KOA Trauma informed holistic and somatic wellbeing

Team building, workshops, retreat days and more

Welcome to KOA, where connection, growth, and collaboration come to life. I offer professional team building experiences, engaging training sessions, creative workshops, and purposeful away days, all designed to strengthen relationships and support meaningful development. 

Why work with me?

With over 25 years of experience in the social sector as well as over 10 years plus experience running my own business, I bring a depth of knowledge, professional training, and practical insight to every piece of work I do. My approach is flexible and collaborative, you can choose from a tailored menu of services to create a bespoke offering that suits your organisation and your team.

I have worked with a variety of individuals and organisations including The Ripple Project, Carers of East Lothian, Northern Lighthouse Board, Visit Scotland, Simon Community Scotland, Microsoft, Barnardos, and the University of Edinburgh.  I am also passionate about making my services accesible and have worked with a number of community enterprises and community projects to offer diverse offerings. I was involved in the Salisbury Centre’s Community Empowerment Project between 2024 and 2026 offering a variety of trauma informed workshops and offering women only trauma informed workshops at The Art and Spirituality Centre as part of their community work since October 2025.  I also have been working with Yellow Beacon since 2023, offering community online mindfulness courses and practice sessions as part of their community enterprise funded courses and facilitated trauma informed somatic workshops for Streetreads which is part of Simon Community Scotland since February 2025.  I truly enjoy collaborating with other professionals on retreats, workshops, and events.

My professional background is broad and diverse. I have worked across the education sector, social care, social work, mental health,in corporate settings and substance misuse. I have held roles as a social worker, counsellor, teacher, leader, manager and more. This range of experience has given me a deep understanding of the varied roles and responsibilities that must work together effectively within a team.

Having worked in a variety of professional roles throughout my career, inclduing teaching, management, leadership and other roles, I have a a diverse range of transferrable knowledge and skills.  One of the most impactful roles I navigated was being a Head of School and managing a large team during a time of great transition.  It was during this time that I truly came to understand the importance of recognising individual differences, working with people’s strengths, and fostering a shared sense of purpose to build a united and motivated team.  I also was faced with many challenges and at times came close to burnout. There was so much opprotunity for learning and it has contributed to the professional I am today.

From 2015 to 2017, I was also the Founding Partner and Systemic Coach and Supervisor at Wilkie and Schiesser Limited in Zurich, Switzerland. During this period, my business partner and I worked with a variety of organisations, offering systemic coaching to senior leaders, including Headteachers, Managers, and Chief Executive Officers. I led team-building initiatives, supported two major team mergers within the education sector, and worked closely with teams navigating periods of significant transition.

In 2019, I founded KOA, where I continue to work with organisations across a range of sectors to help their employees and teams thrive. Whether the focus is on leadership development, team coaching, or supporting change, I bring an integrative and adaptive approach that responds to the unique context and needs of each client.

My work is grounded in the belief that thriving teams are built on strong relationships, a clear sense of purpose, and the ability to adapt. With the right support, meaningful and lasting change is always possible.

Everything I do is rooted in KOA’s core values: being trauma informed, inclusive, and meeting people exactly where they are. My work is also underpinned by nervous system regulation theory, recognising that when we feel safe enough and grounded, we are better able to connect, communicate, and thrive. 

I create safe, supportive spaces where everyone feels respected, heard, and valued. Whether you’re looking to bring new energy to your team, build resilience, support transition or encourage deeper connection, I am  here to support you with warmth, integrity, authenticity, professionalism and a grounded approach.

Connected Teams

  • Communicate openly and honestly
  • Feel a strong sense of trust and mutual respect
  • Share common goals and values
  • Support one another personally and professionally
  • Celebrate wins together and navigate challenges as a unit

Relational Teams

  • Prioritise healthy, respectful relationships
  • Listen actively and empathise with each other’s perspectives
  • Resolve conflict constructively and collaboratively
  • Understand the impact of nervous system regulation on team dynamics
  • Value emotional intelligence as much as technical skills

Inclusive Teams

  • Welcome and respect diverse identities, backgrounds, and experiences
  • Ensure every voice is heard and valued
  • Create psychological safety for people to be themselves
  • Adapt practices to meet different needs and abilities
  • Challenge bias and promote equity in decision-making

Empowering Organisations to Value Their Teams: Creating Spaces for Connection, Growth, and Inclusion through Diverse Workshops and Retreats

Effective and productive teams thrive through collaboration, inclusive communication, and embracing diverse perspectives. When teams communicate openly and inclusively, every member’s voice contributes to better decision-making, enhanced creativity, and improved problem-solving. Celebrating and utilising differences as valuable resources drives innovation and strengthens overall team performance.

