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  • About Kaitlin
  • Podcast & Blog
  • Learn with Kaitlin
  • Contact
  • FREE STRESS RELIEF TRAINING

About Dr. Kaitlin

“Is it true that you’re so zen you never get anxious?” and other FAQs
Media Features
Media Kit

Who are you?

I’m Dr. Kaitlin, a clinical psychologist, meditation instructor and yoga teacher who knows that integrating evidence-based strategies with embodied wisdom practices is one of the most effective and heartfelt ways to design a life full of meaning, purpose and productivity!

I’ve written an award winning dissertation looking at the psychoneuroimmunology and therapeutic benefits of a yoga practice for women experiencing chronic stress as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression, and won awards for my teaching and my excellence in performance during my clinical therapy training.

But honestly, what you really need to know is that I know what it is like to suffer, to struggle, and to feel lackluster and stuck – and it really hurts. It was this pain, feeling overwhelmed and lost, that drove me to the yoga mat nearly 20 years ago, and then to a deep dive into modern psychological skills and coping strategies. I’ve had years nerd’ing out on this stuff. My mission now is to share my learnings to save you some time, and hopefully save you from some suffering.

What is this place?

This is the place where you come to learn strategies taught behind the closed door of a therapist’s office, coupled with insights from the yoga mat and meditation cushion. Whether you want to develop the skills to avoid (or recover from) burnout and overwhelm, to reignite your sense of life meaning and passion, or to reach peak performance, you’ll find free, evidence-based education and inspiration. My free weekly email will deliver tips and tricks for cultivating wellbeing in your life – yep, I think of wellbeing as a skill [you might like to sign up here] -right to your inbox. You can also deep dive on different topics in my podcast , trainings and workbooks.

I highly value integrity, so no – this isn’t a place that endorses a magic bullet, or a one-size fits all approach. I teach you how to gain clarity on the areas of your life that YOU consider to be important, and figure out effective and achievable ways to show up as the person you want to be. There is both an art and science involved in creating, yes, your dream life. A yoga mat can offer an experiential playground for inspiration and change, but some common myths can derail this effort – I’ve got a free training here that will help you bust them!

Why should I care?

Because living a lackluster life where you feel you’re simply surviving (instead of thriving) each day is… well, draining. You deserve to live your years with a sense of vitality, meaning and confidence, even when things are challenging. Yes, you can align your mind, body and spirit, and not in some patchouli burning way – but in a way that truly facilitates growth in your life through a deliberate balancing of meaningful challenge and nourishing rest. Essentially, you are wiring your brain for wellbeing. I call this a Yoga Brain and even have a course designed to teach you this practice! [You can read more about Yoga Brain 101 here.]

Is it true that you're so zen you never get anxious anymore?

Categorically untrue. I remain a human, and humans get anxious. It is wired into our DNA. However, I have developed the skills needed to greet challenging emotions with composure and ensure they don’t impact my long-term health or the things that are important to me. But, throw me into a suspenseful Netflix series or sneak up behind me, and you’ll well and truly see me lose my cool. I am a highly sensitive person, so I’ll likely always lean to feeling the feels (the joys and the sorrows), but my daily habits and practices allow these fleeting moments to be exactly that, fleeting.

How come you’ve got a teaching award? You can’t even spell.

I’d love to tell you. Gasping for breath at the pool’s edge as I tried to learn one of the ‘survival strokes’ that had me near-drowning, I was compassionately offered some words of wisdom from my swimming instructor: “Those who struggle with something become the best teachers!” I tend to lean naturally into teaching, perhaps because I have sucked at pretty much everything at some point in my life. In the nature of transparency, I’ll share a couple of examples:

I grew up in a small mountain town in Canada, where I collected a shoebox full of participation ribbons (and a few ‘thanks for coming’ trophies), none of these so-called-awards were near-misses, I was always the kid picked last for teams and coming last in races. You might think that given my fancy title academics provided me some reprieve, but alas, no such luck. I spent hours sitting at the kitchen table going over spelling words, all to consistently fail the test. And my social life… well, let’s just say that I spent my time at recess earnestly waiting for the bell to ring, as I hid-out alone in a toilet cubicle. And now I’m a busy Mum and partner, with busy mum and partnership challenges all whilst running my own business. Which is all to say, while I might not know your particular brand of suffering, I know suffering. I also know how to move forward, grow, love, thrive, and to teach others the skills I’ve used!

