2022).

Kei te mihi maioha, Kei te mihi mātakuikui.

Seven Levels of Quest, (2015), Malcolm Ringwalt. Stalking Wolf Lipan-Apache Lineage.

Marumali Program: To Put Back Together. Culturally Specific Trauma Care for Aboriginal People (2014), Aunty Lorraine Peeters, Aboriginal Mental Health and Research Council.

Guide Training in Rites of Passage, Council, and Vision Fast (2013), The School of Lost Borders. *The bones of their 55-yo school are by the lineage of Grandpa Raymond Stone (Paiute) and Heyemoyosts Storm (Cheyenne), toward "self-generated ceremonies" which don't take from or use their tribal elements.

Ancestral Lineage Healing (2021), Dr Daniel Foor, Ancestral Medicine.

Path of Freedom Training: Mindfulness-based emotional intelligence (MBEI) and leadership curriculum developed for incarcerated prisoners (2011), Fleet Maull; Prison Mindfulness Institute, Shambhala Buddhism Lineage.

Awakening the Illuminated Heart, (2009, 2011). Drunvalo Melchizidek.

Shambhala Mindfulness Training Level 1 (2007), Shambhala Institute. Buddhist Lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Cert. Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, and Conscious Pregnancy Teacher (2007) (2013), Kundalini Research Institute, Sikh Lineage.

Community

Our mental health system has greatly needed change and is in a turning-point. Three particular communities have held my heart over the past 15 years.

1) VETERANS. As a founding member and facilitator of Rooted Within: Veteran Recovery & Renewal Retreats, integration and PTSD recovery. A program that has served female combat veterans (OIF/OEF) for over a decade.

2) PRISONS/ DETENTION (Colorado, Hawai'i, Sydney): As a therapist supporting those inside or post-release, developing yoga/meditation/natural states for addiction recovery, and/or supporting therapeutic and cathartic dance for inmates.

3) Always in the forefront is INDIGENOUS YOUNG PEOPLE and their families. Bush Circle created at Weave Youth, Family, Community (Australia) was selected at the World Parks Congress as a highlighted case-study for the decade ahead (2014-2024) for fourteen countries. The message it carried prioritises access to Country and Culture over other services. This continues on with our program for Polynesian youth: Everyone a Hero, Hawai’i, and for Māori: Koauau Pounamu, with the intent to develop into tuakana-teina/ sibling programs.

These communities and colleagues have shaped me significantly.

PEPEHA

belonging to

Ko Uruao

Ko Arai-te-Uru

Ko Aoraki

Ko Mauna-o-Wakea

Ko Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa

Ko Takurua te Whanga

Kāi Tahu

Kāti Māmoe

Waitaha

Kāti Hāwea

Kāti Huirapa

Ko Puketeraki

"Haaweatea is a very talented and skilled facilitator. She see's below the surface of people's words and asks pivotal questions... She skillfully illuminates the truth and from this, I saw women able to let down their guard and practice

being true to themselves"

~ Tiffany Higgins, Veteran Retreats, Rooted Within, 2011

“Hāweas presence and authenticity are two of her strongest qualities followed by her incredible knowledge and experience

working with people on trauma and transformation”

~ Elizabeth Hawkins Robinson, Executive Director ONEFreedom, 2012

“I can’t put into words the impact this has had on my life. In every interaction I’ve felt cared for, validated, understood, worth something, accepted, acknowledged, and appreciated. I want to thank you for being a safe person, that I felt okay enough to open myself up to, so I could experience this.”

~ Lainey, 2017