Inclusivity is central to this approach. Scotland’s National Trauma Transformation Programme aims to make the country as a whole trauma informed, extending this mindset beyond health and social care into corporate and organisational settings. This initiative promotes greater inclusion, empowerment, awareness, and acceptance of diversity, creating safer and more supportive environments where all staff can thrive.

To further enhance team cohesion and productivity, organisations can implement targeted initiatives such as:

  • Team workshops and training sessions that develop collaboration skills and foster mutual understanding.
  • Retreat days and off-site meetings designed to build trust and deepen interpersonal connections.
  • Connection events and social activities that encourage informal relationship-building and improve workplace morale.
  • Team-building exercises that promote cooperation and reinforce shared goals.

In addition, integrating nervous system regulation techniques such as mindfulness practices and stress management strategies—alongside creative activities can:

  • Support staff in feeling emotionally grounded and connected.
  • Increase motivation and engagement across the team.
  • Enhance focus on collective objectives and priorities.
  • Promote resilience and well-being in high-pressure environments.

My approach to all work is trauma informed and underpinned by nervous system regulation theory, ensuring that every intervention supports emotional safety, connection, and sustainable team performance.

By investing in these approaches, organisations cultivate more connected, motivated, and high-performing teams aligned with their strategic goals, while supporting an inclusive, trauma- nformed culture that embraces diversity and empowers all employees.

How a Regulated Nervous System Makes Teams More Productive and Efficient

  • Improved focus and concentration: Team members stay attentive and minimise distractions.
  • Better emotional regulation: Stress and conflicts are handled calmly, fostering a positive work environment.
  • Enhanced decision-making: Calm minds assess situations clearly for more effective decisions.
  • Increased resilience: Teams recover quickly from setbacks and maintain steady performance under pressure.
  • Greater collaboration: Reduced reactive behaviour encourages open communication and cooperation.
  • Boosted creativity and problem-solving: A calm nervous system supports innovative thinking and flexibility.
  • Consistent productivity: Lower anxiety leads to sustained energy and reliable output.
  • Lower absenteeism: Effective stress management improves health, resulting in fewer sick days.

How Nervous System Regulation Supports Stress Management in High-Powered Environments

  • Reduced stress response: Helps prevent overwhelm by calming the body’s fight-or-flight reaction.
  • Improved emotional control: Enables individuals to stay composed and make rational decisions under pressure.
  • Enhanced focus during chaos: Supports concentration even amid fast-paced, high-stakes situations.
  • Better recovery from intense moments: Speeds up return to calm after stressful events, maintaining performance.
  • Increased mental clarity: Reduces mental fog, allowing for clearer thinking in demanding environments.
  • Stronger interpersonal interactions: Minimises reactive behaviours that can escalate tension with colleagues.
  • Sustained energy levels: Helps avoid burnout by managing stress hormones effectively.
  • Greater adaptability: Supports flexible responses to changing priorities and unexpected challenges.

The Power of Connected and Valued Teams

  • Stronger trust and loyalty: Team members feel safe to share ideas and take risks.
  • Improved communication: Open and honest dialogue reduces misunderstandings and errors.
  • Higher motivation and engagement: Feeling valued boosts commitment and enthusiasm for work.
  • Enhanced collaboration: Connected teams work more effectively together, leveraging diverse strengths.
  • Greater psychological safety: Encourages innovation and learning from mistakes without fear.
  • Reduced conflict: Mutual respect lowers tension and promotes peaceful resolution of disagreements.
  • Increased retention: Employees are more likely to stay when they feel appreciated and included.
  • Better overall performance: A united team achieves goals more efficiently and consistently.

Need some inspiration?

Browse all my services or the drop down pages in this section and let us create something bespoke. Perhaps my surrender series offers some ideas: https://koa-edinburgh.co.uk/surrender-series/

Next steps

Contact me for a free connection call.