Note: I still struggle to spell, and I do sometimes hide in the toilet from my family (but they find me, and I don’t mind).

I want to learn from you.
What should I do next?

Check out my courses, resources and coaching here.
Life is too short not to live by beautiful and thriving design!

Media Features

Looking to Watch?

Play
Mindfulness & Meditation
Play
Dr Kaitlin Harkess on the Empirical Evidence of Yoga
Play
The Holistic Approach - 3 Minute Meditation
Play
How to create healthy habits iwth Clinical Psycholoist Dr Kaitlin Harkess
The Holistic Approach - Episode 3 [Full]
Play
The University of Adelaide 3MT Winner Presentation - Kaitlin Harkess
Play
Cultivating Flexible Resilience with Mindful Movement
Psychological Flexibility
Play
Stress & Shakti
Bikram Yoga vs Stress
Yoga with Dr. Kaitlin
Inspire Her Health

Looking to Read?

Psychology Today

The Most Cost-Effective Mental Health Practice

Read More

Psychology Today

The Mind-Body Connection of Therapeutic Breathing

Read More

Psychology Today

How Meditation Can Sharpen the ADHD Brain

Read More

University of Adelaide

Academic Publications

Read More

Drop Bio Health

Wellness in the Workplace

Read More

The Advertiser (Adelaide Now)

Yoga reduces stress in women, new Adelaide study finds

Read More

Asian Scientist

Can Yoga Help Overcome Stress? Australian Study to Find Out

Read More

Time

Yoga Lowers Stress – And Waist Size

Read More

Drop Bio Health

Taking 5 with Dr Kaitlin Harkess

Read More

Looking to Listen?

Gratitude Isn't Just for Wankers
Yoga with Dr. Kaitlin
Dr Kaitlin Harkess on the Empirical Evidence of Yoga
Inspire Her Health
How to Apply Mindfulness In Your Dating Life

Media Kit

Below you’ll find the materials needed for introductions, podcasts, and other public appearances.
For media inquiries click here.

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Media Kit

Below you’ll find the materials needed for introductions, podcasts, and other public appearances.
For media inquiries click here.

Mini Course

Values-Based Mandala Bullet Journaling Tutorial

Enroll Now

Mini Course

Loving Kindness Meditation

Download Audio

Mini Course

Values-Based Guidebook + Meditation

Download PDF + Audio

Weekly Diary

Daily Moments of Joy Diary

Download Diary

Offical Bio

Dr Kaitlin Harkess, host of the Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast and founder of the holistically oriented therapy practice of the same name, is an award-winning Clinical Psychologist and Senior Yoga Instructor who helps burnt-out individuals develop the psychological skills they need to change their lives for the better. (No, more hustle does not always equal more success!)

Kaitlin’s research on the psychoneuroimmunological impact of a yoga practice for chronic stress has been featured in Time, while her expertise on the therapeutic use of mindfulness and meditation has seen her featured in The Holistic Approach television series. As a result of her scientific research and clinical practice, Kaitlin understands how to maximize the healing and performance enhancing benefits of integrating mindful wisdom practices with modern psychological interventions.

Alongside supporting folks struggling with mental health or life adjustments in therapy, Kaitlin offers online resources at drkaitlin.com where she teaches how you can use your yoga mat as a playground to untap the tools and strategies traditionally taught behind the closed doors of the therapy room.

You can find her at www.drkaitlin.com and on the socials @drkaitlin (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)

Example Interview Topics:

  • How to use modern psychological skills to get beyond survival mode and thrive
  • How to manage burnout and stress, while maintaining purposeful productivity
  • How embodied movement (like mindful yoga) can support your mental health and performance
  • An overview of the mind-body relationship, and how you can harness it for physical and mental health (including: Polyvagal Theory, psychoneuroimmunology and epigenetics)
  • The how and why of cultivating mindful compassion
  • An introduction to the science and practice of gratitude
  • Successful lifestyle practices to increase your energy, improve your mood, and support wellbeing
  • An overview of ADHD and how attention training practices, like yoga and meditation, can be integrated with behavioural strategies to support ADHD'er wellbeing

Follow me on Instagram

Off to catch Bessel van der Kolk MD’s keynote at Off to catch Bessel van der Kolk MD’s keynote at conference I’m so grateful to be attending this weekend 🫶🏽 (author of the book The Body Keeps the Score 📕)

No doubt I’ll be posting more about it. But thought I would just share a reminder for you therapists out there… I’ve got some webinars coming up 💻💕

🌟 Unlock the Power of Somatic Psychology 🌟

Are you ready to elevate your therapeutic practice to ensure you’re honouring the healing power of your client’s felt experience? If you’ve been exploring the mind-body connection and delving into the world of Somatic Psychology, this webinar is tailored just for you! 

