Every journey of change begins with a single decision.

Namaste, Jambo, Kia ora, Hi.

I’m Abha Dod.

My roots are in India, I was born in Kenya, and primarily raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand, where I now reside.

Over the past 10 years, I have worked in mainstream youth mental health systems - in clinics, schools, and residential care homes. I have also contributed to a variety of community initiatives including domestic violence prevention, values-based school holiday programmes, mental health initiatives and sustainable living projects. Along with lived experience of trauma recovery, I hold a master’s in applied community psychology.

In 2024, my personal and professional experiences led me to private practice - focusing on trauma recovery and providing one-on-one sessions, psychoeducation, and integrative group experiences.

My offerings are a complementary, holistic alternative to conventional mental health support - recognising the intelligence of the body, the importance of context and meaning, and the wisdom held in lived experience. I support healing through awareness, integration, and connection, rather than diagnosis or medication.

When I’m not immersed in my work, I actively focus on my own wellbeing — exploring my creativity, spending time in nature, and laughing with loved ones. I’m learning to grow food and love experimenting in the kitchen. I value solitude, movement, and time with furry friends!

Having moved through several difficult chapters in my life, I’ve come to genuinely appreciate life in all its simplicity and complexity. I hold a strong spiritual growth mindset and remain curious about new ways of seeing, being, and living in this world.

My Approach

My role as a trauma recovery coach is to provide structured, non-clinical support that helps clients:

  • Create realistic goals for growth and stability

  • Understand their nervous system and stress responses

  • Build emotional regulation skills

  • Develop grounding and body-based coping tools

  • Improve communication and relational skills

  • Strengthen self-esteem and identity

  • Rebuild confidence and resilience

Coaching is collaborative, practical, and change-focused. It does not involve diagnosing or treating mental health disorders. I do not provide psychotherapy or clinical trauma treatment - my services focus on skill-building, emotional awareness, and resilience development.

I am formally educated in psychology and bring that academic foundation into my work. However, I am not a registered psychologist, licensed therapist, or clinical practitioner. If a person requires clinical mental health support, I will recommend referral to an appropriate professional or service.

The sessions, classes and groups I curate have a strong focus on self-empowerment - accessing inner wisdom, enhancing agency, and sharing the experience of recovery with others on a similar journey - all of which have been vital in my own personal journey.

Healing is not linear — it moves in cycles, in relationship, and in community. It’s a dance between science and spirit, challenge and growth. Each person arrives with their own history, culture, and strengths, and I honour that uniqueness in every session, class and group I facilitate.

My approach supports the integration of mind, body, and spirit. These parts are never separate; they are always in conversation, shaping how we think, feel, and show up in the world.

I know that change is possible because I have, and continue to, experience it firsthand. If you want it, it’s yours, too.