SEVA (NSW) Pty Ltd was created by Accredited Mental Health Social Workers Michele Bowes and Amy English in 2022 after forming their private practice in Maitland, NSW AU - Seva House in 2019. As NSW Victims Services Counsellors, working with complex trauma, relational healing quickly became the core of their work. Michele had been working with EMDR (integrating AF EMDR, parts work and Imagery Rescripting) since 2016, with Amy training in EMDR a few years later. As both Michele and Amy bring their passion and enthusiasm for the work that they do, they also aimed to bring a therapy style which spoke to the heart of relational trauma and more importantly, healing.

Diving into their passion for EMDR (As EMDR Consultants), Resource Therapy (Advanced Ego States - Clinical Resource Therapists and Trainers) and Somatic Integration Processing Practitioners and finally training in Attachment-Informed EMDR (AI-EMDR), both Michele and Amy sought a way to adapt a framework that honoured how they each worked and elements of their client’s whole experience. Relational-Integrative EMDR was born and used during live demonstrations which became known as ‘EMDR in a Fishbowl’ Workshops.

After the successful launch of ‘EMDR in a Fishbowl’ in 2022 (a series of live demonstrations using a Relational-Integrative EMDR approach between facilitator and volunteer) - request for training in the approach that both Michele and Amy were using grew with the first SEVA Relational-Integrative EMDR 3-day training being held in the Hunter Valley, NSW AU in November 2023.

Both Michele and Amy approach therapeutic work through a holistic lens (which is a core approach of Social Work), developing their own style of attachment-based approaches in reprocessing trauma. This enables Therapists to navigate the complex landscape of the human psyche and guide clients towards wholeness; exploring the mind-body-spirit connection, recognising the profound impact that trauma, stress, and emotions hold within the body.

By using an RI-EMDR framework to work with attachment ruptures, intergenerational and collective trauma, this allows Therapists and clients alike to acknowledge the deep-seated emotional wounds that can be passed down through generations within families and communities. This style of working also allows Therapists and clients to explore the rich tapestry of dreams as a gateway to the unconscious mind and work more deeply with the unconscious and personality parts; honouring, acknowledging, validating and respecting all the personality parts that exist within a client’s system and honouring the Therapist’s own system as well.

Both Michele and Amy feel it is an honour and privilege to share their approach and to support the learning of others.

SEVA was created to support like-minded and passionate therapists to nurture their courage and creativity so that both Therapist and client can thrive.