🌈 Dive Deeper into Somatic Wisdom: You already grasp the interconnectedness of mind and body, but there’s more to explore beyond the basics. Join us as we unravel the intricacies of interoceptive awareness, emotional experiences, and the art of emotional regulation within the therapy room.

🧘‍♀️ Integrating Somatic and Yoga Practices: Informed by the latest insights from neuroscience, RFT, and evolutionary psychology, this workshop extends beyond theoretical knowledge. Discover how to seamlessly blend body-centered somatic therapy approaches with traditional psychology models. Witness the power of combining psychological flexibility skill-building with reflective practices for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.

🎓 What Awaits You:
Explore body-centered somatic therapy approaches that honor the mind-body connection.
Decode how the ACT pillars of Awareness, Openness, and Engagement serve as a therapeutic scaffolding system for introducing somatic practices.

Delve into the multidisciplinary science supporting somatic psychology and the therapeutic significance of boosting interoceptive awareness.

Acquire practical techniques to ensure your clients develop the interoceptive awareness and skills needed to engage effectively in their lives.

🗓 Mark Your Calendars: 
📅 Date: Monday, April 8th 
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM AEST (Eastern) 
Can’t make it live? No worries! A recorded version will be sent to all registrants.

🎟 Secure Your Spot via the link in my bio 🔗

#therapistsofinstagram #webinar #mondbody
✨Holistic In-Person Therapy Group on Kaurna Land ✨Holistic In-Person Therapy Group on Kaurna Land in Adelaide ✨ 

**Update: Fully booked. I’m accepting a wait list and will also let those folks know when I’ve got dates set for the next group in advance.**

WANT HELP MANAGING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS YOU CAN PRACTICE ON A YOGA MAT?

This course is designed for individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression or trauma.
In this course, you will learn:
🌀How anxiety and depression impact the nervous system
🌀The components of psychological flexibility and how yoga can be used as an experiential practice of these skills
🌀Yoga movements, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices to manage difficult emotions, re-balance the nervous system, and cultivate well-being
🌀Skills and strategies to manage psychological distress, cultivate emotional regulation, and live a life of purpose
🌀That you are not alone! The group setting offers many benefits, including an opportunity to share information with others, a sense of belonging and connection
 
This is a holistic psychological skills course, with participants having the option to engage in a specially designed yoga class in following. The yoga class is suitable for beginners. It is a small group with limited places. Registrations is essential. This is to ensure a safe, confidential, and supportive environment.

Dates: Tuesday from 6-7:30pm
Commencing April 30th and running for 6 consecutive weeks.
 
Location: Penang Hall
45A Penang Ave, Colonel Light Gardens SA 5041

Currently Open to Booking - link in bio or visit www.wisdomforwellbeing.au

💌You’re welcome to share this reel and info with someone you’d like to support you or who you think would benefit 🤗

✨ Videos are from the central circles created in the last groups… can’t wait to be back in the sacred space again!🫶🏽

#psychologyadelaide #adelaidetherapy
✨Elevate Your Practice with Somatic Psychology!✨

Ready to enhance your therapeutic approach by honoring the healing power of your client’s felt experience? If you’ve been exploring the mind-body connection and delving into Somatic Psychology, this webinar is for you! #TrainingForTherapists

Join me for a transformative learning experience merging interception, emotion, and embodied healing.

🌈Dive Deeper into Somatic Wisdom:
Explore the intricacies of interceptive awareness and emotional regulation in the therapy room.

🧘🏽‍♀️Integrating Somatic and Yoga Practices:
Discover how to blend body-centered somatic therapy with traditional psychology models for enhanced outcomes.

🎓What Awaits You:
• Explore body-centered somatic therapy.
• Decode the ACT pillars for introducing somatic practices.
• Delve into the multidisciplinary science supporting somatic psychology.
• Acquire practical techniques for client engagement.

🗓️Save the Date: Monday, April 8th, 6:00 PM AEST. A recorded version will be available.

🎟️Secure Your Spot: Check my bio for the registration link!

