Jen Holmes Beamer, Psychotherapist

Hi! I’m Jen, and I’m so glad you’re here.

Since 2007, I’ve dedicated my professional career to the mental health field. From working at a schizophrenia outpatient program in my hometown Hamilton, Canada to community and inpatient mental health programs in North and South Islands of New Zealand, I’ve learned first hand that early childhood and complex trauma lives in the body and the nervous system. And that there’s no one way to foster healing.

My own experience of anxiety, panic attacks and the effects of trauma, alongside growing up with a father diagnosed with schizophrenia fostered a vast curiosity about human nature in all its manifestations. Mind-body practices and yoga were, and continue to remain an important part of my healing journey, inspiring me to train as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator.

For the past 10 years I’ve developed and facilitated yoga as healing programs within community mental health programs, psychiatric units, community agencies and non-profit organisations. More recently, I’ve delivered fully funded body-based group therapy programs under ACC Sensitive Claims for survivors of sexual violence. I am also a psychotherapist, specialising in trauma.

Leading research in trauma healing repeatedly finds that we have to invite the body into the conversation. If we choose to work together, my approach incorporates the latest research on how to gently and safely access our emotional experiences as they live in the body so that we can rewire our nervous systems toward safety, re-connection and meaning.

“It was when i stopped searching for home within others and lifted the foundations of home within myself

I found there were no roots more intimate than those between a mind and body that have decided to be whole.”

~ rupi kaur 

Jen earned her Masters of Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Kinesiology and Psychology from McMaster University, with further specialisation in psychotherapy (Canada). She holds certification as a Psychotherapist, yoga therapist and Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TC-TSY) facilitator.

Jen is grounded in evidence-based and holistic methods of trauma healing including psychotherapy, EMDR and trauma-sensitive yoga on a basis of a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Within her 1-1 client work she offers a safe space for self discovery by bridging talk therapy and embodiment practices. Personalised therapeutic yoga, breathing, meditation and grounding practices are offered as opportunities to cultivate curiosity and awareness. She also offers a regular trauma-sensitive yoga group series in Nelson.

Clinical Experience

Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia (Canada)

Public Health Community Mental Health Centres including Waikato and Nelson Marlborough District Health Boards, Rural North Community Mental Health Services (New Zealand)

Wāhi Oranga unit (inpatient mental health) (New Zealand)

ACC funded support with Chronic Pain and Sensitive Claims Training for Independence (TI) programs

Persistent pain counselling, Primary Health

Extensive clinical work with those navigating anxiety, depression, chronic health conditions, persistent pain, trauma, addiction / substance use, suicide and stress.

Education & Professional Development

  • Bachelors of Kinesiology & Psychology, McMaster University (Canada), 2004

  • Master of Science, Occupational Therapy, McMaster University (Canada), 2007

  • The Conversational Model, Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy

  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Level 1 & Level 2

  • Te Ara Totika / Applying Tikanga Best Practice in Healthcare, The University of Waikato

  • Certified Yoga Instructor (Ashram Yoga, Coromandel NZ) 200hr

  • Yoga therapy Training (Yoga Therapy Toronto, Toronto Canada) 800hr (2019-2021)

  • Mindfulness based stress reduction (graduate)

  • Yoga Psychology (Dr. Mohan, Svastha Yoga & Ayurveda)

  • Yoga Therapy in Pain Care (Ajna Yoga Therapy College)

  • Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Certification Program (300-hr)

  • Trauma resilience model (Trauma Resource Institute)

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)

  • Progressive goal attainment Program Certification

Professional Memberships

  • Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (ANZAP)

  • International Association of Yoga Therapists (I-AYT)

  • The Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (PBANZ)