Rooted in community, growing together

Jo is a trauma-informed social worker with nearly twenty years' experience in fostering and children's services, a qualified sound healing practitioner, cacao ceremony facilitator and massage therapist.

Much of her work involves supporting foster carers to help children living with the effects of trauma, and it's there she noticed something that shapes everything she does now. Time and again, the carers themselves were presenting in fight, flight or freeze: exhausted, on high alert, running on empty while holding everything together for someone else.

Her work with Gather & Grow is built with this in mind, nervous system regulation through sound, ceremonial cacao and massage. She also runs Willow Wood, a thermal wellness and retreat space in Swanland, East Yorkshire, and leads retreats in Bali.

Her approach is grounded and practical, with an understanding that most women arrive needing time that's genuinely their own. Her ethos is simple: choose you.

Julie is an experienced NMC-registered nurse with a diverse NHS background, including neurology and bladder, bowel and pelvic floor health. She's also qualified in adult and children's counselling, neurolinguistics and life coaching, bringing a holistic perspective to women's physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

After developing Long COVID, ME, POTS and PEM following COVID-19 in 2020, Julie's own journey profoundly shaped her approach to health and wellbeing. Today, she combines clinical expertise, lived experience and ongoing professional development to support hundreds of women in their own recovery and wellbeing journeys.

Passionate about advancing knowledge in women's health, Julie is undertaking British Menopause Society education and certification, with a particular interest in supporting women through menopause with evidence-based, compassionate care.