🌟Double the Wisdom, Double the Value:
Bundle this workshop with our Yoga and Psychology event at an exclusive discounted rate! More details in the comments.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn CPD points and deepen your skills. See you on the mat of mindfulness and exploration!

Feel free to email questions to kaitlin@wisdomforwellbeing.au.

Warmly, Kaitlin
Calling all THERAPISTS ☎️ 🧘🏽‍♀️ S Calling all THERAPISTS ☎️

🧘🏽‍♀️ Somatic Psychology?! Yoga and Psychology?! I’ve got a dual event to share with you today 🧘🏽‍♀️ 

Somatic work is a hot topic!

You already know the mind and body are connected, and chances are you’re bringing this wisdom into the therapy room already. However, beyond understanding a bit about the nervous system and the vagus nerve, you might not be entirely clear on how this relates to your client’s interoceptive awareness, emotional experiences and the ability to emotionally regulate.

In this workshop, you will learn:
🧐 More about the body-centred somatic therapy approaches that honour the mind-body connection through integrated psychotherapeutic and physical practices.
🧐 How the ACT pillars of Awareness, Openness, and Engagement can be interpreted as a therapeutic scaffolding system for the introduction of somatic practices.
🧐 The multidisciplinary science underpinning somatic psychology and the therapeutic importance of enhancing interoceptive awareness.
🧐 Practical practices you can apply to ensure clients have the interoceptive awareness and skill to engage effectively in their lives.

✨AND! Given that we are coming up to a year since I offered a Yoga and Psychology workshop (and since there is heaps of overlap in somatics and yoga), I’m going to offer both workshops together at a discounted rate.✨

The Integrating Yoga and Psychology workshop is specifically for yoga instructors and is designed to help save you the professional and legal confusion I experienced when starting out in this area (including insurance and the Medicare model). 

Link to register for both workshops is in my bio 🔗

In addition to completing my dissertation in this integrative space, I convene the APS Psychology and Yoga Interest Group, am a Board-Approved supervisor and run group psychological therapy that offers an embodied yoga practice component. I am currently finishing up a book manuscript for PESI Publishing on Somatic Psychology and hold registration as a Senior Yoga Instructor and Meditation Instructor.

Feel free to pop any questions in the comments of this post or DM me 💌
🌞 Embracing Sunlight for Mental Wellness 🌿 🌞 Embracing Sunlight for Mental Wellness 🌿

Did you know that our surroundings play a crucial role in shaping our emotional wellbeing? 

Research in psychology consistently highlights the positive impact of beautiful and sunlit environments on our mood and mental health. Exposure to natural light stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Nature’s own mood booster!

🌳 Beyond serotonin, studies suggest that spending time in aesthetically pleasing environments reduces stress and promotes relaxation. The visual appeal of natural landscapes, vibrant colors, and the warmth of sunlight have a profound influence on our mental state. This connection with nature is often referred to as “biophilia,” an innate affinity us humans have for the natural world.

☀️ Tips for Harnessing the Power of Sunlit Beauty:
1️⃣ Prioritize Outdoor Time: Incorporate walks, hikes, or simply sitting in a park into your routine to soak up the benefits of sunlight and nature.
2️⃣ Bring Nature Indoors: Enhance your living space with plants, natural light, and elements that connect you with the outdoors.
3️⃣ Spend Your Time Wisely: We don’t all have naturally sunlit homes or working environments, but that doesn’t have to stop you! Head back to tip #1 and spend time outdoors, or be deliberate in where you spend your recreation hours. From libraries and cafes to fitness classes, there are lots of beautiful places you can soak up some sunshine peace indoors.
 
Remember, the beauty around us is not just a feast for the eyes; it nourishes our mind and heart, promoting a positive and uplifting mental state. Take a moment now to bask in the sunlight and see how it feels to you. 🌺 

#PsychologyOfNature #EmotionalWellness #SomaticPsychology #SunlitBeauty
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Dr. Kaitlin pays her respects to the Kaurna peoples as the Traditional Owner’s of the land on which she works and lives. Dr Kaitlin acknowledges that the Kaurna people have social, spiritual and historical connections to this land and their connections are as strong today as they have always been. She would like to extend this acknowledgment out to the Traditional Owners of the land on which you are based, and to acknowledge the Ktunaxa and Kinbasket Peoples of what is now called Canada, as she was born and gratefully raised on their traditional unceded territory.

Mandala Artwork by Scarlet Barnett
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